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Home > Rieserferner-Ahrn Nature Park > Habitats
 Naturpark Rieserferner - Ahrn
 
Habitats
Mixed Coniferous Forests
Badgers
The sparsely populated mountain valleys are surrounded by woods with a large percentage of spruces. The montane spruce forests are mostly located at altitudes between 800 and 1,400 meters above sea level. Above this altitude there are sub-Alpine spruce woods. The more insolated and the less thick a spruce wood is, the more larches can be found in it. There are also scattered deciduous trees, such as mountain-ashes. Spruces, larches and cembra pines mark the timber line which is situated at an altitude of 1,900 to 2,200 meters. Mugo pines and green Murmeltieralders, the latter in humid areas, make up the shrub-zone.

The forests are the most important habitat for wild animals. They provide good spots for roe deer and red deer . Siskins, red crossbills and squirrels feed on the seeds of spruces and larches. Woodpeckers can also be found in these areas. Nutcrackers collect the nuts of cembra pines and hide them nearby. Eagle owls prefer woody ravines. Foxes, badgers and pine-martens also find excellent conditions in these areas.


Alpine Meadows and Pastures

bearded hare-bellsOn the pastures of the nature park there are arnicas, bearded hare-bells, rough hawkbits, golden cinquefoils, catsfeet, anemones and other species. On silicate rocks the alpine sedge Carex curvula predominates in grass communities. On the extremely windy passes there are grassy patches of Bellard's kobresia.Water pipit

The Alpine grasslands above the timber line offer a mosaic of biotopes for many mountain animals. Marmots find sufficient grasses and herbs to feed on. Marmots are the main source of nourishment of golden eagles, which regularly build their eyries in the nature park. A characteristic bird of the Alpine pastures is the water pipit. On flower-rich meadows numerous insects, such as butterflies, beetles, bumble-bees and grasshoppers can also be found.


Detritus Slopes, Rocks and Glaciers

Alpen toadflaxesAlpen-rock jasminsAt higher altitudes Alpine meadows are replaced by detritus slopes. The moraines are inhabited by a series of species. Algae, lichens and mosses grow on the stones and on the fine sand left by glacial striation. On thin rock ledges and in small niches various grasses and cushion plants can also survive. Several species climb up to altitudes of 3,000 m and more. Among them are alpine rock jasmins and Alpen-toadflaxes, as well as musky and red saxifrages.
In these areas there are chamoises. Ravens nest in crevices. Typical inhabitants of the debris cirques are the black redstart, the wheatear and the Alpine accentor. The mammal which lives highest up is the snow mouse which occasionally also nests in refuges.
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