Pic de Marcelly

4 points of interest

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  Fauna

  Bird protection: high visibility overhead cables

  To reduce the risk of mountain birds colliding with overhead cables, it is essential to increase their visibility. As part of the Birdski project, Asters-CEN74 and other partners are proposing several high visibility kits that can be adapted to each type of equipment. You can see them here. This project is contributing to greater awareness of the presence of mountain birds in ski areas in order to limit the mortality of these species (Black Grouse, Bearded Vulture, etc.) and improve ecological interconnectivity. If you heard a particularly captivating birdsong during your hikes and liked it, you can download the Birdnet app on your smartphone that can help you identify the performing bird!

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  Lake

  Mountain lakes and the impact of human activities

  The impact of human activities on the banks of high-altitude lakes depends on the extent of such activities. Water abstraction and/or the production of hydroelectric power require the lakes to be landscaped. This impacts not only the topography but also the hydrology. In addition, the presence of mountain huts or herds on the banks of a high-altitude lake can generate or accelerate nutrient enrichment. If these nutrients are concentrated in the water at too high a level, they can enrich the lake and lead to an overproduction of biomass. This can lead to eutrophication and eventually result in hypoxia of the lake waters. It is essential to monitor such pollution to ensure that the lake remains in a healthy condition. We can then adjust and adapt our behaviour to harmonise the environment and human activities. Help to keep the lake running smoothly by respecting the swimming and fishing regulations. To find out more about mountain lakes, visit our dedicated website https://www.lacs-sentinelles.org/.

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  Fauna

  Scarce large blue

  This butterfly found in wet meadows, it boasts a unique genetic make-up and is one of the only species in France with partially carnivorous caterpillars. Butterfly caterpillars are 99.9% phytophagous, meaning they feed on plants. Maculinea caterpillars, from the 4th instar onwards, change their feeding habits to feed on the larvae of a particular type of ant: the Myrmica. After feeding on Sanguisorba seeds, the caterpillar must be picked up by these specific ants. By imitating the smell of ant larvae, the caterpillar is carried away and housed and fed in the anthill all winter by these red ants. The development and survival of these two butterfly species therefore depend on the presence of Sanguisorbe (a plant that fears competition from tall weeds) and favourable environmental conditions for the host ant species.

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  Flora

  Pulsatilla alpina

  Alpine Anemone grows at altitudes of between 1,000 and 2,750 m in the mountainous regions of central, western and southern Europe (Alps, Vosges, Auvergne, Pyrenees, Apennines, etc.). Its white or yellow flowers, which measure around 5 cm in width and vary depending on the subspecies and the acidity of the soil, appear fairly early in the season, from May to July. The fruits are very long, feathery achenes, enabling the plant seeds to be disseminated by the wind. The name pulsatilla comes from the Latin ‘pulsatilla’, derived from ‘pulsatus’, which means ‘battered by the wind’. This plant is inedible for humans and domestic animals.