Table Of ContentDEVELOPMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL
AND MANAGED-FOREST ECOLOGY 15B
floodplain forest
ecosystem
II. After Water Management Measures
MIROSLAV PENKA
MIROSLAV VYSKOT
EMIL KLIMO
FERDINAND VASICEK
University of Agriculture, Brno, Czechoslovakia
ELSEVIER
Amsterdam - Oxford - New York - Tokyo 1991
Scientific Editor
Prof. Ing. Duéan Zachar, DrSc.
Corresponding Member of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences and Slovak Academy of
Sciences
Scientific Adviser
Ing. Jan Materna, CSc.
Published in co-edition with ACADEMIA
Publishing House of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechoslovakia
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
(Revised for vol. 2)
Floodplain forest ecosystem.
(Developments in agricultural and manged-forest ecolgy; 15A-15B)
Translated from Czech.
Includes bibliographies.
Contents: 1. Before water management measures.
2. After water management measures.
1. Forest ecology. 2. Floodplain ecology. 3. Water
resources development—Environmental aspects.
I. Penka, Miroslav. II. Series: Developments in
agricultural and managed-forest ecology: 15A, etc.
WH541.5F6F59 1985 574.5 2642 85-4462
ISBN 0-444-99566-8 (Vol. 15A)
ISBN 0-44Φ-98756-8 (Vol. 15B)
ISBN 0-444-41515-7 (Series)
© Miroslav Penka, Miroslav Vyskot, Emil Klimo, Ferdinand Vaèioek & col., 1991
Translation © Stephen N. Finn, 1991
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys
tem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, re
cording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.
Printed in Czechoslovakia
OTHER TITLES IN THIS SERIES
1. Plant Modification for More Efficient Water Use
by J. F. Stone (Editor)
1975 x + 320 pp.
2. Tree Ecology and Preservation
by A. Bernatzky
1978 viii + 358 pp.
3. Cycling of Mineral Nutrients in Agricultural Ecosystems
by M. J. Frissel (Editor)
1978 viii + 356 pp.
4. Interactions Between Non-Pathogenic Soil Microorganisms and Plants
by Y. R. Dommergues and S. V. Krupa (Editors)
1978 xii + 476 pp.
5. Ecology of Root Pathogens
by S. V. Krupa and Y. R. Dommergues (Editors)
1979 x + 282 pp.
6. Soil Disinfestation
by D. Mulder (Editor)
1979 xiv + 368 pp.
7. Management of Semi-arid Ecosystems
by B. H. Walker (Editor)
1979 x + 398 pp.
8. Management and Analysis of Biological Populations
by B. S. Goh
1980 x + 288 pp.
9. Comparison of Forest Water and Energy Exchange Models
by S. Halldin (Editor)
1979 xi + 258 pp.
10. Alternative Methods of Agriculture
by R. Boeringa (Editor)
1980 vi + 200 pp.
11. Wetlands of Bottomland Hardwood Forest
by J. R. Clark and J. Benforado (Editors)
1981 xviii + 402 pp.
12. Plant Production and Management under Drought Conditions
by J. F. Stone and W. O. Willis (Editors)
1983 vii + 390 pp.
13. Evapotranspiration from Plant Communities
by J. L. Sharma (Editor)
1984 vii + 344 pp.
14. Forest Amelioration
by O. Riedl and D. Zachar
1984 viii + 624 pp.
15. Floodplain Forest Ecosystem
by M. Penka, M. Vyskot, E. Klimo and F. Vasitek
Part I. Before Water Management Measures
1985 466 pp.
Part II. After Water Management Measures
1991 632 pp.
16. The Origin and Domestication of Cultivated Plants
by C. Barigozzi (Editor)
1986 vi + 218 pp.
17. Soil Microbial Associations
by V. VanCura and F. Kunc (Editors)
1988 498 pp.
18. Tree Crop Physiology
by M.R. Sethuraj and A.S. Raghavendra (Editors)
1987 xii + 362 pp.
19. Towards a Second Green Revolution
by G.B. Marini-Bettôlo (Editor)
1987 xxiv + 702 pp.
