Canton Of Valais Research Articles

Farmers’ knowledge in the Swiss canton Valais: cultural heritage with future significance for European veterinary medicine?

BackgroundThe demand for natural product-based treatment options for livestock is increasing by animals’ owners, veterinarians and policy makers. But at the same time, the traditional knowledge about it is at risk of falling into oblivion in Europe. The present study recorded this knowledge for the linguistically and geographically interesting Swiss canton of Valais.MethodOpen, semi-structured interviews were used to collect detailed information on formulations and applications, including plant species and natural substances, origin of material, extraction and preparation of herbal products, indication and type of application, dosage, sources of knowledge, frequency of usage and self-assessment of the treatment.Results and discussionIn the course of 43 interviews, 173 homemade single species herbal remedy report (HSHR) were recorded. They included 53 plant species from 30 botanical families. Plant species from the botanical families of Asteraceae, Rubiaceae and Cupressaceae were mentioned the most, while the most frequently documented plant species were Coffea arabica L., Juniperus sabina L., Arnica montana L. and Matricaria chamomilla L. For the 173 HSHR, a total of 215 uses were mentioned, most of which were for the treatment of gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders, followed by skin lesions and genito-urinary tract problems. Regional peculiarities emerged, such as the use of Leontopodium alpinum Cass. for diarrhea in the French-speaking Valais, while Matricaria chamomilla and Camellia sinensis L. were used in the German-speaking part instead. In comparison with other regions of Switzerland, 10 plants were reported for the first time, including Juniperus sabina with 18 use reports.ConclusionThe daily use on farms and the high satisfaction of farmers with homemade herbal remedies demonstrate their high practical relevance. In conclusion, the traditional regional knowledge about the use of medicinal plants is not only a cultural heritage worth protecting, but also an essential resource for the further development of European veterinary medicine.

Roles and activities of local stakeholders facing Alpine permafrost warming: A comparative exploratory analysis of three contexts and networks of actors

Mountain permafrost warming resulting from climate change increases gravitational hazards. This interdisciplinary study compares the networks of actors involved in managing such hazards in three regions of the European Alps. Interviews were conducted with 40 people (members of local authorities, mountain professionals, and private citizens) at the foot of Mont Blanc (Chamonix, France), in the Vanoise massif (France), and in the canton of Valais (Switzerland). Data were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using interaction matrices and network diagrams. Communal authorities played a central role but partnered with many other public and private actors. In Valais, collaboration to protect infrastructure and inhabited areas was centred around communal and cantonal authorities. In Chamonix, the network of actors gave a significant role to mountain professionals. In Vanoise, the network was less dense and less well-defined, although actors had high expectations regarding awareness-raising and prevention. Sources of tension existed in all three networks, particularly between authorities and mountain professionals. To strengthen community resilience, authorities should develop more mechanisms for citizen participation in risk management.

EHealth profile of patients with diabetes

Abstract Background Digital health technology can be useful to improve the health of patients with diabetes, to support patient-centered care, and self-management. In this cross-sectional study, we described the eHealth profile of patients with diabetes, based on their use of digital health technology, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics. Methods We used data from the “Qualité Diabète Valais” cohort study, conducted in one region of Switzerland (Canton Valais) since 2020. Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and on the use of digital health technology. We defined eHealth profiles based on three features, i.e., ownership or use of 1) internet-connected devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer), 2) mHealth applications, and 3) connected health tools (activity sensor, smart weight scale, or connected blood glucose meter). We assessed the association between sociodemographic characteristics and participants’ eHealth profiles using stratified analyses and logistic regression models. Results 398 participants (38% women) with a mean age of 65 years were included. The vast majority (94%) were Swiss citizens or bi-national; 14% had a primary level education, 51% a secondary level, and 32% a tertiary level. Some 75% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Some 90% of the participants owned internet-connected devices, 43% used mHealth applications, and 44% owned a connected health tool. Older age and a lower educational level were associated with lower odds of all features of the eHealth profile. Conclusions While most participants owned internet-connected devices, only about half of them used mHealth applications or owned connected health tools. Older participants and those with a lower educational level were less likely to use digital health technology. eHealth implementation strategies need to consider these sociodemographic patterns among patients with diabetes. Key messages • eHealth use among patients with diabetes was associated with younger age and higher education. • eHealth strategies need to consider that patients at higher risk of complications are those who use eHealth the least.

