Research

For the province of Styria, the Institute of Wildlife Biology and Hunting Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna is generating high-resolution habitat suitability models (SDM) for the target species black grouse, capercaillie and ptarmigan using current remote sensing data. The resulting findings serve as a decision-making basis for the planning of large-scale projects in alpine areas in general and for the evaluation of effects of large building projects (wind energy plants) as a basis for possible exclusion zones (revision of SAPRO Wind) in particular.

The Red Lists of endangered vertebrates were compiled 18 and 16 years ago. Since then, there have been changes in the taxonomic conditions, the basic population, the ecological conditions and the endangerment disposition of the species. Species that were thought to be extinct, such as the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), have been able to re-establish themselves. The endangerment situation of many species has also changed. New potential threats such as climate change, neobiota, etc. have emerged and are having an impact on species. Insect mortality has a direct impact on the numerous insectivorous vertebrate species and ecosystemic effects on the remaining species. The nomenclature of mammals, which was used as the basis for the 2005 work, is in need of updating. As part of a project by F&P Netzwerk Umwelt GmbH (engineering office for biology and landscape planning), the Red List of mammals (excluding bats) in Austria is now to be updated. This update will include a checklist of Austria's mammals according to the current taxonomic classification, an endangerment analysis and classification of the mammals occurring in Austria (excluding bats) in the IUCN endangerment categories. In addition, short species profiles are to be compiled for each species, outlining taxonomic conditions, ecological requirements, distribution, endangerment factors and conservation measures. Data on game species collected by F&P Netzwerk Umwelt GmbH will be evaluated in interviews and/or workshops with scientific researchers from the Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management (IWJ) at the BOKU University. The findings will be used to create checklists and the species profiles mentioned above. These checklists as well as the species profiles and any (final) reports will again be evaluated by researchers from IWJ, with a focus on game species.

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.