CLAIMES

Climate response of alpine lakes: resistance variability and management consequences for ecosystem services

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CLAIMES

Alpine mountain lakes are considered as jewels of the mountain world. In the light of climate change, drastic ecological changes of these lakes are expected. The ecological functions of mountain lakes are closely linked to their contributions to human well-being: the so-called ecosystem services (ES). For example, natural mountain lakes are often destinations for outdoor recreationists but can also supply water for agriculture. To preserve both the ecosystems of mountain lakes and their ES in the future, gaining knowledge about possible consequences of ecological changes due to climate change and a potential increase of human use is important. In this context, the CLAIMES project compares a larger number of mountain lakes in the northern (Niedere Tauern, Austria) and the southern part of the Alps (South Tyrol, Italy), which are long-term monitored.


The first step is to analyze the response of mountain lakes to climate change within the last 20 years. For this purpose, (1) temperature trends will be calculated, (2) plankton organisms (such as bacteria and algae) and fish will be detected using modern DNA-based methods, and further (3) indicator organisms will be collected. These data will be compared with older measurement data and can, thus, provide information on the resilience of mountain lakes under climate change.


In a second step, ES will be collected for different lake types. The lake types studied are based on the UN criteria for sustainable development, such as access to clean water, intensity of use or climate-related sensitivity. Provisioning and regulating ES (e.g., water supply, water regulation, and water quality) are assessed with the help of statistical data, limnological measurement data, and modelling. Cultural ES (e.g., outdoor recreation) are recorded by means of geotagging or surveys. Based on IPCC climate scenarios, validated temperature models will provide information on the extent to which the expected ecological changes in the mountain lakes can also affect their ES.


In the third step, the current use of different mountain will be evaluated comparatively. For this purpose, (1) the relevant ES will be determined, (2) the ES will be weighed against each other with the help of surveys, and (3) indicators for the relevant ES must be defined. The ES will be evaluated under different climate scenarios. Finally, proposals for environmental policy instruments will be developed and presented with the aim of ensuring the sustainable use of mountain lakes in the future.

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Claimes-Survey Antholz lake

Claimes-Survey Langes lake

Claimes-Survey Equipment

Claimes Prags lake
Publications
An integrative approach to evaluate ecosystem services of mountain lakes using multi-criteria decision analysis
Fontana V, Ebner M, Schirpke U, Ohndorf M, Pritsch H, Tappeiner U, Kurmayer R (2023)
Journal article
Ecological Economics

More information: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107678

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107678

Plankton community composition in mountain lakes and consequences for ecosystem services
Pritsch H, Schirpke U, Jersabek CD, Kurmayer R (2023)
Journal article
Ecological Indicators

More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X2 ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110532

Climate response of alpine lakes and impacts on ecosystem services
Schirpke U, Ebner M, Fontana V, Enigl K, Ohndorf M, Pritsch H, Kurmayer R (2023)
Journal article
Landscape Online

More information: https://www.landscape-online.org/index.php/lo/article/view/L ...

https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.2023.1109

[Doppione] An integrative approach to evaluate ecosystem services of mountain lakes using multi-criteria decision analysis
Fontana V, Ebner M, Schirpke U, Ohndorf M, Pritsch H, Tappeiner U, Kurmayer R (2023)
Journal article
Ecological Economics

More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092180092 ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107678

[Doppione] Stakeholder perspectives on ecosystem services of mountain lakes in the European Alps
Ebner M, Fontana V, Schirpke U, Tappeiner U (2022)
Journal article
Ecosystem Services

More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221204162 ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101386

Assessing ecosystem services of mountain lakes: perceptions, indicators and pressures
Schirpke U (2022)
Presentation/Speech

Conference: Seminartalk Mondsee (virtuel) | Mondsee (AT) | 19.1.2022 - 19.1.2022

Not too small to benefit society: insights into perceived cultural ecosystem services of mountain lakes in the European Alps
Schirpke U, Scolozzi R, Tappeiner U (2022)
Journal article
Ecology & Society

More information: https://ecologyandsociety.org/vol27/iss1/art6/

https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-12987-270106

Exposure to global change pressures and potential impacts on ecosystem services of mountain lakes in the European Alps
Schirpke U, Ebner M (2022)
Journal article
Journal of Environmental Management

More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030147972 ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115606

Combining multiple socio-cultural approaches – Deeper insights into cultural ecosystem services of mountain lakes?
Ebner M, Schirpke U, Tappeiner U (2022)
Journal article
Landscape and Urban Planning

More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016920462 ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2022.104549

How do anthropogenic pressures affect the provision of ecosystem services of small mountain lakes?
Ebner M, Schirpke U, Tappeiner U (2022)
Journal article
Anthropocene

More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221330542 ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2022.100336

Stakeholder perspectives on ecosystem services of mountain lakes in the European Alps
Ebner M, Fontana V, Schirpke U, Tappeiner U (2022)
Journal article
Ecosystem Services

More information: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221204162 ...

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101386

Using the Ecosystem Services Concept to Assess Transformation of Agricultural Landscapes in the European Alps
Schirpke U, Tasser E, Leitinger G, Tappeiner U (2022)
Journal article
Land

More information: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/1/49/htm

https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010049

An integrative approach to evaluate ecosystem services of mountain lakes
Ebner M, Fontana V, Schirpke U, Pritsch H, Ohndorf M, Tappeiner U, Kurmayer R (2021)
Presentation/Speech

Conference: 12th Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences | Dublin/online | 29.7.2021 - 29.7.2021

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/18814

An ecosystem service perspective on mountain lakes across socio-ecological contexts
Ebner M, Schirpke U, Pritsch H, Fontana V, Tappeiner U, Kurmayer R (2021)
Presentation/Speech

Conference: 50th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. | Online | 30.8.2021 - 30.8.2021

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/19356

People’s perceptions related to cultural ecosystem services of mountain lakes
Schripke U, Scolozzi R, Kiessling A, Tappeiner U (2021)
Presentation/Speech

Conference: Third ESP Europe Conference | Tartu/Online | 10.6.2021 - 10.6.2021

https://hdl.handle.net/10863/19420

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