Research

The aim of the project is to survey hoverflies, together with bees the most important pollinators worldwide, nationwide. This will be the standardised monitoring data for these important headline indicators for the first time in Austria. In addition, the flowering plants visited by the hoverflies are to be plants visited by hoverflies in order to gain knowledge about the pollen and nectar sources of hoverflies. Data on the occurrence and distribution of highly endangered hoverfly species in Europe will also be collected. Overall, the project fills a gap in Austria's biodiversity monitoring, also collects data on species that are highly endangered throughout Europe, and thus represents an important contribution to achieving the goals set out in the national biodiversity strategy. It establishes the headline indicator hoverfly in Austrian biodiversity monitoring.

The random fluctuation of allele frequencies (genetic drift) can have a significant impact on evolution in small and fragmented populations and lead to an extinction vortex, a feedback loop between reduced population size, loss of genetic diversity and inbreeding. Since dry meadows and pastures in Austria are among the most species-rich habitats, but also among the most endangered due to changes in land use, we selected 14 rare "steppe plants" with occurrences in the Pannonian and partly also in the Alpine region for the survey of the state of genetic diversity: Artemisia pancicii; Astragalus exscapus; Crambe tataria; Dianthus serotinus; Dracocephalum austriacum; Iris humilis subsp. arenaria; Adonis vernalis; Phlomoides tuberosa; Carex supina; Linum flavum; Onobrychis arenaria; Oxytropis pilosa; Stipa capillata; and Pulsatilla grandis, P. oenipontana and P. vulgaris (species group). For the molecular genetic characterization of the populations and for a corresponding (long-term) comparison of genetic diversity (heterozygosity, gene flow, inbreeding), the occurrences are to be genotyped using RADseq. We expect that the data will provide valuable information for assessing the conservation status of the species themselves, but also of the habitats in which they occur. The data can be valuable as a basis for conservation decisions. For example, it can be used to assess which protected areas are characterized by high or low genetic diversity, what connections exist between protected areas or what contribution species conservation projects make to the preservation of genetic diversity. The project supports Austria's efforts as a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity to establish a national system for monitoring the status and development of biodiversity and its components by collecting data for indicator S.3.1 (status of genetic diversity of wild species) throughout Austria using a standardized design.

The landscape ecological habitat potential describes the potential of an area to ensure the development of natural habitat structures for a species and thus serve as a habitat for this species. Such a model reflects the general suitability and colonization potential, irrespective of the current actual distribution. To date, various models exist for the suitability of wolf habitats in the entire Alpine region, but these are not based on current data from Austria. In this study, the conflict potential model will not be based on questionnaires but will be analyzed on the basis of economic data. The habitat potential model will aim to assess the suitability of areas for wolves, while the conflict potential model will use economic data to analyze potential conflicts. Both models will be based on current Austrian data and consider different scenarios (e.g., including conflict liability, compensation payments, and/​or herd protection measures). The availability of high-quality data is crucial for the accuracy and relevance of these models. The project will review the data base related to factors such as livestock production, herd protection, proximity to settlements, predation and other wolf biological parameters and integrate them into the models where available. The main research questions of this project include the determination of suitable habitats for wolves in Austria, the identification of conflict potentials from a socio-economic perspective and the identification of particularly affected areas in terms of habitat and conflict potential. This research project will provide valuable insights for nature conservation and the management of wolf populations in Austria.