GLOBE Projects

GLOBE Side Navigation

The Drava wetland forests

Organization(s):OS Ivana Kukuljevica
Country:Croatia
Student(s):Vid Šovagović, Katja Zlojić, Eva Vinković, Ana Prebeg, Dorotea Sušić, Marin Dvoržak
Grade Level:Middle School (grades 6-8, ages 11-14)
GLOBE Educator(s):Lidija Tivanovac
Contributors:
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Land Cover Classification
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):Croatian
Date Submitted:03/04/2025
ABSTRACT Researching the available literature on the vegetation along the Drava River, we found interesting information about the alluvial forests of the Drava- "the woods that wander." They are predominantly divided into forests comprised of white willow, black poplar and forests of black and white poplar. We decided to investigate whether such forests exist along the right bank of the Drava River in the town of Belišće. Our hypothesis was: using GLOBE biometry protocols, it is possible to determine the presence of the characteristic wetland forests. During September and October of 2023, we applied the GLOBE protocols for biometry on two sites: Bistrinačka plaža (site 1) and Vrbik near the artificial lake (site 2). We determined the MUC land cover classes of the selected sites, as well as the percentage of the canopy and ground cover. The dominant and co-dominant plant species on each site were determined, height and girth measurements of trees were collected, and the plant species were identified. Out of the two sample sites, we determined the existence of a natural phytocenosis, a white willow forest, on one, and a planted Canadian poplar forest is present on the other site. Using GLOBE protocols, we confirmed our hypothesis by accurately determining the presence of forests based on our studies of canopy cover and the dominant species of trees determined on the sample site. In addition, our goal was to use this research to raise awareness of how vulnerable these regions are, and record more recent changes in the ground cover composition while pointing out the importance of preserving these areas.



Comments