Research Activities

Present research focuses on Jöri lake XIII. Until a few decades ago, lake XIII was a glacial border lake; today it lies in an iron-enriched geological setting which makes the sediments of this lake particularly well suited to studying microbially mediated cycling with ferric iron as oxidant.

Earlier investigations have involved studies of nutrient scavenging, microbial nutrient loops and energy balances in highly turbid glacial lakes of the Jöri catchment and the influence of oligotrophy on the production of toxins in cyanobacterial mats. The station has served for studies involving botanical biodiversity, soil development at high altitudes, chemical composition of snow and rain deposits, the reconstruction of past events from sedimentary analyses and the measurements of atmospheric physical values which act as ecosystem determinants.

Research carried out at the High Mountain Research Station is supported through grants awarded to individual investigators by institutional, national and international funding agencies.