Abandoning pastures reduces the biodiversity of mountain streams
Tuesday, January 7, 2020 - 10:30
in Earth & Climate
The abandonment of high-altitude mountain pastures and the climatic changes that are causing woodland boundaries to extend ever higher, may potentially result in the reduction of the number and variety of invertebrates living in mountain streams. Eurac Research ecologists have compared 15 streams and found that in streams running through extensive meadows with grazing animals—regardless of elevation—biodiversity is greater. The study was published in the renowned international journal Freshwater Biology.