20. Shrub-Steppe. Balance and Change in a Semi-Arid Terrestrial Ecosystem
by W.H. Rickard, L.E. Rogers, B.E. Vaughan and S.F. Liebetrau (Editors)
1988 xii + 272 pp.
21. Nitrogen Management and Ground Water Protection
by A.R. Follett (Editor)
1989 xiv + 396 pp.
22. Tropical Forests
by J. Borota
in preparation
23. Resistance of Crop Plants to Animal Pests
by R. Fritzsche
in preparation
CONTRIBUTORS
Z. Bauer
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Horticulture,
691 44 Lednice na Moravê, Czechoslovakia
J. Cermàk
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
B. Grunda
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
P. Hadaè
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. HeteSa
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemëdêlskâ 1,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Hromas
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
E. Klimo
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Knoz
University of Jan Evangelista Purkynè, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
Kotlâfskâ 2, 611 37 Brno, Czechoslovakia
E. Koôkovâ
Water Research Institute, Dfevafskâ 12, 657 57 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Kfistek
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Kuöera
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Lesâk
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemëdêlskâ 1,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
D. Machäö
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
R. Mrkva
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemëdêlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
M. Palât
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédèlskâ 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
A. Pavliöek
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
M. Penka
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Zemédéiskà 3, 613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Pivec
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
A. Prax
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
I. Sukop
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemédéiskà 1,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
M. Stèpânkovà
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Vanhara
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
F. Vaèièek
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Viewegh
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
S. Volny
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Forestry, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
M. Vyskot
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Systematical and Ecological Biology, Depart
ment of Forest Ecosystems, Botanickà 8, 602 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Zejda
Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Systematical and Ecological Biology, Kvétnâ 8,
603 65 Brno, Czechoslovakia
J. Zimolka
University of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Zemédéiskà 1,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
V. 2idek
University of Agriculture, Institute of Forest Ecology, Zemédéiskà 3,
613 00 Brno, Czechoslovakia
Preface
Anthropogenic pressures on the natural environment affect almost all types of
countryside on the continent of Europe. The duration of such pressures, their
development, type, intensity and impact vary, and are mainly conditioned by the
nature of the available natural resources and by the dynamics of the develop
ment of the human population and its productive, economic and cultural
orientation and activity.
Fertile lowland areas along riverbanks have offered suitable conditions for
settlement since prehistoric times, and have been used for agriculture. Forest
formations in such areas have been intensively converted to arable land of high
productivity. Thus the forests which have survived have been those on less
accessible and poorly productive sites, and in those areas of repeated flooding
near to watercourses. The landscape of southern Moravia is of this type; an area
highly remodelled by long-term, direct and indirect anthropogenic influences.
Here, the remains of lowland phytocenoses, both forest and meadow, represent
the least changed natural formations on the floodplains of the lower reaches of
the rivers Dyje and Morava.
Since ancient times inundation has, in this region, been one of the impor
tant factors influencing the ecological nature of the forest and meadow geo-
biocoenoses. The felling of forest on the upper reaches of the rivers, begun in the
Middle Ages, and the protection measures for the settlements and industrial
installations on the middle reaches introduced during the first half of the century
have contributed to a constant increase in flooding along the lower reaches of
the southern Moravian rivers.
The exceptional nature of the natural and ecological conditions in the
lowland geobiocoenoses, especially that of the forest led to a study of the
ecological consequences of the water regulation works in the region on the
structure of the ecosystems. In accordance with the intentions of the inter
governmental UNESCO programme "Man and the Biosphere" this scientific
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project was included in the scheme of international studies as project 86 'The
ecological effects of water stream regulation and changing methods of land
management in the region of the floodplain forests of southern Moravia".
The motivation for the extensive, costly and complex project for water
regulation in this region was an attempt to rationalize and intensify agricultural
and forestry production and, generally, to improve the social, economic and
cultural standards of the area, while preserving the existing and irreplaceable
natural and cultural values. Priority was given in these measures to the area of
annual inundation on the lower reaches of the Dyje and the Morava. Here there
were economic losses due to crop damage from flooding of arable land, whilst
the flooding interfered with forestry, and damaged roads and buildings. Inunda
tion had a detrimental effect on the economic activity and life of people in town
and country. A further factor in the region, particularly affecting the standard
and security of agricultural production, was an irregular precipitation during the
growing season, with frequent droughts, which reduced the yield of otherwise
valuable crops. The protection of land from flooding and the provision of
accumulated water for irrigation during periods of moisture deficiency in inten
sive agricultural cultivation were the main aim of the regulatory measures in this
area.
