From high peaks to deep valleys, from colorful mountain meadows to dense forests, from wild rivers to gloomy moors — in the European Alps you can find almost any kind of environment. It is by far the largest and highest mountain range in Europe, stretching across the continent from the Mediterranean to the center of Eastern Europe.
Because of the enormous differences in altitude from the valley to the mountain peaks, there are also countless exciting and diverse habitats. The Alps are home to over 30,000 different animal species and 13,000 plant species.
By far the smallest inhabitant of the Alpine region is the "glacier flea," which is only 0.04 inches small (Try to show the size with your fingers — almost impossible).
It is a hexapod (an arthropod with 6 legs) found mainly on snow and ice in the Alpine mountains. There, it is easily recognizable because of its deep black color. Through various types of sugar, the glacier flea produces a kind of "antifreeze" for itself, which allows it to survive at temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the animal does not stand heat well at all, as even about 53 F is deadly for it.
You would probably guess glacier fleas seek out other animals to feed on their blood, but this is not the case. The menu of the small species includes algae or pollen, which is blown from the valleys into the higher areas.
As the smallest animal of the Alps, the glacier flea would get a heart attack if it saw the largest animal of the Alps standing next to it: the brown bear.
This giant can give you quite a scare with its 60 inches and weight of 1,300 lbs. They are only found as solitary animals in the Alps and are rarely sighted. However, due to the increasing impact of humans in its habitat (how surprising — not), it was classified as "endangered" by the Word Wildlife Foundation. The total population in the Alpine region is estimated at only 45 to 50.
Like almost every environment on earth, the Alpine region is struggling from the effects of climate change. The diverse beauty of the habitat made it a popular tourist destination, increasing the impact of people. Since the mid-20th century, the environment has steadily deteriorated: water pollution of rivers and lakes, noise pollution, deterioration of air quality and the erosion of slopes due to the construction of ski slopes and roads.
One of the biggest problems is rising temperatures, which are causing glaciers and snow to melt. This, alongside the thermal expansion of water, is causing sea levels to rise. If you think this only affects regions near the coast, you are wrong — the impacts go much further.
In 2022, mountain valleys and populated regions around the Alps experienced the worst flooding and high tides in years. With the air only about 34 F warmer, it can only hold 0.24 fluid ounces. More water can lead to so-called "super rains," that cause rivers and lakes to overflow. This year, Austria in particular was badly affected by floods.
But why are glaciers so important for our climate in the first place? As previously mentioned, the weather is strongly influenced when the air is warmer as the air can’t store more water, causing it to rain more often and heavily. Besides this point, the so-called "albedo effect" also plays a large and important role.
The albedo effect describes the ability of surfaces to reflect sunlight and its heat. Light colored surfaces return a large part of the sun's rays back to the atmosphere (high albedo), whereas dark colors absorb the light of the sun (low albedo). Glaciers can reflect almost 90% of the sun’s rays back into space, and thus protect us and our planet from overheating.
Our newfound friends, the glacier flea and the brown bear, are also suffering greatly from the effects of glacier melt. Their natural habitat is being destroyed as a result and they will have to move to areas closer to humans, where the brown bear, for example, will be hunted.
For us humans and our friends, large and small, it is crucial that we do something to assure regions of the Alps do not have to suffer because of climate change – or better said – of human behavior.
