|
|
Response of tree rings and NDVI of Central-European conifers to extreme climatic events
Mašek, Jiří ; Treml, Václav (advisor) ; Šilhán, Karel (referee) ; Piermattei, Alma (referee)
Terrestrial ecosystems, mainly forests are important sinks of atmospheric carbon with high year-to-year variability driven by moisture availability. Trees store carbon in various compartments of the biomass, namely in stems, roots, and leaves. In this doctoral thesis, I investigated climate-growth responses of stem biomass (represented by tree rings) and leaf biomass (represented by normalized difference vegetation index; NDVI) of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies in temperate forests of Czechia. I was interested in (i) general climate-growth responses and specifically, in reactions to drought and (ii) topographical factors influencing these responses at various spatial scales. We demonstrated that climate-growth responses of both species' tree rings in the lowlands revealed a significant positive and negative influence of moisture and temperature, respectively, while in higher elevations the responses were opposite. At a landscape level, the topography of relief modulated responses of Pinus sylvestris tree rings, while at the large-scale level, the geographical position and elevation (temperature gradients) were the main factors for both species. Responses of NDVI were slightly weaker compared to tree rings and did not show the influence of topography at any scale probably because vegetation...
|
|
|
Emerging Trends in Dendrochronology
Horáček, Tomáš ; Neuwirthová, Ludmila (referee) ; Mikulka, Jan (advisor)
Tato práce se zabývá popisem současných a experimentálních metod odběru vzorků pomocí presslerova nebozezu, výřezů z kmene, fotografie, rentgenu, počítačové tomografie a magnetické rezonance na poli dendrochronologického výzkumu. V práci jsou rozebírány destruktivní a nedesktruktivní metody odběru vzorků. Je také kladen důraz na původ vzorků: zdali je možno využít destruktivní metody nebo zdali je to nemožné jako v případě vzácných archeologických objektů. Dále popisuje standardní optometrickou metody a další experimentální metody fungujicí na principu kontranstního zpracování obrazu za účelem rozeznání letokruhů. V práci jsou také popsány různé druhy metod softwarového zpracovnání kde jako vstup slouží buď série dat nebo obraz letokruhů. Další rozdíly tvoří vymezené spektrum uvedených prací, některé práce se zaměřují na zpracování obrazu od píky tedy od pořízené fotografie až po hotové datovaní, některé však zajímá pouze úzký sektor dendrochronologie jako jsou například vady či špatně rozeznatelné letokruhy.
|
|
|
Dendrochronology improves understanding of the charcoal production history, increasing the tourist potential in the Drahany Highlands
Rybníček, Michal ; Bajer, A. ; Friedl, M. ; Knott, R. ; Kočár, Petr ; Kučera, A. ; Novák, J. ; Vavrčík, H. ; Kolář, Tomáš
Over the last two years, three selected forest sites from Drahany Highlands were examined for traces of human activity. The most frequent traces found, and common to all three sites, were remains of charcoal production. This paper provides an anatomical and dendrochronological analysis of the charcoals found in two charcoal pile remains from each site. The species composition of the charcoals at the southern site was dominated by oak, followed by birch and hornbeam. Fir was more common than oak, beech, poplar, birch and hornbeam at the central site. Fir and beech were found at the northern site. By using dendrochronology, 23 fir, oak and beech charcoals were dated with the oldest sample coming from a central site and dated from the period 1753–1758. Charcoals from the three other charcoal piles fell into the first half of the 19th century. Radiocarbon dating of charcoals selected gave a very wide age range (1640–1955), except for one case (1399–1435). Providing information on the age of a charcoal pile can help raise public awareness and interest in viewing the sites where charcoal burners used to be active in the forests.
