The Alps - Europe's Wild Heart | Free Documentary Nature

[Music] a Labyrinth of ice and Rocky peaks with mountains Soaring Over 4,000 M emerges at the very center of Europe one of the most populated areas on the [Music] planet this is the chain of the Alps still even today the Wild Heart of the continent for 5,000 years man has sought to inhabit the more accessible areas he has created paths and a network of roads built Villages then cities and has subjected the region to a multitude of changes the various peoples who today inhabit the dense network of valleys have ended up developing a common culture

built upon resistance to adverse conditions on the seasonal advances and Retreats and of admiration awe and respect for these Giants of [Music] rock how is it then that the Alps still preserve their wild soul in reality many areas especially those at high altitudes still remain isolated and virtually untouched it's a world parallel to ours a world of animals that move around us watching us often not far from our [Music] tracks for these masters of survival success is not a question of large number numbers more important is their ability to survive where others cannot this then

becomes the best of all worlds for them life at its Alpine limits [Music] with just a few hours climbing in the Alps we encounter the same succession of environments that can be observed in traveling across the entire continent of Europe from the Mediterranean to Northern Scandinavia some Alpine species are really of Arctic origin and arrived at these Southern latitudes during periods of glaciation Arctic and Alpine life forms have to face similar problems low temperatures high winds and short seasons in which the young grow to [Music] maturity in the mountains there are additional difficulties such as

a rarified atmosphere where solar radiation is less well filtered and temperature swings are both more mocked and frequent above all it is the Steep often vertical nature of the terrain that makes the most difference it can offer advantages but requires special adaptation with an increased consumption of energy for 1200 km the Alps form an archipelago of vertical Islands a continuous chain of Peaks and chasms where temperature fluctuations can exceed 60° Centigrade between Sun and shade and where the weather changes rapidly with the passing of [Music] time to survive in such a demanding environment Alpine birds

and mammals have evolved improvements in the performance of their blood lungs and heart many invertebrates are equipped with antifreeze fluids plants resist freezing by accumulating more sugars than starches within their cells an eye-catching blue color protects some flowers from ultraviolet radiation whilst others are covered with a blanket of fine hairs that also serves to reduce moisture loss due to the [Music] wind through such strategies Alpine plants can survive at high altitudes far above the Snow Line capable of coping with a sudden return of cold and snow in winter at high altitudes the temperature difference between

an animal body and its external environment can be more than 70° [Music] [Music] Centigrade the thick fur of the IEX behaves like a living coat by raising and lowering the hairs the animal varies the amount of Trapped air effectively regulating the heat that escapes to the outside in the long months when food sources are both rare and also have little nutritional value anything that allows the saving of heat can prove to be vital [Music] even foxes living at high altitudes have a much thicker [Music] coat a fox can sit for hours protected from the cold

at temperatures as low as - 20° C hiding its face the part least well covered beneath its tail it must save energy for a style of hunting that is highly demanding a continuous wandering in search of something to put in its [Music] mouth disappointments are a way of life this vow has dozens of hiding places and Escape Routes under the snow birds face other problems very strong winds can force smaller birds such as the Alpine accenta to remain grounded larger species like eagles can use air currents to Advantage but must also contend with a thin

atmosphere a less effective [Music] support a change of season brings a transformation in the environment so dramatic that many inhabitants of high altitudes need to alter their physical appearance in its white winter coat the Alpine hair becomes less visible but even better insulated each individual white hair has microscopic spaces filled with air this benefits the hair especially at dusk if its most active [Music] period the cold at night becomes more penetrating the survival of the hair depends on the protection offered by a coat that must be kept perfectly groomed even down to removing tiny ballls

of snow that remain [Music] attached when day breaks it must redouble its attention for even though camouflaged and highly alert the slightest of movements can be spotted by that most efficient predator in this environment the golden [Music] eagle but predators are not the main cause of death in the Alps when the soil and rocks become covered with a deep layer of snow a long wait Begins for the Alpine ecosystem literally a freezing of life cycles that can last [Music] months [Music] there are years when heavier snowfalls or frozen ground prevent iik and shamua from scratching

