Project duration: November 1, 2023 to January 5, 2024 - Short name: KECCbiocrust

Abstract of the project "Setting up a climate manipulation experiment at a high-alpine location - Großglockner"

The heating will be achieved using infrared heaters, while the snow removal will be carried out manually. The experiment is part of the ACRP (Austrian Climate Research Programme) project “Effects of climate change on biological soil crusts and their ecosystem services in alpine regions”, which investigates a complex set of biocrust parameters and their functional properties.

This includes biocrust cover and the biodiversity of photoautotrophic and heterotrophic organisms and microfauna. Furthermore, the effects of warming on key functional properties, such as photosynthetic carbon sequestration, soil stability, and nutrient availability, are analyzed.

This project will generate extensive knowledge about the impacts of climate change on biocrusts and their ecosystem services. This information will contribute to adapting to the changes expected in the near future and ensuring the functioning of the high-alpine environment.

Results of the project "Setting up a climate manipulation experiment at a high-alpine location - Grossglockner"

Climate change is affecting high alpine regions with above-average warming rates and is significantly altering both temperature and precipitation patterns.

In this context, biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play a central role by promoting soil stability, erosion control, and nutrient cycling. This project describes the design of a climate manipulation experiment at a high-alpine site, with the aim of investigating the effects of climate change on biological soil crusts (biocrusts) and their ecosystem services.

A full factorial climate manipulation experiment was set up at the Hochtor experimental site on the Grossglockner mountain. Five heated plots were warmed by 3°C using an infrared heating system, while five control plots remained unheated. The experimental setup took place in the summer of 2024, with the infrared heating system installed hexagonally on support structures to ensure uniform heating of the plots. Challenges of the project included problems with the digital connection of the thermometers, which were resolved by adapting the interface. The experiment is expected to provide important insights into the responses of biocrusts to climate change, an area that has been little researched in high-alpine regions to date.

This data helps to better understand future changes in the ecosystem functions of high alpine regions, especially with regard to the expected increase in extreme events and the change in precipitation patterns in the Alps.