Once is Not Once — Report of the Repetitive Artification of the GLORIA Summit in Gesäuse 2015

Within the framework of the international network GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments), there are currently about 128 active study areas on 5 continents of the world in the high mountains in order to compare the biological diversity of these habitats in long-term observations. Mainly the migration of vascular plants is investigated by anthropogenic climate change. (www.gloria.ac.at; Pauli, H. et al., 2015). In addition to the Hochschwab, GLORIA’s second study area in Austria is currently the area under investigation in the Gesäuse. These so-called target regions1 differ methodically from the GLORIA research area Schrankogel in the Stubai Alps, which was established as master site2 (more on this in Pauli, H. et al., 2015). The monitoring of the GLORIA network focuses on the high mountains because worldwide studies are best compared there, there are long-lived vascular plants and anthropogenic disorders are very low. In addition, research areas in protected areas are preferred because human interventions in nature are largely lacking and therefore it is obvious that such permanent monitoring is to be established and maintained in the Gesäuse National Park.