Kremnicke vrchy Ecological Experimental Station - Slovakia

The research is focused on complex study of ecological processes running within the beech ecosystem at the lower edge of its occurrence. The Ecological Experimental Station (EES) was founded in the Kremnické vrchy Mountains (Western Carpathians, Slovakia) in 1986. It is located at 500 m a.s.l., on SW slope. The leading stand-forming association is Dentario bulbiferae-Fagetum Z l a t n i k 1935, with locally admixed Carici pilosae-Fagetum O b e r d. 1958. For both associations, to the permanent constituents (at different dominances and abundances) belong: Carex pilosa, Carex sylvatica, Carex digitata, Galium odoratum, Dentaria bulbifera, Anthyrium filix-femina, Dryopteris filix-mas. The dominant tree species at the locality is beech (80–95%); fir, oak and hornbeam are the associated species. The soil type is andic cambisol with high skeleton content (20–60%) and mild acid reaction (pH 5.4–6.4), the humus form is acid mull. The long-term mean (1951–1980) annual air temperature is approximately 6.8 °C, with a mean of 17 °C in the warmest month (July) and - 4 °C in the coldest month (January). The mean annual precipitation is approximately 780 mm. An increasing value (+1.1 °C) of the mean annual air temperature was observed during the last two decades; however, the mean annual precipitation did not change significantly. The site is equipped with a few climatic microstations, collectors for precipitation and litterfall, lysimeters, dendrometers, etc.