Designing a Sustainable, Circular Culinary System

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to design a sustainable, culinary system based on the principles of circular economy and systemic design integrating restaurants and hotels of a rural tourism region. The overall research question is: How can the current fruit and vegetable food system be transformed into a sustainable and circular culinary system creating benefits for all stakeholders? As the main aim of this exploratory study is to understand the challenges and experiences of the different actors involved in the current food network rather than measuring flows, the researchers adopt a qualitative approach based on the principles of systemic design. The authors conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with different actors along the value chain in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. The results show that among the factors needed to create a sustainable, circular local food network are a centralized distribution system, efficient transport, better food waste management, sensitization/education of different actors, and better promotion of regional food. The resulting model for a sustainable and circular culinary system includes a regional hub that coordinates the different material and relational flows, the transportation system, and promotional activities including a central marketplace platform. The results are of particular interest for policy strategies focusing on the promotion of regional food networks. In terms of practical applications, the study suggests different solutions to transform current food systems into circular, re-localized food networks that help valorize local food in rural tourism regions.

EHealth profile of patients with diabetes.

Digital health technology can be useful to improve the health of patients with diabetes and to support patient-centered care and self-management. In this cross-sectional study, we described the eHealth profile of patients with diabetes, based on their use of digital health technology, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics. We used data from the "Qualité Diabète Valais" cohort study, conducted in one region of Switzerland (Canton Valais) since 2019. Participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and on the use of digital health technology. We defined eHealth profiles based on three features, i.e., ownership or use of (1) internet-connected devices (smartphone, tablet, or computer), (2) mHealth applications, and (3) connected health tools (activity sensor, smart weight scale, or connected blood glucose meter). We assessed the association between sociodemographic characteristics and participants' eHealth profiles using stratified analyses and logistic regression models. Some 398 participants (38% women) with a mean age of 65 years (min: 25, max: 92) were included. The vast majority (94%) were Swiss citizens or bi-national and 68% were economically inactive; 14% had a primary level education, 51% a secondary level, and 32% a tertiary level. Some 75% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Some 90% of the participants owned internet-connected devices, 43% used mHealth applications, and 44% owned a connected health tool. Older age and a lower educational level were associated with lower odds of all features of the eHealth profile. To a lesser extent, having type 2 diabetes or not being a Swiss citizen were also associated with a lower use of digital health technology. There was no association with sex. While most participants owned internet-connected devices, only about half of them used mHealth applications or owned connected health tools. Older participants and those with a lower educational level were less likely to use digital health technology. eHealth implementation strategies need to consider these sociodemographic patterns among patients with diabetes.

Characterization of rock glaciers environments combining structurally-coupled and petrophysically-coupled joint inversions of electrical resistivity and seismic refraction datasets

The degradation of mountain permafrost is well documented at many Alpine sites. Geophysical techniques have been intensively used to monitor these sites, since permafrost degradation is not only a proxy of climate change and global warming but also a possible source of slope instabilities and triggering of mass movements. While the use of non-invasive geophysical techniques is promising, the interpretation of different geophysical results can introduce ambiguities in defining the investigated subsoil and often does not lead to a quantitative estimation of the internal permafrost constituents (rock matrix, ice, liquid water and air contents). To overcome these limitations, we applied an optimized joint inversion approaches of electrical resistivity and refraction seismic tomography datasets collected at two Swiss rock glaciers (Schafberg - Canton Grisons, and Ritigraben - Canton Valais). Firstly, to improve the structural interpretation of the frozen near subsurface, we performed a structurally coupled cooperative joint inversion, optimizing the coupling parameters. Subsequently, we used the petrophysical joint inversion to quantify the composition of these mountain permafrost substrates, optimizing the numerical and petrophysical parameters. The obtained results agree with field observations and the borehole data collected at these two sites, opening new perspectives for the future quantitative monitoring of permafrost constituents. Plain language summaryIncreasing mean annual temperatures over the last decades has led to glacier melt and permafrost thawing. The degradation of glaciers is easier to quantify as they are visible on the surface, as opposed to permafrost which is found in the subsoil and must therefore be studied with direct drilling techniques or with non-invasive geophysical methods. Drilling investigations are expensive and complicated to perform in high mountain environments and only provide 1D information. Geophysical surveys can be used to quickly and economically characterize larger areas. Since permafrost thawing is a risk factor in high mountain environments (inducing e.g. instability of infrastructure, or triggering rock falls and landslides), it is important to have reliable geophysical techniques to study these environments. In this work, we propose an optimization of two different data analysis processes, applied to geoelectrical and seismic measurements, to better define the structure and composition of two ice-rich mountain permafrost sites in the Swiss Alps.

