Alpine geo- and biodiversity during environmental changes (AlpsChange)

The Anthropocene is characterised by rapid changes of both the abiotic and the biotic environments. This leads to a modification of, e.g., geological and biological processes or, as traits often respond with a different speed to environmental changes, interrupts such processes. Among the areas strongly affected by human activities are mountains. They are hotspots of geo- and biodiversity and this project uses 1) in situ experiments, 2) ex situ lab experiments and 3) modelling to understand how rapid environmental changes in the Alps affect interactions between the geo- and biosphere, and how changes in the geosphere affect traits and processes in the biosphere, and vice versa. 4) Analyses of the effects of historical analogous rapid environmental changes on the geo- and biosphere will allow to predict future scenarios.