Fauna

The Vaud Alps region covers an area of approximately 700 km², including the districts of Pays d'Enhaut, Aigle, and part of the Riviera. All vegetation zones (lowland, mountain, subalpine, alpine, and nival) are represented in the Vaud Alps, where the altitude gradient ranges from 372 meters (Lake Geneva shores) to 3,210 meters (the summit of the Diablerets).

A diverse and varied fauna inhabits the different vegetation zones. The distribution of species along the altitudinal gradient is directly linked to the habitats they can occupy. For instance, species living at high altitudes must possess a high physiological tolerance to cold, while species at lower elevations must be able to withstand competition with numerous other species. Factors affecting biodiversity distribution along environmental gradients include: 1) climate (e.g., temperature, which determines the amount of available energy), 2) spatial factors, such as the study area’s size, 3) the evolutionary history of species, and 4) biotic processes, such as competition or mutualism between species.

A large number of species have been observed in the Vaud Alps, including 1,974 species of insects, 34 species of arthropods, 166 species of mollusks, 15 species of amphibians, 14 species of reptiles, 64 species of mammals, and 26 species of fish. Some of the most iconic species include the black salamander in the Vallon de Nant, the golden eagle soaring over the highest peaks, the lynx, the pelias viper, and butterflies like the swallowtail and Apollo butterfly (source: Swiss Centre for Faunal Mapping).

In 2014, 153 bird species were observed in the Vaud Alps, including 142 breeding species. The most common species in coniferous forests include the dunnock, the coal tit, the crested tit, the goldcrest, the song thrush, the mistle thrush, the blackbird, and the rock bunting. Other species typical of mountainous regions, such as the capercaillie, the rock partridge, the three-toed woodpecker, and the yellow wagtail, are also present. High-altitude birds, including the tree pipit, the alpine accentor, the yellow-billed chough, and the alpine snowfinch, are also breeding species in this area. The Grangettes region (an ornithologically significant area), which is the most important wetland nesting site around Lake Geneva, hosts 68 breeding species, including the great crested grebe, the black kite, and the green woodpecker. This area is also an important nesting site for the European oriole, the nightingale, and the Eurasian reed warbler (source: Vogelwärte & Birdlife).

(Written in collaboration with Jean-Nicolas Pradervand)