Strengthening of the Riddes Viaduct Through UHPFRC-Based Rehabilitation

Built in the mid-1970s, the Riddes viaduct is an important viaduct in the Canton of Valais in Switzerland. Thorough inspection of the viaduct revealed structural deterioration of concrete due to alkali–aggregate reaction, as well as corrosion of the prestressing tendons. In an effort to restore the structural integrity of the viaduct, a retrofit intervention that consists of adding a 50 mm layer of an Ultra-High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) to the deck was proposed. The layer is characterized by its low permeability and excellent mechanical properties. The contribution of the overlay to the load-carrying capacity and stiffness of the viaduct was investigated through a continuum finite element model. Results of the model revealed that the UHPFRC layer significantly enhances the flexural and torsional strength and stiffness of the box girder and ameliorates tensile cracking. The retrofit intervention was deemed beneficial, and the rehabilitation process was carried out.

Nant de Drance pumped storage power plant – Energy storage to prevent energy shortages

AbstractThe Nant de Drance hydropower plant in the canton of Valais is one of the Swiss energy industry's largest construction projects of recent years. The core component is the underground pumped storage power plant. This pumps water from the existing Emosson reservoir at 1930 m asl to the upper Vieux Emossen reservoir at 2225 m asl, where the surplus energy is stored. When demand exceeds supply, water is released to generate electricity. The head ranges from 290 to 395 m, depending on the water levels. The new power plant, which took 14 years to build, has a pump and turbine capacity of 900 MW.The most important elements of the project were the access tunnel, pressure tunnels, vertical pressure shafts and underground machine and transformer halls, as well as the various access and service galleries, the intake and discharge structures with cofferdam, and the raising of the Vieux Emosson dam by 20 m. The ecologically sensitive use of resources is essential to ensure the success of a complex, high‐altitude construction project of this nature involving enormous quantities of material. Excavated rock, for example, has been processed on site to produce aggregate for concrete. In this case a high‐capacity aggregate production plant was installed on site to process the excavated material required for on‐site concrete production. This created a closed‐loop materials cycle which enabled the construction site to be self‐sufficient in terms of concrete production.The challenges of using excavated tunnel material as a resource are enormous.

A Glacial Archaeology Update from the Canton of Valais, Switzerland (and a call for citizen scientists)

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Acoustic characteristics of fricatives in Francoprovençal (Nendaz)

Francoprovençal (FP) is a highly fragmented, severely endangered, and under-documented language spoken in parts of France, Italy and Switzerland. FP spoken in the Swiss Canton of Valais has a relatively rich voiceless fricative inventory, which for some varieties includes /ɬ/. FP is therefore unusual amongst Romance languages given the presence of a phonemic lateral fricative, which is also typologically rare in the world’s languages. Moreover, voiceless lateral fricatives have been reported to display a wide range of variation in acoustic properties cross-linguistically. To date, there is very little synchronic work examining the details of both the phonology and phonetics of FP, and no published acoustic work at all on any aspect of FP’s sound system. This study provides the first acoustic investigation of one variety of FP spoken in the Valaisan commune of Nendaz, concentrating on a preliminary examination of the fricative system. We examine productions from four speakers whose data is part of a larger study into language variation and change in the region. We show that voiceless fricative categories are distinguished primarily through spectral centre-of-gravity and variance measures. Further evidence from a series of acoustic measures, including proportion of pre-voicing, relative intensity and zero-crossing ratios, suggest that /ɬ/ in FP sits between two poles: a prototypical lateral fricative and a prototypical lateral approximant. In this respect, the study’s findings corroborate observations made elsewhere, and not only contributes to the documentation and description of a lesser-studied language, but also our understanding of voiceless lateral fricative typology.

