Resumen de Restauració de molleres a la Font Grossa (Espot)

Josep María Ninot Sugrañes, Aaron Pérez Haase, Eulàlia Pladevall, Jaume Espuny, Nil Escolà Lamora, Jesús Tartera Orteus, Empar Carrillo

• The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park has numerous hydroelectric infrastructures that modify the structure and function of the aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Within the framework of the LIFE+ LimnoPirineus project, we have taken the small reservoir of Font Grossa, disused for years, as an example of ecological restoration of mire habitats. Specifically, we have laid the foundations for the development of two types of Habitats of Community Interest, transition mires (HCI 7140) and sphagnum bogs (HCI 7110*). Given the little knowledge available regarding the restoration of Pyrenean mires, we have carried out a series of experiments focused on the structural plants of these types of mires, specifically Carex rostrata, C. nigra, Juncus filiformis and four species of Sphagnum. We have tested their growth capacity under different conditions of flood and competition, in order to select the most suitable for each situation. The experiments started under controlled conditions (growth chamber, greenhouse) and were finally developed at the Font Grossa site, under field conditions. Then, the restoration activities for the target HCIs were performed in the appropriate areas, which took place in the summers of 2017 and 2018. The monitoring and subsequent actions, carried out until summer 2019, corroborated good implantation of the C. rostrata population and foresee partially good implantation of the Sphagnum populations. However, the assembly of more or less stable communities is predicted to proceed slowly, constrained by extreme events such as strong increases in water flow (due to snowmelt in spring or heavy rains) or occasional extreme droughts.