The implementation of the technical measures involves an experiment to
study ecological changes in the countryside on a grand scale; the introduction
of new construction elements has changed the face of the countryside and its
ecological conditions. The meandering river beds have disappeared, the previous
marshlands and temporary pools and swamps have gone; the water is kept
within new channels and reservoirs, and meadows are converted to arable land.
In the close vicinity of the watercourses the level and dynamics of the water table
change according to the flow in the rivers. The countryside is also changing, not
only through the new structure of agriculture with its intensified production, but
also through increased urbanization, the building of industrial and processing
centres, with such associated changes as new transport arteries and recreational
facilities. All this, together with the other influences of human activity, is forming
a new type of landscape which is exploited more and more intensively, and thus
there exists a complex ecological structure which is moving further and further
away from its original, natural state. The proper management and exploitation
of individual landscape components calls for an ever-improving knowledge of
their ecologial relations, in order that their management may remain within
natural constraints and achievable stability.
There is a particular difficulty in the study of ecological changes in this
situation, concerning the terrestrial ecosystems. This is because the regulatory
measures change the ecosystem by acting in particular on the components of the
abiotic environment. This leads to the formation of complex relations between
living organisms and the changing abiotic environment, which are difficult to
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unravel if both the extent to which phenomena persist and the long-term
reaction of the biota are not known. It is often very difficult to say when an
ecosystem is reaching the extremes of conditions which ensures its stability, and
when a disaster may occur as a result of human interference, even if the basic
ecological contexts are known. For this reason an attempt was made in the
research project to accumulate as much ecological information as possible
within the biomes most affected by the flood regulation works. The aim of the
project, some of the results of which are presented in this publication, was to
obtain objective information on the ecosystems of forests, meadows and waters.
This should lead to the best measures for achieving an ecologically acceptable
system of management under altered conditions in the forest and within agricul
tural resources of the previously flood-prone area. In this newly-formed ecologi
cal situation the ecological stability of the natural formations and of the land
scape should be ensured.
E Vasicek
21
LI The landscape of southern Moravia
F. VASICEK
Southern Moravia was the first part of what is now Czechoslovakia to be settled;
with various interruptions men have lived there since Palaeolithic times. The active
use of natural resources began in the Neolithic. The development of metal smelt
ing (2nd - 1st millenium B.C.) and the Iron Age (7th century B.C.) brought with
them an increase in the rate of deforestation. From the 4th century B.C. the land
was fairly densely populated, and from the 5th century A.D. Slavonic farmers lived
there. In the 9th and 10th centuries, during the Great Moravian Empire, fortified
settlements were built along river valleys (Opravil, 1983). The area was heavily
settled in the early 13th century, mainly by newcomers from Austria. The first
landscaping activities, in the form of the building of fishponds, date from the 15th
century. The Thirty Years' War brought destruction to many villages, and fields
were abandoned (Horâk, 1967). The feudal age then brought an expansion of
agriculture, the breeding of game, the development of crafts, and further exploita
tion of the forest. The landscape today reflects the domination of large-scale
agriculture, an expanding foodstuffs industry, and the growth of industrial and
housing construction. Mining equipment has also been erected to recover mineral
resources. The regular flooding of the area was previously a major problem, but
it has now been dealt with by complex hydroengineering works.
Most of the countryside is covered with sedimentary rocks of the external
flysh, separated by Neogene depressions of the Carpathian deep and the Vien
nese basin, with layers of exclusively calcareous clays and local areas of sand and
sandy gravel. The Neogene sediments are partly covered with alluvial deposits,
layers of loess and loess loams, and aeolian sands.
The area has mainly highly fertile soils with a prevalence of chernozems of
various subtypes. A smaller part of it has brown, illimerized and hydromorphic
soils. In the region of the Pavlovské vrchy hills soils of the rendzinatype formed
on the Jurassic limestones and calcareous basal gravels and marls. In the
depressed layers vegas, amphigleys and gleys occur (Misaf et al., 1983).
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