Biodiversity on avalanche tracks, a case study in the national park "Gesäuse" (Styria, Austria)

Mittersill

2009

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

16216

200159457

Because there is a conflict between protection of natural processes on the one hand and protection against natural hazards on the other hand, the nature-conservation value of active avalanche tracks was assessed. For this purpose 16 plant stands on three different avalanche tracks in the national park "Gesäuse" (Styria, Austria) were examined. On the investigated avalanche tracks the soils are very shallow, stony, nutrient-poor, base-rich rendzinas that developed over limestone debris. The sites are steep and mainly east-facing slopes located in the montane belt. Under these conditions, the plant stands are characterized by a high species density. The average number of vascular plant species within a plot size of 20 m2 is 71, and the number of bryophyte species is 5. 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 nature-conservation value because natural ecological processes still happens, feading to near-natural, species-rich ecosystems.