Research

The lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) is an orchid species that is protected under Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and is therefore considered endangered throughout Europe. At the same time, the plant is virtually the flagship species of native orchids. The CypriPlus project aims to investigate the sharp decline of this species in recent decades, particularly in the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve and the southern Weinviertel region, by means of site analyses. The investigations include the recording of microclimate data series using sensors, soil samples to detect any mycorrhizal fungi, and pollinator monitoring at selected locations in Austria. The focus is on the greater Vienna area, although some alpine occurrences will also be examined for the above-mentioned parameters. The project team consists of employees of the Austrian Orchid Protection Network (ÖON), BFW, BOKU university and experienced gardeners from botanical gardens in Vienna and The lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus) is an orchid species that is protected under Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive and is therefore considered endangered throughout Europe. At the same time, the plant is virtually the flagship species of native orchids. The CypriPlus project aims to investigate the sharp decline of this species in recent decades, particularly in the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve and the southern Weinviertel region, by means of site analyses. The investigations include the recording of microclimate data series using sensors, soil samples to detect any mycorrhizal fungi, and pollinator monitoring at selected locations in Austria. The focus is on the greater Vienna area, although some alpine occurrences will also be examined for the above-mentioned parameters. The project team consists of employees of the Austrian Orchid Protection Network (ÖON), the BFW, the BOKU university and experienced gardeners from botanical gardens in Vienna and Carl-Friedrich von Siemens Stiftung. The pollinator monitoring sub-project is based at the Boku. The pollinator monitoring sub-project is based at the Boku.

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.

Efficient and informative biodiversity monitoring is essential to detect changes in biodiversity at an early stage and is therefore an important component of the European/National Biodiversity Strategy 2030 and the European Green Deal. Objectives such as “Strategic expansion, national overall concept, trans-national cooperation and coordination, enabling success monitoring of the measures taken” were often mentioned last year. The members of the ABOL consortium (Austrian Barcode of Life) combine biodiversity monitoring expertise with genetic and taxonomic expertise. Most of the partners in this project have already formed a successful consortium for the basis of the DNA barcoding as part of the university space structure funding project “Development of university DNA barcoding pipelines for ABOL - the Austrian biodiversity initiative “Austrian Barcode of Life” (duration: 03.2017-12.2021). Barcoding approach and are therefore ideally suited to lead a project based on it. In addition, most members of the project consortium also cooperate in the BMBWF's ATIV-Biodat infrastructure project (duration: 03-2023-12/2026). In this project, important stakeholders beyond the universities are involved who contribute essential competencies in the area of ​​biodiversity documentation - national parks, EU, states, ministries, Federal Environment Agency and natural history museums, but also international programs and initiatives.