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Restoration ecology research above the timberline: colonization of safety islands on a machine-graded alpine ski run

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Abstract

Colonization was studied in safety islands installed on a machine-graded downhill ski run (ca 2500m asl) and respectively aged 7, 8, and 9 years. For comparison, the neighbouring non-restored plots were investigated. The study included assessment of species richness (alpha diversity), size and spatial structure of the immigrant populations, and the nearest possible diaspore sources. The number of colonizing species recorded in the safety islands totalled 44 whereas only 25 species were found in the non-restored ski run plots close by. The mean species number per whole plot, per 1m2 and per 0.1m2 was significantly higher in the safety islands than in the non-restored ski run plots. Population founders and small populations represented more than half of all immigrant species in the safety islands, but medium-sized and large populations were also present. The overall distribution of plants was patchy but the number of individuals per 1m2 was significantly higher in the safety islands than in the ski run. Travelling distances separating the safety islands from the nearest possible diaspore source were often exceedingly short and ranged between 0.10m and 1m in 47.7% of all populations studied. It seems that the diaspore sources were mostly secondary i.e. plants scattered over the non-restored ski run, and those previously used in restoration trials, served as diaspore donors. The results of the study clearly demonstrate that successful colonization of machine-graded alpine ski runs in the study area is ultimately limited by safe-site availability and not by deficiencies in seed rain or remote diaspore sources. The colonization process in the safety islands is apparently well-advanced.

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  1. Geobotanical Institute SFIT Zurich, Zurichbergstrasse 38, CH-8044, Zurich, Switzerland

    KRYSTYNA M. URBANSKA

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  1. KRYSTYNA M. URBANSKA
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URBANSKA, K.M. Restoration ecology research above the timberline: colonization of safety islands on a machine-graded alpine ski run. Biodiversity and Conservation 6, 1655–1670 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018382923596

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