Phonetic stability across time: Linguistic enclaves in Switzerland

The present paper shows results of a proof-of-concept study on two historically related but geographically separated dialects of Swiss German. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, speakers of Valais German (southwestern Switzerland) emigrated to the southeastern part of the country, forming so-called Sprachinseln (enclaves) of Valais German in a Romansh-speaking area. Using an online survey, we collected responses from 300+ participants from the cantons of Valais and Grisons to examine how the two dialects have developed over time. Results suggest stability on the phonetic level, i. e. the two dialects still sound very similar despite having been geographically separated for 800 years. The morphosyntax and lexicon, however, exhibit substantial change. We discuss historic and sociodemographic factors that may explain these patterns.

Climate change simulations in Alpine summer pastures suggest a disruption of current vegetation zonation

Alpine summer grazing areas (high-altitude pastures) represent hotspots of biodiversity and high cultural heritage values. Low density forests (Alpine Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra forests) and species-rich open land (Alpine and boreal heaths, siliceous Alpine and boreal grasslands) are protected according to the Flora-Fauna-Habitat-directive of the European Union. These habitats are threatened by the accelerated mountain climate warming and the expected upslope shift of vegetation zones. With climate change, tree growth accelerates and montane species spread to higher altitudes. The fate of low density larch forests, alpine heathlands and grasslands is unclear. We used the process-based wooded pasture model WoodPaM to simulate large-scale and long-term dynamics of the forest and tree line under several land-use scenarios and climate change. The simulation results for the central Alpine summer grazing area Furggtal (Canton Valais, Switzerland) showed a plausible projection of the upslope migration of vegetation zones due to climate warming in the very long-term. For the upcoming centuries however, the existing vegetation zonation was disrupted by the intermixing of tree species during the migration process. This unexpected result emerged from the process-based modelling of tree species specific dispersal and establishment in interaction with livestock grazing. This effect was most pronounced in simulations of grazing abandonment and current low intensity grazing of free ranging livestock, which failed to buffer climate change effects. The establishment of paddocks and thereby intensified grazing on the current pastures on the valley floor promised the conservation of valuable open habitats. We conclude that the ongoing rapid upslope shift of climate zones in mountain regions might not be followed by a similar shift of vegetation zones. Widespread colonisation processes might lead to a period dominated by very dynamic vegetation communities that might not zone along climatic gradients as it was in the past of comparable stable climate. Climate change may therefore impact more like disturbance on alpine ecosystems rather than to drive continuous range shifts. During this disruptive transformation, adapted grazing management in summer pastures can help to maintain continuity for valuable habitats but would require subsidies to establish infrastructure and to increase livestock numbers. • Rapid warming disturbs the ecological balance among larch forests, Alpine grasslands, and livestock grazing. • The upslope shift of climate zones in mountain regions might not be followed by a continuous shift of vegetation zones. • During a disruptive transformation period, colonisation processes might be dominated by dynamic vegetation communities. • Climate change might therefore impact like disturbance on Alpine ecosystems. • Adapted grazing management in summer pastures can help to maintain continuity for valuable habitats.

Risk-Based Mapping Tools for Surveillance and Control of the Invasive Mosquito Aedes albopictus in Switzerland.

Background: In Switzerland, Aedes albopictus is well established in Ticino, south of the Alps, where surveillance and control are implemented. The mosquito has also been observed in Swiss cities north of the Alps. Decision-making tools are urgently needed by the local authorities in order to optimize surveillance and control. Methods: A regularized logistic regression was used to link the long-term dataset of Ae. albopictus occurrence in Ticino with socioenvironmental predictors. The probability of establishment of Ae. albopictus was extrapolated to Switzerland and more finely to the cities of Basel and Zurich. Results: The model performed well, with an AUC of 0.86. Ten socio-environmental predictors were selected as informative, including the road-based distance in minutes of travel by car from the nearest cell established in the previous year. The risk maps showed high suitability for Ae. albopictus establishment in the Central Plateau, the area of Basel, and the lower Rhone Valley in the Canton of Valais. Conclusions: The areas identified as suitable for Ae. albopictus establishment are consistent with the actual current findings of tiger mosquito. Our approach provides a useful tool to prompt authorities’ intervention in the areas where there is higher risk of introduction and establishment of Ae. albopictus.

Temporal and spatial dynamics in soil acoustics and their relation to soil animal diversity.

