LTSER Platform Tyrolean Alps (Regular)

Operator: University of Innsbruck, Institute of Ecology
DEIMS-SDR Database: Tyrolean Alps
Contact: Ulrike Tappeiner

Site description

The LTSER research platform “Tyrolean Alps” (TA) reaches south to the border of the federal provinces of Tyrol, extending in the east from Innsbruck to the Wipp valley, while its northern and western boundaries are formed by the valley of the river Inn and the municipal borders around Mount Patscherkofel. The total area is 3.7 million hectares covering more than 90 municipalities, with a 3,200 m altitudinal span from 550 m in the Inn valley at Innsbruck to 3,750 m at the Wildspitze summit. Due to the intricate structure and the feature of extreme living conditions of mountain habitats the Tyrolean Alps show up highly diverse landscapes and biology, providing various ecosystem services to people, such as water, fresh air, timber, carbon storage, protection from natural hazards, energy, and recreation. However, the region also suffers from severe impacts of direct socioeconomic activities, such as winter and summer tourism, hydropower generation, agriculture and changes in land use, transport, settlement etc. Within this area, dominated by high mountains and their sensitive ecosystems, 9 LTER sites (some of them comprising several habitat types) are embedded, including two lakes, grasslands at different altitudes, a treeline site, a glacier foreland, and several glaciers.

These sites span a vast range in altitude (1,000 – 3,450 m) and climate. Mean annual temperature and precipitation of the terrestrial sites covering a range of more than 5.5°C and 900 mm, respectively, and for the similarly structured grassland ecosystems of 3.6° and 570 mm, respectively. LTER has a long tradition within this region, whereas socio-ecological and socioeconomic studies have been much less undertaken. An example of an LTSER approach has been undertaken in the Stubai valley with the intention to analyse the interaction of society with nature, their cumulative effects, and to assess ecosystem and landscape services for the whole valley. All three priority research themes identified by the White Paper „Next generation LTER“ in Austria (Mirtl et al. 2010) should and will likely be key elements of future process-oriented ecosystem research activities in the TA, including (1) regulation of primary production, removal and accumulation of dead organic material in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, taking particular account for the problem posed by greenhouse gases, (2) recycling and transformation of carbon and other nutrients in natural and disturbed ecosystems, (3) impact of spatial-temporal patterns and the intensity of disturbances (including weather extremes) upon the stability of ecosystems and (4) human impact on ecosystems as well as supply and demand of ecosystem services on a landscape scale.

Publications

• Hinojosa, L., Tasser, E., Rüdisser, J., Leitinger, G., Schermer, M., Lambin, E.F., Tappeiner, U. (2019) Geographical heterogeneity in mountain grasslands dynamics in the Austrian-Italian Tyrol region. Applied Geography 106, 50-59. DOI: 10.1016/j.apgeog.2019.03.006.


• Angelstam, P., Manton, M., Elbakidze, M., Sijtsma, F., Adamescu, M.C., Avni, N., Beja, P., Bezak, P., Zyablikova, I., Cruz, F., Bretagnolle, V., Díaz-Delgado, R., Ens, B., Fedoriak, M., Flaim, G., Gingrich, S., Lavi-Neeman, M., Medinets, S., Melecis, V., Muñoz-Rojas, J., Schäckermann, J., Stocker-Kiss, A., Setälä, H., Stryamets, N., Taka, M., Tallec, G., Tappeiner, U., Törnblom, J., Yamelynets, T. (2018) LTSER platforms as a place-based transdisciplinary research infrastructure: Learning landscape approach through evaluation. Landscape Ecology, DOI: 10.1007/s10980-018-0737-6.


