Periphyton in springs and glacier streams for assessment of long-term climatic and environmental change (LTER) (2001-2015)
Research questions
Whereas effects of both climatic change and airborne pollution have mainly been studied in still waters (lakes) changes of groundwaters originating within springs in high alpine areas of the Alps have largly been underexplored. We hypothesize that by means of a sensitive group of bioindicators (eplithic diatoms) global change (including nitrogen enrichment, global warming, acidifications pulses) would be detected especially in soft watered springs at altitudes above the timber line in the Central Alps when long-term data over several years would be compared. Beside springs climate effects must especially be evident in the new formed streams in glacier retreat areas and in streams originating from rock glaciers.