The observation and assessment of animal biodiversity using acoustic technology has developed considerably in recent years. Current eco-acoustic research focuses on automatic audio recorder arrays and acoustic indices, which may be used to study the spatial and temporal dynamics of local animal communities in high resolution. While such soundscapes have often been studied above ground, their applicability in soils has rarely been tested. For the first time, we applied acoustic and statistical methods to explore the spatial, diurnal, and seasonal dynamics of the soundscape in soils. We studied the dynamics of acoustic complexity in forest soils in the alpine Pfynwald forest in the Swiss canton of Valais and related them to meteorological and microclimatic data. To increase microclimatic variability, we used a long-term irrigation experiment. We also took soil samples close to the sensors on 6 days in different seasons. Daily and seasonal patterns of acoustic complexity were predicted to be associated with abiotic parameters-that is, meteorological and microclimatic conditions-and mediated by the dynamics of the diversity and activity of the soil fauna. Seasonal patterns in acoustic complexity showed the highest acoustic complexity values in spring and summer, decreasing in fall and winter. Diurnal acoustic complexity values were highest in the afternoon and lowest during the night. The measurement of acoustic diversity at the sampling site was significantly associated with soil communities, with relationships between taxa richness or community composition and acoustic complexity being strongest shortly before taking the soil samples. Our results suggest that the temporal and spatial dynamics of the diversity and community composition of soil organisms can be predicted by the acoustic complexity of soil soundscapes. This opens up the possibility of using soil soundscape analysis as a noninvasive and easy-to-use method for soil biodiversity monitoring programs.

Rescue Emergencies Due to High-Altitude Illnesses Are Rare in Switzerland.

Background: Despite a potential high risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in the Swiss Alps, there is a lack of analyses concerning its relevance over longer periods. In consequence, the aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of AMS in comparison to other causes of mountain emergencies in recent years in Switzerland. Material and Methods: Based on the central registry of mountain emergencies of the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC), all cases in the period between 2009 and 2020 were analyzed for AMS including the most severe forms of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Emergencies were assessed for the severity of the event with a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) score. Results: From a total of 4596 high-altitude mountaineering emergencies identified in the observational period, a total number of 352 cases of illnesses were detected. Detailed analysis revealed 85 cases of AMS, 5 cases of HAPE, and 1 case of HACE. The average altitude was 3845 ± 540 m. Most cases were in the canton of Valais, especially in the Monte Rosa region and the mountains of the Mischabel group (Täschhorn, Dom, Südlenz, Nadelhorn, Hohberghorn). There were only three deaths related to high-altitude illnesses; all the other events could be identified as moderate to severe but not life-threatening. Discussion: An emergency due to AMS that requires rescue is unlikely in the Swiss Alps. This does not imply that AMS is not a concern. However, the facts that the maximal altitude is relatively low and that fast self-descents often seem possible probably minimize the likelihood that mountaineers with symptoms contact emergency services.

Mauric from Apahida (MAURICIUS ≈ MAURICUS)

