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PRESENTATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM Šumarski list - SUPLEMENT (2005), 202-218 THE IMPACT OF MONTANE FOREST ECOSYSTEMS ON WATER QUALITY OF WATERCOURSES Ivica TIKVIĆ, Dinko PUNTARIĆ, Željko ZEČIĆ, Damir UGARKOVIĆ, Zvonko SELETKOVIĆ* SUMMARY: In terms of surface area, montane forest ecosystems are the most widely distributed ecosystems in Croatia. As such, they have the greatest impact on water cycle and the quality of surface and ground water. This impact depends on ecological (relief parent substrate, soil and climate) and biological factors (tree species, structure of forest ecosystem and anthropogenic impacts). No research has been made on the effects of particular tree species, soil types, different parent substrates and man on the quality of waters in the forest ecosystems in Croatia. The paper compares indicators of water quality in watercourses from several montane forest ecosystems in Croatia. Differences in water quality were analyzed with reference to site and stand conditions. The general ecological condition of water was determined on the basis of twelve samples from different watercourses in three localities (Papuk, Plitvice and Velebit). The analysis included physical-chemical water condition, nutrient content, metals, organic compounds, mineral oils and other indicators of water quality. No significant differences in physical-chemical indicators were found among the different forest ecosystems. Water quality in almost all the examined watercourses was very high. Compared to the watercourses in forest ecosystems, those in the vicinity of settlements had significantly higher concentrations of nutrients, aerobic bacteria and metals. No differences were found in water quality of the watercourses in the national parks in comparison with those in commercial forests. Variability of water quality indicators from the watercourses in different forest ecosystems indicates the complexity of the effects of forest ecosystems on water quality in watercourses. Compared to the watercourses outside forests, those in forest ecosystems manifested higher water quality regardless of management methods. Key words: water quality, montane forest ecosystems, national park, commercial forests INTRODUCTION With its relatively rich supply of water, Croatia tathe remaining 40 %. Waters in Croatia are affected by kes up the fifth place in Europe and the 42nd place in forest ecosystems that cover over one third of the land the world in terms of quantity and availability of fresh area of Croatia, of which montane forest ecosystems water springs (M i 1 k o v i ć et dl., 3002). According to are the best represented. According to the data of the the 2003 UNESCO records for Croatia, about 60 % of State Bureau of Statistics (Statistički ljetopis 2003/ water supply "originates" in Croatia, whereas external Statistical Almanac2003), montane forest ecosystems contributions from neighboring countries account for of European beech, sessile oak, pubescent oak and holm oak, as well as common hornbeam and other hardwoods, cover an area of over 13,000 km2, which ac * Asst. Prof. Ivica Tikvić, PhD, Dinko Puntarić, BSc, counts for two thirds of the forests or one fourth of the Željko Zečić, PhD, Damir Ugarković BSc, land area in Croatia. They display distinct effects of fo Prof. Zvonko Seletković, PhD, rest trees on hydrological processes. Natural forest Faculty of forestry, University of Zagreb |