In the Biosphere Reserve Gurgler Kamm near Obergurgl (Central Alps, Tyrol, Austria) multi factorial experiments were carried out in the lower alpine zone from 2005 to 2007 to investigate the effects of simulated trampling, seed addition, and a combination of these two treatments. Permanent plots of 1 m² were established within (= exclosures) and outside (= controls) of fences at three peat bog sites and in a Nardus stricta-community at about 2300 m a.s.l. In autumn 2005 the following treatments were performed in the exclosures and controls, respectively: - artificial gap creation, - sowing of seeds collected in the study area and in the surrounding, - a combination of gaps x sowing.

Permanent plots were established in 1996. A total of 40 permanent plots were established on moraines ice-free for 35 and 50 years on vegetated and bare-ground areas. Half of them were treated with a seed mixture in 1996 and 1997. The vegetation was mapped and coverage was estimated in permanentplots in 1996 and from 2002-2014. Records were made by splitting the 25x25 cm plots in 5x5 cm segments (=subplots). Vegetation coverage was estimated by subplots and then summed up to the plot size of 25x25 cm. Plot description: 1v71 - 5v71: Plots with vegetation on glacier foreland moraine 1971 1vs71 - 5vs71: Plots with vegetation on glacier foreland moraine 1971 and sowing in 1996 and 1997 1b71 - 5b71: Plots without vegetation (bare ground) on glacier foreland moraine 1971 1bs71 - 5bs71: Plots without vegetation (bare ground) on glacier foreland moraine 1971 and sowing in 1996 and 1997 1v56 - 5v56: Plots with vegetation on glacier foreland moraine 1956 1vs56 - 5vs56: Plots with vegetation on glacier foreland moraine 1956 and sowing in 1996 and 1997 1b56 - 5b56: Plots without vegetation (bare ground) on glacier foreland moraine 1956 1bs56 - 5bs56: Plots without vegetation (bare ground) on glacier foreland moraine 1956 and sowing in 1996 and 1997