|
|
|
A study of the behavior of selected metals in affected environments using an isotopic approach
Santos Baieta, Rafael ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Navrátil, Tomáš (referee) ; Tejnecký, Václav (referee)
Metals of anthropogenic origin have consistently polluted the environment. This thesis focuses mainly on highly contaminated soils or tree rings near mines and smelters in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, Portuguese soils were also assessed to study Pb isotopes in post-fire soils. The tracing capabilities of Pb isotopic ratios were employed to determine contamination sources and to evaluate the potential of pine trees as an environmental archive. Several analytical methods were applied, such as catalytic oxidation, Q-ICP-MS, ICP-OES, FEG-SEM/EDS, EPMA, XRD, etc. Soils near smelters located in three different cities [Kabwe (Pb-Zn), Luanshya (Cu, Co), and Selebi Phikwe (Ni, Pb)] exhibited concentrations of metals greatly exceeding those deemed acceptable by the competent authorities. In Kabwe, for example, concentrations of Pb exceeded 16 000 mg kg-1 . In all sites, contamination was shown to be significant only in the upper ±15 cm of soil. Samples of soils taken in remote locations were always clear of contamination. In Luanshya, metal(oid) bearing particles found in the soils were typically spherical and composed of rapidly cooled sulfides and oxides in the flue gas chambers of the local smelter. These were present only in the topsoil. The tree ring record of pine trees in Kabwe was shown to mimic the...
|
|
|
Tree rings dendrochemistry near Cu smelter
Jarošíková, Alice ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Hojdová, Marie (referee)
Nkana smelter belonged to the main sources of contamination by trace elements (especially Cu and Co) in the area of African city Kitwe (Copperbelt, Zambia). The main objective of this study was to compare elemental and isotopic composition of Zambian soils and tree rings, and to investigate biogeochemical processes between plants and soils in contaminated and uncontaminated environment. Elemental composition (Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg and Tl) and isotopic composition of Cu (63 Cu/65 Cu) were determined in soils and tree rings of pine trees (Pinus latteri, Pinus kesiya) using ICP-MS , AMA and MC ICP-MS. Our results demonstrated that soils and tree rings were both affected by mining and metallurgical activity. Increasing content of elements with depth is the result of the mobility of the elements in uncontaminated soil profile. Soil from contaminated site had the highest metal contents especially in the upper part of the soil profile as a result of continuous contribution of metallurgical components during long-term smelter operation. Fractionations of Cu isotopes in soils were caused primarily by interactions with plants. Concentration changes that some elements showed in the individual tree rings could be the effect of variable intensity of pollution in the area. In the case of Cu, however,...
|
|
|
Tree-ring chronologies of Norway-spruce on west-east longitudinal gradient in the mountain ranges of central Europe
Ponocná, Tereza ; Treml, Václav (advisor) ; Kolář, Tomáš (referee) ; Vejpustková, Monika (referee)
The Earth's climate system has recently experienced substantial warming which likely impacts temperature-limited communities close to their distribution margins. The alpine treeline ecotone represents upper distributional limit of montane/subalpine forests. This biogeographic boundary relies mainly on decreasing temperature with increasing elevation. Surprisingly the response of treeline ecotone to ongoing warming has varied a lot and the reasons of this variability are poorly understood. The aim of this dissertation thesis is the assessment of growth trends and tree ring response of Norway spruce (Picea abies[L.] Karst.) to climatic oscillations at treelines and montane forests of East-Central Europe. This dissertation deals with both inter-regional and intra-regional (aspect, elevation) variability of tree growth. The presented results are based on an extensive data set of growth curves for almost 1400 trees. All study sites revealed close relationship between tree ring widths and growing season temperatures as well as the temperatures of October preceding to ring formation season. The main site-dependent differences in growth trends and temperature responses were attributed to elevation, the effect of aspect was relatively less significant. At treelines between the Krkonoše Mts. and Nízké Tatry...
|
|
|
Tree rings and peat bogs as archives of recent trends in Pb and Hg deposition in the Czech Republic
Zuna, Milan ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Komárek, Michael (referee) ; Soudek, Petr (referee)
1 Tree rings and peat bogs as archives of recent trends in Pb and Hg deposition in the Czech Republic Milan Zuna, 2012 Abstract The environment polluted by toxic metals is currently one of the most topical subjects studied in a great many countries. Toxic metals and their forms are studied primarily because of their negative impact on the environment and also on human health. In the territory of the Czech Republic, direct measurements of the concentrations of these substances are available only for a limited time period. Consequently, indirect methods, such as geochemical archives, are used to determine the historical environmental burdens from these metals. Historical lead concentrations (Pb) were studied on peat bog profiles and tree rings in selected localities in the Czech Republic. Altogether 12 peat bog profiles and 33 wood cores (Picea abies) were studied, in the border territories of the Czech Republic with different historical burdens (Krušné Hory - Novodomské rašeliniště - ND, Jizerské hory - Bílá Smědá - BS, Šumava - Jezerní slat - JS), and in a historically burdened area polluted by processing of Pb- Ag ores (Příbram-Brdy). In the vicinity of Příbram, areas around the Brdy ridge (9 km east of the Pb metallurgical works) as well as in the immediate vicinity of the metallurgical works. We used the...
