Results of university researchers’ studies in the Catena journal
An article summarising the results of palaeoenvironmental studies carried out in the Jizera Mountains was published in the Catena journal (IF 5.4, 140 points MNiSW). It is devoted to sediments filling the bottoms of river valleys. This made it possible to reconstruct the Holocene environmental changes in the upland areas of the Jizera Mountains, comprehensively supplementing the data from the research on local peat bogs.
The work was coordinated by dr hab. Marek Kasprzak, prof. UWr (Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław) and dr hab. Knut Kaiser (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam). The research involved scientists from various specialisations from Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, and in one case also with a Finnish affiliation.
The work was carried out with the permission of the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Wrocław and with the support of the Świeradów Forest District.
Support was obtained from the programme of visits by visiting professors IDUB of the University of Wrocław. The programme enabled Kaiser to visit the University of Wrocław and to work on the outline of the article.
The research was conducted in an interdisciplinary manner. The bedrock was identified using the electrical resistivity tomography method, providing a spatial image of the structure of the shallow geological formation. The river sediments were examined using sedimentological and geochemical methods. Palynological and dendrochronological analyses were carried out to enable the dating of individual sediment layers. The levels of fossil wood, which have so far been poorly recognised in other parts of the Sudetes, were documented. The work was carried out in the context of anthropopressure, looking for links between land cover changes and human activity.
The profiles examined revealed a sedimentary record dating back to the beginning of the Middle Holocene. The synthesis of all available palaeobotanical data from the Jizera Mountains area made it possible to describe the phases of forest and mineral soil development. It can be confirmed that, compared to the palaeobotanical spectrum of natural tree species before the onset of strong local human impact, i.e. in the 17th century, the current tree species diversity is impoverished. Pollen data show the first traces of human management (grazing) in the immediate vicinity of the Jizera Mountains in the sub-boreal period and forest clearance in the late sub-Atlantic period, i.e. in the 13th century.
Date of publication: 25.03.2025
Added by: M.J.
