Material and Methods

Sampling design

This field study was conducted at five alpine streams in the Central Eastern Alps in the summer of 2022 (sampling in July, August, and September). The study design included sites at similar elevations (2127 m – 2363 m a.s.l.), with comparable topography and similar distance from the water source, but in catchments with differing glacier areas (Fig. 1) and different stages of glacier retreat.