Long-term ecological research in springs of the Italian Alps: six years of standardised sampling

At the beginning ofthe 1990s a comprehensive study of 30 springs within the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park (ltalian Alps) was carried out. This study considered ecomorphology, hydrochemistry, algae, mosses, higher plants and zoobenthos. In 1998 five ofthese springs were chosen for a long-term ecological research programme. The aim of this study was to highlight potentialities and problems of this long-term spring monitoring project by considering a selection of results gained during the first six years of standardized monitoring. This first organization and analysis of the biological materials sampled and of the morphological, physical and chemical data is expected to conclude a first phase leading to the final structure o f this spring monitoring programme through the optimization of sampling sites and procedures.