to reach the vegetation although equipped to survive on a minimal diet many will not last through the [Music] winter birds have fewer limitations for they can move more easily to look for food or to escape impossible conditions by moving down from High Ground the Dipper will always find a flowing stream in which to continue to feed when all higher water courses are immobilized in the grip of [Music] ice [Music] the ease with which they can move allows the birds more freedom than a simple change of altitudes cisin will move substantial distances traveling in small flocks

and invading Pine and large Woods as cones [Music] ripen but for efficiency they cannot compete with a Crossbill whose two powerful crossed mandibles are purpose made for this work without the specialized Bak of the Crossbill the seed extraction technique must be completely [Music] different what in summer is a lush green pasture can in Winter become a white Wasteland deep in [Music] snow in this lunar landscape an elderly IBU wanders aimlessly nearly blind from an eye infection it advances with great difficulty [Music] every time the snow is too deep progress is blocked and it turns obsessively

to the same side leaving behind a strange spiral [Music] track soon it will be dark and little by little it's hope of survival level [Music] vanishes faced with the extreme hardship of winter Shamir moved down to the valley the last Resort of Every Mountain animal they are less heavily built than ibik and less well adapted to endure starvation in hard times they abandon their fortresses of Frozen Rock and search lower down for the only food still available lyans on the branches of conifers scarcely edible and barely deserving the title food but those steep Rocky Cliffs

can become a refuge it is a challenging environment but one rich in [Music] opportunities on these vertical surfaces snow does not remain long even in winter and it is here that some birds such as rock partridges can continue to feed [Music] when snow covers everything else IEX will take refuge in this vertiginous World on the Rock slabs and Cliff Ledges they can rely on a sophisticated adaptation that makes them superb Mountaineers to move in such demanding terrain their hubs have evolved into incredibly efficient instruments at the front there is a hard sharp edge backed by

a central area of rubberlike consistency similar to the shoes free climbers use in addition the two halves can be spread apart elastically so that a single half alone can stop the animal slipping when faced with a root it doesn't know the IEX shows caution retracing your steps is not always [Music] easy [Music] every movement is carefully measured each sequence tried several times there is no room for a mistake however on their most familiar routes IEX move rapidly with great confidence they always use the same small protrusions and end up placing their Hooves at exactly the

same points for the greater part of Winter the cliffs are one of the few places where it is still possible to find food the concentration of animals also attracts those who exploit the hardships of others for their own Survival the bearded vulture a bird specializing in bones of dead animals tirelessly scour the slopes in search of those that have [Music] fallen the same slope however can unle leash a trap suddenly fatal almost without warning killed by hunger by cold or Swept Away by Avalanches the carcasses of the unfortunates collect in some years at the base

of the cliffs even for a pure Predator like the golden eagle it may be opportune to profit from this unexpected [Music] resource the eagle must continue to fly to hunt and survive at high altitudes throughout the entire Alpine winter in the open it endures polar temperatures strong gusts of wind and storms that can last for weeks after these trials a moment of midwinter Madness intervenes when the courtship of the Eagles Begins the male Launches on swooping descents and sudden ascents a display of strength and confidence an exaltation in the sheer pleasure of flight the female

checks out the nests of previous years before making her choice and the male follows [Music] her for Eagles a bomn born of mutual understanding is fundamental and it must withstand the test of time it will be called upon in defense of the territory and for hunting with greater success as a couple when the time comes to feed the young everything must function [Music] effectively from the end of autumn that same mating Madness also afflicts the males of other species the first signs are not particularly impressive they just rub their horns on stems and branches to

leave their scent and Mark a territory then matters become much more serious the challenges between male shamua reveal the astonishing capabilities of these animals steep slopes are their Arena they burn up the gradients in a few seconds hot and lung capacity Plus the endurance of muscles and tendons will determine who has the right to pass on their [Music] [Music] jeans [Music] [Music] in December IEX takes Center Stage who runs fastest is not important this is a challenge based on Brute Force the young start early they need to learn to control their muscles improve accuracy in

