The project deals with coarse woody debris, decay processes in alpine forest soils, soil organisms, humus forms and their relation to climate in an Alpine area (Trentino, climosequences from 1000 m to about 2200 m asl, N- and S- facing slopes, natural coniferous forest). Planned activities are grouped among 3 different 'compartments': Coarse woody debris (CWD) ? Humus forms ? Soil organic matter (SOM). We have the following research questions: (i) How does climate affect coarse woody decay above and especially in the soil of alpine sites? (ii) What time scales are involved in (CWD decay as a function of climate)? How quickly is CWD integrated into SOM fractions? In which way are the decay products of CWD stabilised? (iii) What are the links between decay mechanisms and the spatial distribution of humus forms? (iv) Can the humus form serve as a proxy for the soil biota for the spatial extrapolation.
Ausgangssituation: Gefährdung des unter Naturschutz stehenden Sees Lago di Lases und der Ortschaft Lases nordwestlich von Trient durch Hangbewegungen, die möglicherweise durch Arbeiten im nahe gelegenen Steinbruch verursacht werden. Aufgabenstellung: Bearbeitung der Geologie - Geotechnik, Auswertung umfangreicher Sondier- und Messresultate, Ursachenfindung, Gefährdungsabschätzung, Vorschläge zur Schadensminimierung.