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An Evaluation of the Impact of Hiking Tourism on the Ecological Status of Alpine Lakes—A Case Study of the Valley of Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich in the Tatra Mountains

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  • Adam Senetra

    (Department of Socio-Economic Geography, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego Str.15, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Piotr Dynowski

    (Department of Socio-Economic Geography, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego Str.15, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Iwona Cieślak

    (Department of Socio-Economic Geography, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Prawocheńskiego Str.15, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Anna Źróbek-Sokolnik

    (Department of Botany and Nature Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki, 10-727 Olsztyn, Poland)

Abstract

Eutrophication is one of the major threats to the quality of water in high mountain lakes. The inflow of elements having biological origin may significantly aggravate the ecological status of those ecosystems. For this reason, the aim of this study was to map and assess the impact of anthropogenic pressure on alpine lakes in the valley of Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (known in English as the Valley of Five Polish Lakes) in the Tatra National Park in Poland. The effects of tourism and easy access to alpine lakes on changes in their ecological status were determined. Tourist trails were evaluated based on the difficulty of access to the water surface of analyzed alpine lakes, with a method developed for assessing anthropogenic pressure on aquatic ecosystems. The method, deployed for the first time in 2019, was modified and adapted to the local environmental conditions in the research area. The results of this study indicate that tourism pressure contributes to the growth of submerged vegetation in alpine lakes. The presence of aquatic plants (including vascular plants) shows ecosystem response to water enrichment with biogenic substances. The present findings were used to formulate practical recommendations and propose modifications to the evaluated hiking trails. The research method developed in the study can support analysis and control of tourist traffic, thus reducing anthropogenic pressure on alpine lakes in national parks located in mountain areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Adam Senetra & Piotr Dynowski & Iwona Cieślak & Anna Źróbek-Sokolnik, 2020. "An Evaluation of the Impact of Hiking Tourism on the Ecological Status of Alpine Lakes—A Case Study of the Valley of Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich in the Tatra Mountains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2963-:d:342690
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Piotr Dynowski & Anna Zrobek-Sokolnik & Izabela Jablonska-Barna, 2021. "Determining the Range of Influence of Tourist Trails Users on Naturally Valuable Areas: A Proposal of a Method and a Practical Example," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 560-575.
    2. Fontana, Veronika & Ebner, Manuel & Schirpke, Uta & Ohndorf, Markus & Pritsch, Hanna & Tappeiner, Ulrike & Kurmayer, Rainer, 2023. "An integrative approach to evaluate ecosystem services of mountain lakes using multi-criteria decision analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    3. Apostolos Kantartzis & Panagiotis Lemonakis & Chrysovalantis Malesios & Christodoulos Daoutis & Spyridon Galatsidas & Garyfallos Arabatzis, 2022. "Attitudes and Views of Citizens Regarding the Contribution of the Trail Paths in Protection and Promotion of Natural Environment," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, September.

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