How soft is soft tourism for subalpine-alpine plant communities?
Abstract
The effects of trampling on alpine pasture vegetation were analysed in four regions of the Austrian Alps (two on calcareous and two on siliceous soils). Species composition, vertical, and horizontal structure, and biomass were investigated, as well as diaspore communities of heavily disturbed vegetation (on trails) and adjacent undisturbed vegetation. Species resistant to trampling (e.g., Poa supina) are more frequent in disturbed than in seminatural vegetation; they reproduce under trampling pressure and can store over 20,000 viable seeds in the uppermost soil layer. Some species (e.g., Deschampsia cespitosa) show hardly any trampling effects on abundance or diaspore bank, whereas aboveground biomass and vegetative growth of ramets can be reduced by trampling. Most of the species investigated, including some rare and threatened species of the Eastern Alps, are neither able to germinate nor to establish themselves on trampled sites. There is no evidence that they develop a sufficiently persistent and evenly distributed diaspore bank for a possible regeneration in the future.
Trampling Diaspore stratification Phytomass Restoration potential
Publikationen
The role of autochthon seeds for the re-vegetation at high altitudes
Autoren: Klug, B.,Krautzer, B., Meier, J., Scharfetter, G. Jahr: 2004
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Soil diaspore reserves above the timberline in the Austrian Alps
Autoren: Klug-Pumpel, B; Scharfetter-Lehrl, G Jahr: 2008
Journal articles
Mitarbeiter*Innen
Brigitte Klug
Ao.Univ.Prof.i.R. Dr.phil. Brigitte Klug
brigitte.klug@boku.ac.at
Project Leader
01.04.1995 - 30.09.1997
Gabriele Scharfetter-Lehrl
Mag. Gabriele Scharfetter-Lehrl
gabriele.scharfetter-lehrl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-31132
Project Staff
01.04.1995 - 30.09.1997