impacts and to respect adversaries because their horns really are weapons and need to be used with great care even when the encounter is almost a game any advantage gained in the field must then be traded to convince reluctant females to mate they will only be fertile for a short time and males sense this from their odor now begins a lengthy period of stealthy approaches and tentative investigation the suor bends his head back to hide his horns and tastes the air his sensitive tongue is alert to the long awaited chemical signal from the black Grouse strength

or speed is unimportant it is the display that determines male success their parades are stage when signs of an end to the harshest season are already in the air however food is still scarce most of the land is still buried by snow and the black grous are forced to climb into the branches of large trees to Peck at unopen buds if the mountains had a voice they would surely sing the musical notes of water [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the highest parts of the Alpine chain accumulate a huge mass of water in its solid [Music] form

around 40% of fresh water reaching the plains of Central Europe originates from the slopes of these mountains feeding Rivers such as the ran the danu the rine or the [Music] PO however the water cycle of the Alps is changing markedly the temperature increase here is twice the average for the planet no one can say exactly where this will lead but we could certainly not escape the [Music] consequences in fact ice holds rocks together and gives the mountains their form with the increase in the average temperature the soil THS during the day only to freeze again

at night expanding as it do so and promoting the disintegration of [Music] rocks as it runs down the valley glacial water constantly washes the Rocks becoming enriched with salts and minerals it also brings with it a myriad living organisms creating a downward flow of organic material there are those that know how to take advantage the lives of many insect lar are dominated by a constant effort to cling to the Rocks even if they need to struggle to a prime position the advantage is that food carried by the current arrives constantly to hide from predators cadis

Lavi build a protective pouch of tiny stones from the river bed but it is not easy to avoid a Dipper's Keen gaze as it patrols incessantly flying the stream with ease whether above or below the water surface something few can do [Applause] while the high mountain is still gripped in Ice Spring rises from the valley bottom with each passing day animals can exploit this with a Descent of just a few hundred M met with the most testing period behind them IEX finally lose the heavy winter coat they have endured long months on rock or in

snow for them each new blade of grass every scent carries a promise the new season is coming [Music] during The Long Winter the ground has remained buried but at the same time protected under meters of snow the covering has kept the soil at a constant temperature of around 0 Centigrade protecting it against extreme variation slowly but steadily it has been able to undergo the processes that prepare for the Summer Explosion as soon as the ground is free from snow plant shoots an insect lvi emerge in profusion into the sunlight truly Mana from heaven for snow

finches that need do nothing more than Patrol back and forth as the edges of the snow recedes animals that had sought Refuge under the ground also emerge their essential life processes had slowed down during winter a survival strategy for those that cannot migrate to warmer places as many birds do even muts have emerged their squabbling can be used to establish a hierarchy but more often it just seems a way of celebrating the end of winter Darkness on the heights snow still covers large patches of land but it does not seem to worry male Tagan unduly

they know that it will soon melt and they buy their time in noisy disputes over females and the best [Music] territories even the rock faces are populated instead of descending the female IBC took refuge on the more remote slopes there's just one reason the new arrival that have been with a Groove for a few [Music] days from the moment of birth and throughout the period in which the offspring are vulnerable females guide them to the most rugged parts of their territory Gathering them in groups of tens of [Music] infants the slope is their Ally few

