PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA TYROLEAN KARWENDEL MOUNTAINS The Significance and Diversity of its Landscape and Ecosystems A general assessment and ecological analysis Armin Landmann PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA TYROLEAN KARWENDEL MOUNTAINS The Significance and Diversity of its Landscape and Ecosystems A general assessment and ecological analysis Armin Landmann editor: WWF Austria as per Februar 2015 author: Univ.- Doz. Mag. Dr. Armin Landmann, Karl Kapfererstr.3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria (mail:
[email protected]) citation: Landmann, A. (2015): Priority conservation area Tyrolean Karwendel Mountains: The Significance and Diversity of its Landscape and Ecosystems. WWF Österreich coordination: Karin Enzenhofer design: Andreas Zednicek CONTENTS Preface 6 1. The Tyrolean Karwendel Mountains: Geographical position, boundaries and size 8 2. PCA Karwendel Mountains: General natural characteristics and landscape settings 10 3. Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems: an overview and balance 17 3.1 Freshwater systems 17 3.2 Terrestrial ecosystems and habitats 21 4. Biodiversity and conservation value of habitats, plant and animal communities 28 4.1 Aquatic and riverine habitats and organisms 28 4.2 Protected and endangered terrestrial habitats and plant communities 29 4.3 Endemism, biodiversity and specificity of terrestrial organisms 32 4.3.1 Endemism 32 4.3.2 Biodiversity and value of vascular plants, fungi, mosses and lichens 34 4.3.3 Biodiversity and value of animals: selected Invertebrates and Vertebrates 37 5. Dimension and significance of human impact; cultural and scientific values 43 5.1 Cultural history and values; dimension and degree of human impact 43 5.2 Scientific value; research 49 6. Conservation and threats 50 6.1 Dimension and significance of conservation reserves 50 6.2 Threats and Management 52 6.3 Proposed actions 54 7.