High mountain ecosystems

High mountain lakes and peat bogs are iconic elements of the Pyrenean landscape that are highly vulnerable to climate change and increasing anthropogenic pressure.

Through project REPLIM, in which scientific centers and managers specialized in the study of the dynamics of high mountain lakes and peat bogs have participated, a Pyrenean network of observatories has been implemented to evaluate the impact of climate change on these ecosystems.

The network has as goal to improve cooperation between scientific centers and associated stakeholders (managers, citizens) of all Pyrenean territories and to provide data sound science to develop mitigation and adaptation policies. The network is expected to raise public awareness on the relationship between climate change, mountains and the most vulnerable Pyrenean ecosystems, contributing also to develop and implement the action plan of the Pyrenean Climate Change Observatory (OPCC).

The network established in REPLIM includes a set of sampling points distributed in France, Andorra and Spain, which are equipped with various devices for the collection of data:

• Temperature sensors at different depths and sediment traps in lakes.

• Piezometers to periodically quantify the depth of the water table in peat bogs.

• Permanent dams to determine water outflow in peatlands.

• Seasonal measurements of composition Chemistry and some biological properties in waters.

• Greenhouse gas fluxes in peatlands.

• development of common procedures to be followed to carry out the sampling.

 

The goal is that this Pyrenean network is perpetuated in time in order to obtain long time series that allow predicting the evolution of its ecosystems.