Predators can follow them in such an inaccessible landscape especially over the Rocks where their agility and lightness of foot make them almost more Carefree than the [Music] adults moments of doubt can overtake anyone but the message is clear get over [Music] it [Music] if we consider plant species then the Alps form the richest region in Europe 34 of the flowering plants of the entire European continent grow in the Alpine regions where their showy blooms characterize a landscape the value of this variety is not merely aesthetic in the Alps plants form the basis of the entire

food pyramid as they do everywhere thanks to their wide diversity they provide nourishment for Alpine animals at different times of the year from the first snow melt until late Autumn and in a variety of habitats from fertile pastures to for fors and from wet bogs to [Music] cliffs life may seem easy for Predators at the top of the food chain on the contrary the whole ecosystem must function smoothly to sustain them it is no accident that their numbers are few and they are always teetering on the edge of survival when the Eagles have young in

the nest they have to feed them too they know their terrain perfectly end any animal movements within it a weak individual or one in difficulty gets noticed straight [Music] away yeah [Music] golden eagles don't solely live in mountains but in this environment they can exploit to the full any advantages offered by differences in altitude they hunt mainly high up so heavy prey can be carried down to the nest sites on the cliffs below when the bird needs to regain height it exploits the uplift provided by air currents generated along the sides of the [Music] [Music]

[Music] valley in order to hunt the eagle flies up to the the highest altitudes to the realm of rocks and Pioneer vegetation to the Alpine Tundra where there are plants reduced to the form of cushions to protect their vital parts and stunted trees that creep on the ground using the winter snow as a blanket at first glance it might seem an anatom world but something is moving [Music] in these Open Spaces camouflage must be total both Mountain hair and Tagan have developed a biological mechanism through which they can quickly change their white winter coats Rock

coloring and slow movements in this empty terrain are the strategies through which they defend themselves from [Music] predators these are the ICONic animals of the mountains creatures so well adapted to the rigors of surviving where others cannot at no time of the year do they completely abandon the mountain Heights an extraordinary accomplishment considering that at this altitude summer is the exception and winter the rule even in the middle of July it is not uncommon for Seasons to regress by a few months for young partridges just out of the nest things could prove dramatic however these

high altitude Specialists are well equipped to face the unexpected instinctively they know it is just a matter of waiting only exceptionally does summer snow last more than a few days it's just a short interlude before everything returns to normal the season of opportunities lasts a while longer in the Conifer Woods that cloak the mountain flanks but for those that need to raise a brood there can never be too much time whereas the Pygmy Owl is usually a nocturnal Predator it now hunts once in daytime as well to fill the open beaks of its young targeting

the best period in which to give birth and to raise young is important everywhere but for the inhabitants of the Alps it becomes a [Music] [Applause] necessity for instance the productive period for plants lasts 8 months in the valley bottoms with a corresponding period of 6 months in the mid- mountain region in the Alpine Tundra it condenses to a mere 2 [Music] months a large part of the mountain species success lies in knowing how to make the most of the limited time [Music] available [Music] and then in the blink of an eye Autumn is here

again cadis La we have hatched at least those that have escaped the Dipper and they all flutter about together on plants at the water's edge at the mercy of air currents they will join the flow of organic material that the wind carries back up the high mountain [Music] [Applause] [Music] before the snow comes back to blanket everything the slopes of the mountains still provide what the animals need as they prepare to face a Long Winter in Autumn whole Mountain sides become covered in ripe berries fruits and leaves are an extra resource at the very time

the animals must accumulate f fat and thicken their coats to prepare for the coldest [Music] season [Music] as the days shorten the arrival of winter in the Heights brings a predominance of white for Alpine Specialists now is the time to adjust both prey and predators Carry On Life in their new uniforms to face the Eternal challenge of not being noticed Alpine plants and animals simultaneously strong yet fragile life forms their adaptation to life in a high mountain environment has been the key to success but could also become their [Music] weakness they are perfectly suited to

the cold but not well equipped to deal with the heat a temperature increase of just one or two degrees could drastically affect their ability to survive throughout our planet many species are moving ingly upwards because of global warming and the degradation of suitable areas at lower altitudes for this reason the importance of high altitude Alpine environments is growing and it is a mistake to think their isolation and inaccessibility automatically protects them [Music] high mountains are the demanding High Frontiers for the Natural Life of surrounding lowlands the warning voices are there those very slow changes occurring

within the Stillness of these high altitudes most certainly Herald issues that will affect our entire planet will we be able to hear [Music] them [Music] [Music] [Music]