Springs under pressure

Alpine springs provide ecosystem services such as the supply of drinking-water. Ecologically they are important aquatic habitats under pressure. They suffer from cattle trampling, capturing or relocation, etc.. In addition, changes in land use and climatic changes threaten springs further. Headwaters in Alpine regions will be affected strongly by climatic changes, such as higher water temperatures or altered discharge regimes. The development of conservation strategies should be a focus of future efforts in order to sustain important ecosystem services of springs in the Alps.