"Based on scattered finds, besides the well‑known Ist (1889) and IInd (1968/1969) “princely” graves in Apahida (Romania, Cluj County), dated to the Gepidic age (5–6 centuries AD) (Pl. I), there must have been a IIIrd princely grave there. Apart from these scattered finds, a sealring with a monogram (symbolum), found in Apahida – and kept in the Hungarian National Museum – (Pl. II/1–3) refers to the same. The retrograde monogram on the ring indicates that the sealring was not only a personal jewel, but also a functional tool used for authentication. Although the ring’s precise site in Apahida is unclear, it is still interpreted in connection to the Ist grave of Onachar, as a similar reading of the monogram is suggested to the one [Ona(c)har|us, cf. Szabó 2020a‑b] that stands on the namering. As the letter O of the namering does not appear in the monogram, and the letter M of the monogram does not appear on the namering, the presumption of identical names in case of the two rings can undoubtedly be turned down. Based on its shape, the monogram is a block or box monogram, which can be dated to the period between the 5th and 7th century AD (Pl. III/1). According to the characteristics of the monogram type, it shows every letter of the word and each letter appears only once. Monograms from this period usually contain either personal names or office names, with genitive ending. Due to these reasons as well, the former readings: Marc(us) [J. Hampel], Audomariuς [I. Bóna], Marιaς [J. Spier], Omacar(?) [C. H. Opreanu] are not adequate. Former literature suggested and used Latin and Greek as reading languages for the monogram. A Greek reading must be considered because there might be a Σ i.e. C (i.e. sigma lunata) letter, on the right side of the imprinted monogram (Pl. III/2). Based on the structure of the monogram and the reading rules of the monogram type, furthermore with regards to all the solutions provided by the identifiable letters conjoined in alphabetical order, the monogram gives the Latin MAVRICI (nom. Mauricius or Mauricus as well) reading (Pl. III/3, 5). A not likely, speculative Greek MAΥPIΣI (nom. Mαυρις) solution (Pl. III/4) could be considered at most a Graecism because of the Latin ‑i instead of a Greek ‑ou for the genitive ending. The “Germanized” nominative version of the name without the Latin ending is MAVRIC (Mauric). Until now, the name was unknown in Germanic milieu. The ‑ric (‑rik, ‑rich) ending might have contributed to the use of the name in Germanic milieu. The sealring was made in a Christian milieu, and its owner was probably a Christian, which is indicated by the long- or Latin cross (crux immissa) on the ring head over the monogram (Pl. III/1). Based on the cross and in the context of the Age (5th-6th centuries AD), it is uncertain whether thering‑owner belonged to the Roman, Byzantine or Arian church. I have found no long- or Latin cross paired with a Greek monogram, consequently the ring and its owner must be of Western origin. His name may be related to the soldier martyr Mauricius from Agaunum (Saint‑Maurice, Valais canton, Switzerland) and the spreading popularity of his cult among Christians. The name refers to the centre and point of origin of the St. Mauricius (Saint Maurice) cult, the territory of the Burgundian Kingdom, conquered by the Francs in the first quarter of the 6th century AD. Compared to the western Germanic type of the finds, namely the artefacts from the Ist‑IInd‑IIIrd(?) “princely” graves from Apahida [cf. Gáll et alii 2017, 26–28, nos. 9–10, 11–13], it can be assumed, that Mauric from Apahida – who can be examined in the same context –, was a western Germanic regulus who fled either from internal political conflict or from the Franc conquest. Similarly to the regulus “Onachar from Apahida” [Ona(c)har|us ≈ Aunacharius, cf. Szabó 2020a‑b], who – based on his name and personal artefacts – had also western Germanic connections, Mauric i.e. Mauricius or Mauricus also settled in the confine of the Gepidic world. He might not only have had a role in the appearance of the eastern Merovingian culture in Transylvania [cf. Dobos 2019], but also in the rise of the settlement in Apahida or its vicinity as a regional political‑administrative centre. The damages on the surface of the sealring with monogram indicate its presumably longer usage in a kind of “chancellery” practice."

14,500 years of vegetation and land use history in the upper continental montane zone at Lac de Champex (Valais, Switzerland)

Forests in the upper continental montane zone are important ecotones between lowland and subalpine forest ecosystems. A thorough understanding of the past vegetation dynamics at mid elevation is crucial to assess past and future altitudinal range shifts of tree species in response to climate change. Lake sediments from Lac de Champex (1,467 m a.s.l.), a small lake in the Canton Valais in the Central Swiss Alps were analysed to reconstruct the vegetation, land use and fire history for the last 14,500 years, using pollen, macrofossils, non-pollen palynomorphs and charcoal. The record indicates that the tree line had already reached the Champex area during the Allerød (14,000 cal bp) but dropped below the lake’s catchment during the Younger Dryas cooling (12,750–11,550 cal bp). Reforestation started again with Betula and Pinus sylvestris in the Early Holocene at 11,500 cal bp in response to rapid climate warming. Temperate tree species (Ulmus, Tilia, Quercus, Acer) may have reached the altitude of the lake during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (ca. 10,000–5,000 cal bp). Mixed forests with mesophilous Abies alba were dominant between 7,500 and 5,000 cal bp. The mass expansions of Picea abies after 5,000 cal bp and Alnus viridis thickets after 4,500 cal bp were directly linked to increasing human disturbance. High values of coprophilous Sporormiella fungal spores and cereal pollen suggest pastoral and arable farming at the site from the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age onwards (5,000 cal bp). Our data imply that vegetation at intermediate elevation was less affected by human activities than at higher or lower elevations but that these areas served as important stations between the permanent settlements in the valleys and the seasonally occupied alpine huts at higher elevations. We argue that future climate warming will lead to drastic reorganizations of mountain ecosystems.

