Andreas Bohne,
Heinz Habeler,
Franz Starlinger,
Michael Suanjak
S. 53 - 58
doi:
10.1553/eco.mont-2-1s53
Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
doi:
10.1553/eco.mont-2-1s53
Abstract:
From a conservation point of view, avalanches are a natural ecological process. However, they can also endanger people and cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure. From an anthropocentric point of view, protective measures in the form of avalanche barriers are necessary. Avalanche barriers in the starting zone of avalanches can prevent avalanche events. Hence there is a conflict between nature conservation and protection against natural hazards. This study aimed primarily at assessing the conservation value of active avalanche tracks. To this end we examined 16 plant stands on three different avalanche tracks in the Gesäuse National Park (Styria, Austria) and recorded butterfly species at the same time. On the investigated avalanche tracks, the soils are very shallow, stony, periodically dry, nutrient-poor, base-rich rendzinas developed over limestone debris. The sites are scree-covered, steep and mainly east-facing slopes located in the montane belt. The plant stands investigated belong mainly to the Origano-Calamagrostietum variae community. This study of biodiversity concludes that under these conditions the vegetation in active avalanche tracks is characterized by a high richness of vascular plant species. On average, a plot size of 20 m² contains 71 vascular plant species and 5 bryophyte species. The species-rich plant stands, colourful when in bloom, are dominated by herbs, resulting in a high aesthetic value and an increased diversity of butterflies. The avalanche tracks investigated have a high conservation value because natural ecological processes continue to happen, leading to near-natural and species-rich disclimax communities.
2010/05/07 09:00:36
Object Identifier:
0xc1aa5572 0x002342de
Rights:https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
The journal “eco.mont” – Journal of protected mountain areas research and management – was published for the first time in June 2009.
The journal was founded as a joint initiative of the Alpine Network of Protected Areas (ALPARC), the International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR), the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the University of Innsbruck.
The journal aims to highlight research on and management issues in protected areas in the Alps without excluding other protected mountain areas in Europe or overseas. Its target audiences are scientists from all related disciplines, managers of protected areas and interested individuals including practitioners, visitors, teachers, etc.
The journal presents peer-reviewed articles in English by authors who research protected mountain areas and management issues within these areas. It's published twice a year as a collaboration of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Press – responsible for the e-version – and Innsbruck University Press – responsible for the print version.
Die Zeitschrift „eco.mont“ – Zeitschrift zur Forschung in Gebirgsschutzgebieten – erschien im Juni 2009 zum ersten Mal. Die Zeitschrift wurde auf Initiative des Netzwerks Alpiner Schutzgebiete (ALPARC), der Schweizer Akademie der Naturwissenschaften (ISCAR), der Österreichischen Akademie für Wissenschaft (ÖAW) und der Universität Innsbruck gegründet. Sie hat das Ziel, Themen zu behandeln, die gleichzeitig Forschung und Verwaltung in und über die Schutzgebiete der Alpen betreffen, ohne dabei andere Gebirgsschutzgebiete Europas oder anderswo auszuschließen. Diese neue Zeitschrift richtet sich an ein Publikum von Wissenschaftlern der verschiedensten Fachbereiche, an die Verwalter von Schutzgebieten und an alle sonstigen Interessierten, Praktiker, Besucher, Lehrpersonal etc. einbegriffen. Die Zeitschrift veröffentlicht begutachtete Beiträge auf Englisch von Autoren, die Fragen der Gebirgsschutzgebieten und deren Verwaltung forschen. Sie erscheint zweimal pro Jahr, auf der Basis der gemeinsamen Anstrengungen des Verlags der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, der für die digitale Fassung verantwortlich ist, und der Presse der Universität Innsbruck, verantwortlich für die gedruckte Fassung.
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