Abstract ID: 3.8717 | Accepted as Poster | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Authors: Janne Creve, Stefan Herdy, Philipp Faulhammer, Stefanie Maier, Minsu Kim, Markus Herndl, Bettina Weber.

The Alps are warming at a rate that is twice the global average, accompanied by changes in precipitation patterns and rapid snow and ice loss. In high alpine regions, particularly those with retreating glaciers, biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are the first communities to colonize shallow soils and rocky surfaces. Composed of cyanobacteria, algae, lichens, and bryophytes, along with heterotrophic bacteria, archaea, and microfauna, biocrusts play essential roles in the ecosystem, such as stabilizing soils, reducing erosion, fixing nutrients, and enhancing water retention to support the surrounding vegetation. Despite their critical functions, the responses of biocrusts to climate change in alpine ecosystems remain poorly understood.

To address this, we established a climate change experiment in the high alpine region of the Großglockner, Austria. The setup includes ten plots near Hochtor, Carinthia, with five plots heated by infrared lamps and five serving as controls. A nearby climate station records ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, light intensity, and precipitation. Additionally, plot-specific sensors monitor biocrust water content and temperature. Within each plot, eight permanent subplots are photographed biannually to analyze changes in coverages of vegetation and biocrusts over time, using image analyses supported by a deep learning algorithm. In addition, controlled experiments are conducted in climate chambers to assess biocrust responses to increased temperatures and altered CO₂ levels.

The project, which is strongly supported by the “Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein” and the “Großglockner Hochalpenstraße AG”, was launched in May 2024, with the initial field setup completed in June 2024. After resolving technical issues, the system became fully operational in September 2024. Due to harsh winter conditions and the risk of avalanches, the setup is dismantled during winter months. Our first preliminary results during 2024 have demonstrated the feasibility of our approach. Our project aims to provide valuable insights into the resilience and functioning of biocrusts in the context of climate change, thereby enhancing our understanding of their role in alpine ecosystems.