Mountain Streams

Tree species along the Šútovský potok brook.

The pioneer forests with 5 – 10 meters high shrub floor are dominated by grey alder (Alnus incana). Also other tree species, such as European silver fir (Abies alba), black honeysuckle (Lonicera nigra), European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and others grow there sparsely. Beside typical hydrophytic species, the rich herbal floor also includes species brought by the water from the adjacent forest and spring communities. These specific forests grow along the mountain brooks with quick running water in the narrow valleys on gravelly and stony soils. The basic factor of natural restoration of the biotope is the disturbance of the banks caused by spring floods and torrential rains. This biotope is bound to the mountain degree of narrow valleys with strong erosive activity.

Along the shore line, there grow grey alder (Alnus incana), crack willow (Salix fraguilis), purple willow (Salix purpurea), rosemary willow (Salix elaeagnos), and black honeysuckle (Lonicera nigra). The undergrowth is dominated by tall-herb species: great marsh thistle (Carduus personata), common butterbur (petasites hybridus), hairy chervil (Chaerophyllum hirsutum), white hellebore (Veratrum album), rough bluegrass (Poa trivialis), marsh cranesbill (Geranium palustre), brook thistle (Cirsium rivulare), cabbage thistle (Cirsium oleraceum), Aconitum firmum, true oxlip (Primula elatior), candle larkspur (Delphinium elatum), marsh hawksbread (crepis paludosa), Acetosa arifolia, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria), great willowherb (Epilopbium hirsutum), and Caltha palustris subsp. laeta.

Animals: The semi-aquatic species which are seasonally bound to water environment  are represented here by Carpathian newt and alpine newt (from a generally endangered class of Amphibia). Invertebrates include the Liparis glabrirostris. From fish, Siberian bullhead (Cottus poecilopus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta morpha fario) occur here. Close to the brook you can spot grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea), white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus), winter wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and other species.

Do not disturb animals by loud voice and always

take your waste with you. In the neighbouring

Chočské vrchy Mts., a 260 kg bear died

after eating a piece of plastic bag.

Spolupracovali:

Tomáš Hulík, Miloš Majda, Miloš Majda ml., Andrej Zahradník, Daniel Podbrežný,

Zuzana Pánisová, Peter Cáder, Anna Dobošová

Photo: Tomáš Hulík, Ján Kautman, Anna Dobošová, Anna Lovritšová