Tennantite-(Hg), Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S13, a new tetrahedrite-group mineral from the Lengenbach quarry, Binn, Switzerland

AbstractTennantite-(Hg), Cu6(Cu4Hg2)As4S13, was approved as a new mineral species (IMA2020-063) from the Lengenbach quarry, Imfeld, Binn Valley, Canton Valais, Switzerland. It was identified as an aggregate of black metallic tetrahedral crystals, less than 0.1 mm in size, intimately associated with sinnerite, and grown on realgar. In reflected light, tennantite-(Hg) is isotropic, grey in colour, with creamy tints. Minimum and maximum reflectance data for COM wavelengths in air are [λ (nm): R (%)]: 470: 29.1; 546: 29.1; 589: 28.5; 650: 27.7. Electron microprobe analysis gave (in wt.% – average of 7 spot analyses): Cu 32.57(42), Ag 6.38(19), Tl 0.29(14), Zn 0.04(5), Hg 17.94(2.27), Pb 0.70(51), As 17.83(61), Sb 0.34(8), S 24.10(41), total 100.19(1.04). The empirical formula of the sample studied, recalculated on the basis of ΣMe = 16 atoms per formula unit, is (Cu4.69Ag1.04Tl0.03)Σ5.76(Cu4.35Hg1.58Pb0.06Zn0.01)Σ6.00(As4.20Sb0.05)Σ4.25S13.26. Tennantite-(Hg) is cubic, I$\overline 4$3m, with a = 10.455(7) Å, V = 1143(2) Å3 and Z = 2. The crystal structure of tennantite-(Hg) has been refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to a final R1 = 0.0897 on the basis of 214 unique reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 22 refined parameters. Tennantite-(Hg) is isotypic with other members of the tetrahedrite group. Mercury is hosted at the tetrahedrally coordinated M(1) site, in accord with the relatively long M(1)–S(1) distance (2.389 Å), similar to that observed in tetrahedrite-(Hg). Minor Ag is located at the triangularly-coordinated and split M(2) site. Other occurrences of tennantite-(Hg) are briefly reviewed and the Lengenbach finding is described within the framework of previous knowledge about the Hg mineralogy at this locality.

Coincidence of temperature extremes and phenological events of grapevines

A growing number of studies have highlighted the consequences of climate change on agriculture, including the impacts of climate extremes such as drought, heat waves and frost. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of temperature extremes on various phenological events of grapevine varieties in Southwest Switzerland (Leytron, Canton of Valais). We aimed to capture the occurrence of extreme events in specific years in various grapevine varieties and at different phenological phases to rank the varieties based on their sensitivity to temperature extremes and thus quantify their robustness. Phenological observations (1978–2018) of six Vitis vinifera varieties (Arvine, Chardonnay, Chasselas, Gamay, Pinot noir and Syrah) were subjected to event coincidence analysis. Extreme events were defined as values in the uppermost or lowermost percentiles of the timing of the phenophases and daily temperatures within a 30-day window before the phenophase event occurred. Significantly more extreme temperature and phenological events occurred in Leytron between 2003 and 2017 than in the earlier years, with the years 2007, 2011, 2014 and 2017 being remarkable in terms of the number of extreme coincidence events. Moreover, bud development and flowering experienced significantly more extreme coincidence events than other phenophases; however, the occurrence rate of extreme coincidence events was independent of the phenophase. Based on the total number of extreme events, the varieties did not differ in their responses to temperature extremes. Therefore, event coincidence analysis is an appropriate tool to quantify the occurrence of extreme events. The occurrence of extreme temperature events clearly affected the advancement of the timings of phenological events in various grapevines. However, there were no varietal differences in terms of response to extreme temperatures; thus, additional research is warranted to outline the best adaptation measures.

A Prehistoric Rock Crystal Procurement Site at Fiescheralp (Valais, Switzerland)

ABSTRACT Rock crystal is among the most fascinating materials in the archaeological record. It is formed in alpine-type fissures by hydrothermal processes. Due to its physical properties, rock crystal has been a valuable resource throughout human history. In alpine regions, it was frequently used for the production of stone tools between the Mesolithic and the Bronze Age. However, there are only a handful of known prehistoric crystal quartz quarries in Europe. The following article presents evidence for rock crystal mining during the Early Mesolithic and the final stage of the Neolithic at a high-altitude site in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. In combination with radiocarbon dates from previous studies, the results of our fieldwork indicate that in the Swiss Alps rock crystal was mined almost 10,000 years ago. Furthermore, typo-technological analyses provide new insights into the way in which the raw material was processed during the represented time periods.