Assessing the ecological value of dynamic mountain geomorphosites

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State: Public
Version: Final published version
License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_270DA36FFCDD
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Assessing the ecological value of dynamic mountain geomorphosites
Journal
Geographica Helvetica
Author(s)
Bussard Jonathan, Giaccone Elisa
Publication state
Published
Issued date
04/10/2021
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
76
Number
4
Pages
385-399
Language
english
Abstract
Geoheritage is a component of geodiversity constituted by all the elements of geodiversity recognized by society for their particular values. The definition of these values, including the importance of geoheritage for biodiversity, plays a key role in the process of heritage recognition and geoconservation policymaking. In mountain environments, dynamic geomorphosites have a strong influence on plant diversity because the active geomorphological processes responsible for their formation act as renovators for habitats of pioneer species. In this paper, we propose criteria to assess the ecological value of dynamic mountain geomorphosites. We show that the interest of plant communities (species richness and presence of rare or protected species) and the influence of geomorphological processes on plant communities (disturbances, surface movement and soil) are fundamental criteria for assessing the ecological value in an exhaustive and objective way and that the question of the scale (local and national scales) is also a crucial parameter. We then illustrate this methodological proposal by evaluating the ecological value of three dynamic geomorphosites and a talus slope in the western Swiss Alps.
Keywords
geomorphosite, ecological value, geoheritage, biogeomorphology, Vallon de Nant
Open Access
Yes
Create date
04/10/2021 14:56
Last modification date
05/10/2021 7:08
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