• Lenormand, M., Luque, S., Langemeyer, J., Tenerelli, P., Zulian, G., Aalders, I., Chivulescu, S., Clemente, P., Giuca, R.C., Dick, J., van Dijk, J., van Eupen, M., Kopperoinen, L., Lellei-Kovács, E., Leone, M., Lieskovský, J., Schirpke, U., Smith, A.C., Tappeiner, U., Woods, H. (2018) Multiscale socio-ecological networks in the age of information. PLoS ONE, 13(11): e0206672, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206672


• Dick, J., Orenstein, D.E., Holzer, J.M., Wohner, C., Achard, A.-L., Andrews, C., Avriel-Avni, N., Beja, P., Blond, N., Cabelloi, J., Chen, C., Díaz-Delgado, R., Giannakis, G.V., Gingrich, S., Izakovicova, Z., Krauze, K., Lamouroux, N., Leca, S., Melecis, V., Miklós, K., Mimikou, M., Niedrist, G., Piscart, C., Postolache, C., Psomas, A., Santos-Reis, M., Tappeiner, U., Vanderbilt, K., Van Ryckegem, G. (2018) What is socio-ecological research delivering? A literature survey across 25 international LTSER platforms. Science of the Total Environment, 622–623, 1225–1240, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.324.


• Leitinger, G., Meusburger, K., Rüdisser, J., Tasser, E., Walde, J., Holler, P. (2018) Spatial evaluation of snow gliding in the Alps. Catena 165, 567-575. DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2018.03.001


• Locatelli B, Lavorel S, Tappeiner U, Sloan S, Geneletti D (2017): Characteristic trajectories of ecosystem services in mountains. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment


• Schirpke, U., Kohler, M., Leitinger, G., Fontana, V., Tasser, E., Tappeiner, U. (2017). Future impacts of changing land-use and climate on ecosystem services and resilience of mountain grassland. Ecosystem Services.


• Niedertscheider M, Tasser E, Pateck M, Rüdisser J, Tappeiner U, Erb K-H (2017):  Influence of land-use intensification on C-stock trajectories in an Alpine valley from 1865 to 2003. Ecosystems


• Eggarter VL, Tasse E, Schirpke U, Tappeiner U (2017): Using land use/land cover trajectories to uncover ecosystem service patterns across the Alps. Regional Environmental Change


• Kerle, S., Tappeiner, U. (2017): The Tyrolean Alps LTSER platform – providing scientific insights for better management of protected areas. eco.mont – Volume 9, Number 1, January 2017


• Tasser E, Leitinger G, Schirpke U, Tappeiner U (2017): Climate Change vs Land-Use Change - which affects the landscape more? Land Use Policy


• Bacher M, Walde J, Pecher C, Tasser E, Tappeiner U (2016) : Are interest groups different in the factors determining landscape preferences? Landscape Online, 47, 1-18


• Egarter Vigl L, Schirpke U, Tasser E, Tappeiner U (2016) Linking long-term landscape dynamics to the multiple interactions among ecosystem services in the European Alps. Landscape Ecology


• Haida C, Ruedisser J, Tappeiner U (2016): Ecosystem services in mountain regions: experts' perception and research intensity. Regional Environmental Change


• Schermer, Markus; Darnhofer, Ika; Daugstad, Karoline; Gabillet, Marine; Lavorel, Sandra; Steinbacher, Melanie (2016): Institutional impacts on the resilience of mountain grasslands: an analysis based on three European case studies.
  In: LAND USE POLICY 52, S. 382 - 391.


• Schirpke U, Timmermann DF, Tappeiner U, Tasser E (2016): Cultural ecosystem services of mountain regions: Modelling the aesthetic value. Ecological Indicators


• Grêt-Regamey A, Weibel B, Bagstad KJ, Ferrari M, Geneletti D, Klug H, Schirpke U, Tappeiner U (2014): On the effects of scale for ecosystem services mapping. PLoS ONE 9(12).


