Biodiversity of Flora and Fauna in Alpine Waters

Abstract

AbstractThe study of Alpine aquatic environments began in the early 19th century, but only since the early 1990s has scientific interest intensified on these systems. The goal of this chapter is to summarize the community patterns of algae, zoobenthos, and fish that occur in Alpine freshwaters. Benthic algae in Alpine waters are differentiated among particular regions of the Alps in relation to geology, stream origin, and anthropogenic activity. Because of their dominance, the diatoms are the most widely studied algae in Alpine waters. By possessing various morphological structures and physiological traits, most stream insects are adapted to the dynamic and cold aquatic habitat of alpine landscapes. Aquatic insects comprise a substantial proportion of the zoobenthos in surface waters, with Chironomidae being most common. Seasonality is a common feature of macroinvertebrate assemblages in glacial streams in the Swiss Alps. Two evolutionarily successful strategies in glacial streams are adaptation to unstable stream conditions during summer (summer species) or avoidance of these conditions (winter species). Only a few native fishes are able to colonize and inhabit Alpine waters. Over the last decades, non-native, cold stenothermic species have established self-reproducing populations and appear well-adapted to the harsh environmental conditions in the Alps. The indigenous brown trout (Salmo trutta fario L.) is the most important fish in alpine running waters. Glacier retreat has accelerated globally, increasing the probability that fundamental ecological changes will occur in alpine landscapes, in particular the ecology of running and standing waters.KeywordsAlpine diatomsAlpine fishesAlpine macroinvertebratesEnvironmental indicatorGlacier retreat