Geographia Polonica (2006) vol. 79, iss. 1

Links between vegetation and morphodynamics of high-mountain slopes in the Tatra Mountains

Anna Kozłowska, Zofia Rączkowska, Bogdan Zagajewski

Geographia Polonica (2006) vol. 79, iss. 1, pp. 27-39 | Full text

Abstract

This study examines the propositions that: 1. in high-mountain areas, the differentiationof vegetation units at the landscape (supra-ecosystem) scale is closely linked to variations in thegeomorphology of slopes and valley bottoms across various morphodynamic units; 2. morphodynamicunits constitute the natural boundaries of the vegetation-related landscape units; 3. differenttypes of geomorphological unit at the landscape scale are characterized by the vegetationtypes growing on them. These propositions were tested by comparing overlays of digital maps ofvegetation and geomorphology. A characteristic combination of plant communities was determinedfor each of the five types of morphodynamic unit identified.

Keywords: geomorphology, morphodynamic units, vegetation, landscape units, vegetation-relief links, Tatra Mountains, Poland

Anna Kozłowska [a.kozl@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Zofia Rączkowska [raczk@zg.pan.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Św. Jana 22, 31-018 Kraków, Poland