Autor: Katharina Ramskogler

In outer and inner Grastal (Horlach Valley, Tyrol), vegetation analyses were carried out in summer 2020 on undisturbed and by debris flows (different years) disturbed plots in the starting and accumulation zone. Debris flows were mapped by Jakob Rom.

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Fig. 1: A) undisturbed and B) disturbed plot at the accumulation zone outer Grastal. Photos: Katharina Ramskogler.

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Fig. 2: A) undisturbed and B) disturbed plot at the accumulation zone inner Grastal. Photos: Katharina Ramskogler.

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Fig. 3: A) undisturbed and B) disturbed plot at the starting zone outer Grastal. Photos: Katharina Ramskogler.

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Fig. 4: A) undisturbed and B) disturbed plot at the starting zone inner Grastal. Photos: Katharina Ramskogler.

In Kauner Valley, close to the area of the rock glacier Innere Ölgrube, vegetation analyses were carried out in summer 2020 from the treeline (2135 m a.s.l.) to the subnival belt (2730 m a.s.l.). Disturbed and undisturbed plots were compared. Temperature and soil water potential measurements were performed at 10 cm soil depth.

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Fig. 2: A) undisturbed and B) morphodynamically disturbed plot at the upper end of the transect Innere Ölgrube. Photos: Katharina Ramskogler.

First impressions are often deceptive: recently ice-free areas are not hostile. As soon as the glacier has released new areas (Fig. 1), one can discover the first plants, such as the alpine blue grass (Poa alpina, Fig. 2) or the purple mountain saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia, Fig. 3), and the yellow mountain saxifrage (Saxifraga aizoides, Fig. 4).

Katharina Ramskogler from the Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, investigated plant colonisation at the Zufallferner glacier foreland (Martell Valley). Within 5 x 2 m plots, each plant species was counted and the cover was estimated. Soil temperature and soil water potential were measured at each plot.

Sample plot of 5 x 2 m at the glacier foreland. Photo: Katharina Ramskogler.

Vegetation surveys were carried out along an elevation gradient from the treeline (2170 m above sea level) to the subnival belt (2745 m a.s.l.) of Langental, (inner Martell Valley)). Along the sampled plots, soil temperature measurements were performed in 10 cm soil depth.