Research

Climatic changes can pose challenges for wildlife. In the Alpine region, for example, the Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra), a flagship species of the alpine and montane regions of Europe, reacts sensitively to changes in its habitat. This research project therefore aims to investigate climatic influences on the Alpine chamois in order to assess how this wild ungulate species reacts to changing environmental conditions. Specifically, camera traps will be used in combination with climate data loggers to investigate the activity of the animals and their spatio-temporal behavior in relation to climatic factors (e.g. temperature extremes in summer and winter). In this context, camera traps provide a non-invasive survey method that is ideal for documenting the natural behavior of animals in their habitat. In total, these cameras (as well as the climate data loggers) will collect data over a year and a half, which will be scientifically evaluated on an ongoing basis. The long project duration ensures that both the activity of the Alpine chamois and their spatio-temporal behavior in relation to climatic effects can be analyzed over the entire annual cycle. Results from this project will contribute to a better understanding of the habitat selection of Alpine chamois. Consequently, findings from this project will provide basic knowledge for management measures to conserve this ungulate species in the Alpine region.

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.