Mediterranean black pine (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold) forests play a key role in maintaining ecological balance, particularly in regions with pronounced seasonality and limited water availability. Water and nutrient cycling in these ecosystems depend on complex interactions among vegetation, soil, precipitation, and climate. A deeper understanding of these processes is crucial for the sustainable management of these forests, especially under the pressures of ongoing climate change.

This project focuses on assessing water availability in black pine forests and analyzing its variability in relation to seasonality, elevation, and structural characteristics of the forest stand. The specific objectives of this study are to: (1) assess the influence of forest vegetation and elevation on the isotopic composition of water in different ecosystem compartments; (2) determine the temporal origin and seasonal shifts of water sources used by black pine during and outside the growing season; (3) evaluate the effects of black pine forests on nutrient cycling, with particular attention to the roles of elevation and microclimatic conditions; and (4) investigate the impact of atmospheric deposition on the nutrient status of black pine needles.

The results of this research will contribute to a better understanding of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in black pine forest ecosystems and provide a scientific basis for enhancing their sustainable management and resilience under a changing climate.