• Tappeiner, U., Borsdorf, A., Bahn, M. (2013): Long-Term Socio-ecological Research in Mountain Regions: Perspectives from the Tyrolean Alps. In Singh, S.J., Haberl, H., Chertow, M., Mirtl, M., Schmid, M. (Eds.), Long Term Socio-Ecologial (pp. 505-525) Dordrecht Heidelberg New York London: Springer


• Schirpke, U., Leitinger, G., Tasser, E., Schermer, M., Steinbacher, M., Tappeiner, U. (2013): Multiple ecosystem services of a changing Alpine landscape: past, present and future. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 9(2), 123-135.


• Schirpke U, Tasser E, Tappeiner U (2013): Predicting scenic beauty of mountain regions. Landscape and Urban Planning 111, 1–12.


• Schirpke U, Hölzler S, Leitinger G, Bacher M, Tappeiner U, Tasser E (2013): Can we model the scenic beauty of an Alpine landscape? Sustainability, 5(3), 1080-1094.


• Bacher, M.; Tasser, E.; Schermer, M.; Rüdisser, J.; Tappeiner, U. (2012): Kulturlandschaft wohin?
  In: Tasser, Erich; Schermer, Markus; Siegl, Gerhard; Tappeiner, Ulrike: Wir LandschaftMacher. Vom Sein und Werden der Kulturlandschaft in Nord-, Ost- und Südtirol. Bozen / Innsbruck / Traunstein: Athesia Gruppe, ISBN 978-88-8266-906-5, S. 187 - 211.


• Tasser, Erich; Schermer, Markus; Siegl, Gerhard; Tappeiner, Ulrike (2012): Wir LandschaftMacher. Vom Sein und Werden der Kulturlandschaft in Nord-, Ost- und Südtirol. Bozen / Innsbruck / Traunstein: Athesia Gruppe.


• Schermer, M.; Bacher, M.; Tappeiner U. (2011): Wer will welche Land(wirt)schaft in den Alpen? Zur Konzeption von Kulturlandschaft in Nord- und Südtirol.
  In: Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Agrarwirtschaft und Agrarsoziologie: Yearbook of Socioeconomics in Agriculture. Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Agrarwirtschaft und Agrarsoziologie, S. 85 - 110.


• Zimmermann P., Tasser E., Leitinger G., Tappeiner U. (2010): Effects of land­use and land­cover pattern on landscape­scale biodiversity in the European Alps. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment


• Abermann, J., Fischer, A., Lambrecht, A. und Geist, T. (2009a): Multitemporal LIDAR­DEMs for glacier and permafrost mapping and monitoring, The Cryosphere Discussion.


• Kuhn, M., Lambrecht, A., Abermann, J. & Patzelt, G. (2009a): Die österreichischen Gletscher 1998 und 1969. Flächen- und Volumenänderungen. Projektbericht 10,Vlg. der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.


• Tasser E., Ruffini F.V., Tappeiner U. (2009): An integrative approach for analysing landscape dynamics in diverse cultivated and natural mountain areas. Landscape Ecology 24: 581­713.


• Tasser E., Sternbach E., Tappeiner U. (2008): Biodiversity indicators for sustainability monitoring at municipality level: An example of implementation in an alpine region. Ecological Indicators 8 (3): 204­223.


• Bayfield N., Barancok P., Furger M., Sebastia M.T., Domínguez G., Lapka M., Cudlinova E., Vescovo L., Gianelle D., Cernusca A., Tappeiner U., Drösler M. (2008): Stakeholder Perceptions of the Impacts of Rural Funding Scenarios on Mountain Landscapes across Europe. Ecosys­tems 11: 1368­1382.


• Kuhn, M. (2007): OMEGA. Using glaciers as indicators of climate change, Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, Band 41, Seite 7­28.


• Kuhn M. & Lambrecht A. (2007): Änderung von Gletschern im 20. Jahrhundert. In BMLFUW (ed.) Hydrologischer Atlas Österreichs, 3. Lieferung, Kartentafel 4.3. Wien: Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft. ISBN 3-85437-250-7.


• Sharov, A. & Etzold, S. (2007): Stereophotogrammetric mapping and cartometric analysis of glacier changes using IKONOS imagery, Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, Band 41, Seite 107­130.