Long-term multidisciplinary research has significantly advanced our understanding of the Krkonoše Mts. arctic-alpine tundra. Three tundra zones (cryo-eolian, cryo-vegetated and niveo-glaciated) are recognized and can be found on the highest summits, etchplains of the western and eastern parts of the mountains and in glacial cirques on both sides of the state border. The arcticalpine tundra of the Krkonoše Mts. is one of the major centres of geobiodiversity in the context of Central European mountains. and Jan Štursa.
A unique geographic location of the Krkonoše Mts. during the glacial periods (in the forefront of the continental ice shield) together with relatively harsh climatic conditions of the summits during the Holocene, provide suitable conditions for the occurrence of many glacial relicts from different taxonomic groups. Glacial relicts show continuous distribution in taiga and tundra biomes, with isolated occurrences in montane and alpine belts in mountain ranges of the moderate climatic zone. The article provides an overview of glacial relicts in the Krkonoše Mts. and Jan Vaněk, Jan Materna, Jiří Flousek.
Semi-natural grasslands form an important part of the National Park and determine the landscape character of the area. Due to migration and human activities, plant species from the foothills and alpine areas have come into contact in the montane zone and coexist in new communities. The mechanisms behind the high diversity of local grasslands have been investigated since the 1980s. and Hana Skálová, František Krahulec.
Considering its relatively small area and modest altitude the Krkonoše Mts. (Giant Mts.) offers a large number of unique geological and particularly geomorphological features and phenomena. This abiotic component is of key importance for the landscape formation. The geological structure of the mountain range and processes shaping the geomorphology of the Krkonoše Mts. are summarized. and Vlastimil Pilous.
Abandonment of semi-natural grasslands in the Krkonoše Mountains National Park has resulted in substantial changes in their structure and species composition. Alternative management strategies to maintain species diversity have been tested since the 1990s. These include different combinations of mowing, fertilization, grazing and mulching. and Hana Skálová, František Krahulec.
The virgin forests of the Krkonoše Mts. have been transformed into less stable spruce monocultures due to economic activities in the past. The objective of the current management of forest ecosystems is to create a compact core area of a sufficient size capable of autoregulation processes. Surrounding areas should be managed in ways that protect and conserve native biodiversity. Conservation efforts should be coordinated between the Czech and Polish sides of the Krkonoše Mts. and Otakar Schwarz.
This study determined the scale of the phoresy of mesostigmatid mite by Ips typographus. Thirty pheromone traps in the Karkonosze National Park (Poland) caught 10,575 bark beetles on which there were 2,388 mesostigmatid mites belonging to eight species. The most numerous mites were Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus (1076 ind.) and Trichouropoda polytricha (1067 ind.). and Dariusz J. Gwiazdowicz, Jacek Kamczyc, Jerzy Bloszyk.