|
|
|
Arsenic in tree rings at As contaminated sites
Svoboda, Ondřej ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Vaněk, Aleš (referee)
Kutná Hora and its surrounding environment was affected by mining Ag, later Pb - Zn ore, lasting several centuries. As a result of mining, extreme concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids, especially As, in waters, soils and plants are. The aim of this work was to study the elemental composition of soils and tree rings, including processes between soil and plants on contaminated and uncontaminated area to describe biogeochemical processes between soil and plants. Elemental composition (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, Tl, Pb) were determined in soils and tree rings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) using ICP - MS. The measured concentrations of elements indicate contamination of soils and tree rings due to mining and metallurgical activities. The highest concentrations of As in soil (14 977 mg/kg) were found at contaminated site (Kaňk) at depth of 40 - 50 cm. This locality is situated on the heap, where waste from the mining and processing of ores are deposited, together with minerals and weathering products containing As. The uncontaminated area (Sukov) exhibited the maximum concentration of As in soils 124,38 mg/kg at a depth of 5 - 10 cm, due to the contamination by dust from the contamined sites. The highest concentrations of As in tree rings were determined in the contaminated area...
|
|
|
Tree-ring chronologies of Norway-spruce on west-east longitudinal gradient in the mountain ranges of central Europe
Ponocná, Tereza ; Treml, Václav (advisor) ; Kolář, Tomáš (referee) ; Vejpustková, Monika (referee)
The Earth's climate system has recently experienced substantial warming which likely impacts temperature-limited communities close to their distribution margins. The alpine treeline ecotone represents upper distributional limit of montane/subalpine forests. This biogeographic boundary relies mainly on decreasing temperature with increasing elevation. Surprisingly the response of treeline ecotone to ongoing warming has varied a lot and the reasons of this variability are poorly understood. The aim of this dissertation thesis is the assessment of growth trends and tree ring response of Norway spruce (Picea abies[L.] Karst.) to climatic oscillations at treelines and montane forests of East-Central Europe. This dissertation deals with both inter-regional and intra-regional (aspect, elevation) variability of tree growth. The presented results are based on an extensive data set of growth curves for almost 1400 trees. All study sites revealed close relationship between tree ring widths and growing season temperatures as well as the temperatures of October preceding to ring formation season. The main site-dependent differences in growth trends and temperature responses were attributed to elevation, the effect of aspect was relatively less significant. At treelines between the Krkonoše Mts. and Nízké Tatry...
|
|
|
Arsenic in tree rings at As contaminated sites
Svoboda, Ondřej ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Vaněk, Aleš (referee)
Kutná Hora and its surrounding environment was affected by mining Ag, later Pb - Zn ore, lasting several centuries. As a result of mining, extreme concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids, especially As, in waters, soils and plants are. The aim of this work was to study the elemental composition of soils and tree rings, including processes between soil and plants on contaminated and uncontaminated area to describe biogeochemical processes between soil and plants. Elemental composition (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, Tl, Pb) were determined in soils and tree rings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) using ICP - MS. The measured concentrations of elements indicate contamination of soils and tree rings due to mining and metallurgical activities. The highest concentrations of As in soil (14 977 mg/kg) were found at contaminated site (Kaňk) at depth of 40 - 50 cm. This locality is situated on the heap, where waste from the mining and processing of ores are deposited, together with minerals and weathering products containing As. The uncontaminated area (Sukov) exhibited the maximum concentration of As in soils 124,38 mg/kg at a depth of 5 - 10 cm, due to the contamination by dust from the contamined sites. The highest concentrations of As in tree rings were determined in the contaminated area...
|
guest ::
