Diversity of forest soils and bedrock in soil regions of the Central-European highlands (Czech Republic)

- Types of regional forest soil, bedrock and terrain diversity were defined.
- The types were determined by cluster analysis and linear regression.
- Soil regions have higher differences in forest soil and bedrock diversities than the clusters.
- Forest soil and bedrock diversities indicate an effect on ecosystem diversity.

Soil and bedrock influence ecosystem diversity through various means. The aim of this study was to typify forest soil catena diversity (FSCD) in the Central-European soil regions of the Czech Republic for ecosystem restoration planning. Typification was carried out through cluster analysis on Shannon-Wiener' indexes of soil and bedrock diversities and of terrain. The relationships between soil and ecosystem diversity were distinguished by employing linear regression confidence intervals. Flat, hillycountry and broken soil body combination groups (SBCGs) and eight FSCD types were defined at Central-European conditions. The FSCD types are divided into areas of lower pedodiversity in hillycountry SBCG and those of higher pedodiversity in flat and broken SBCGs. Primary distinguishing features of hillycountry SBCG are below-average soil diversity and below-average altitudinal differences. Clusters of flat or broken SBCGs are subdivided by average or above-average soil diversities and below-average or above-average altitudinal differences, respectively. Soil diversity is directly correlated with the size of the soil region, its total altitudinal difference, bedrock diversity and perimeter structure integrity. Soil diversity higher than bedrock diversity prevails in the Czech forests. Soil regions have higher differences in diversities of soil and bedrock. FSCD types have higher soil diversity values but lower differences in contrast to those of bedrock. Flat FSCD covers 45% of the total area, while hillycountry FSCD only covers 6% and broken FSCD covers 49%. Low FSCD covers 48%, medium FSCD covers 18%, and high FSCD covers 34%. > 52% of Czech forests, but 47% with medium up to high FSCD, have a close relationship of higher soil diversity and lower bedrock diversity. Close link between soil and bedrock suggests common framework of ecosystem restoration in forested as well as forestless land.

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