Disturbance ecology of an avalanche in an old growth forest in the Austrian Alps
Abstract
Disturbances are drivers for forest dynamics and also determinants of ecosystem function and diversity. Particularly in mountains, disturbance regimes are complex and influenced by topography. Avalanches in forests are disturbances causing particularly heterogeneous fingerprints in the landscape with parts along the avalanche track where mineral soil is removed, parts with accumulation of soil and woody debris and parts where advanced tree regeneration survives. This, together with the strong anisotropy, makes it difficult to anticipate ecosystem changes caused by avalanches. The winter 2008/2009 was particularly strong in Central Europe with record snow covers in late winter 2009. This caused numerous avalanches in forests which provide the chance for studying forest dynamic processes caused by these avalanches. In this project, plots along transects perpendicular to an avalanche track in an old-growth forest of the wilderness area “Dürrenstein” in the Austrian Alps are installed as permanent sample plots. Microsites, woody debris, soil development, tree regeneration and vegetation development are studied in these plots. Ungulate, small mammal and insect herbivory is characterised. The study will provide a case for studying into the role of avalanches for forest dynamics in Central European mountain forests.
Forest dynamics Avalanches Permanent sample plots Wilderness area Dürrenstein Disturbance ecology
Publikationen
Project staff
Georg Gratzer
Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Georg Gratzer
georg.gratzer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91215
Project Leader
01.08.2009 - 31.08.2010