Influence of the type of tree habitat on the character of co-occurrence of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr and Co in the soil of the Tatra Mountain National Park.

The objective of the research was to determine the effect of habitat type of selected species of trees on the nature of co-occurrence of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Co. The presence of speciation forms of these metals was investigated, with reference to the species composition of tree stands in selected areas of the Tatra Mountain National Park (Chochołowska Valley, Strążyska Valley, Kościeliska Valley, as well as Mała Łąka Valley).Contents of selected metals in samples were determined by the flame ASA method, with an accuracy of 0.1 µg/g. In habitats dominated by maples, the Pb content in the Chochołowska Valley, unlike Kościeliska Valley covered with beeches, the Pb content in the form directly bioavailable, was twice as high. This was clearly proved in the case of Strążyska Valley where the soil in beech tree habitats contained larger quantities of exchangeable forms of Pb, than that in the Chochołowska Valley. The soil of the valleys, including the Mała Łąka Valley, showed peculiar characteristic averaging of the contents of selected speciation forms of metals in the soil. Content corresponding to 10 percentile and geometrical average may be regarded as benchmarks in future studies of the Tatra Mountain National Park, or other protected areas.