Research

This project harnesses expertise and experience of EKLIPSE MEG members to develop best practice guidance for methods and bundles of methods to address a range of contemporary environmental challenges at the science policy interface. Building upon an established method typology (literature- or data-based; participatory; decision support; policy evaluation; futures and narrative), 10 selected tools will be identified through a combination of rapid evidence review, expert opinion, and AI-assisted analysis. Artificial intelligence will support the rapid review by identifying patterns, and extracting insights from large volumes of literature and policy documentation. Using an applied policy Delphi over 4 rounds the final methods will be prioritised, with AI-enabled data analysis used to support the synthesis of expert input and detect emerging consensus or divergence, from which best practice guidance will be drafted and validated. Recognizing that tools are rarely used in isolation, we will devise guidance on selecting combinations of tools and associated process pathways, with the help of AI-supported decision frameworks, to tackle diverse environmental challenges. The approved single and bundled guidance will then be tested using past and present EKLIPSE requests, together with one urgent request from BioAgora's Science Service for Biodiversity. The Delphi process will involve the creation of a methods knowledge exchange network from the outset, with an AI-powered platform envisioned to facilitate dynamic knowledge sharing forming a key component of the project legacy.

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) is spreading across many parts of Europe and uses a wide range of resources, leading to increased interactions with wildlife communities and potentially livestock farming. Anthropogenic food sources (waste, carrion, and hunting waste) are also utilized. However, standardized, regionally comparable data on food composition and potential effects on biodiversity are often lacking but important for management and conservation purposes. This project investigates the feeding ecology of the golden jackal in a harmonized design by combining methods: standardized stomach content analyses (according to Hatlauf & Lanszki 2024) and conservation dog-assisted scat searches along systematic transects (according to Hatlauf et al. 2021) with genetic species identification for quality assurance (in cooperation with FIWI). Already available samples from South Tyrol, Poland, and Austria will be integrated. Niche breadth and food overlap will be analyzed along gradients of land use, proximity to settlements, and resource availability, including comparison with sympatric species (e.g., red fox). The proportion of anthropogenic resources will be quantified and results will be linked to questions regarding the impact on biodiversity, particularly with regard to sensitive species groups (e.g., small mammals, lagomorphs, ground-nesting birds) and indicators of access to carrion/waste. The food components are determined morphologically; DNA metabarcoding can be added for higher taxonomic resolution. The evaluation is carried out using frequency and biomass metrics as well as method comparisons (morphological vs. genetic).

The research project in La Gamba, Costa Rica, aims to establish a long-term wildlife monitoring program with a focus on mammals and birds. Audio recording devices and camera traps will be used, among other methods, to collect data. The project will be conducted on the properties of the Tropical Field Station La Gamba, which is located at the edge of the "Rainforest of the Austrians" (Regenwald der Österreicher) and covers approximately 570 hectares within the Biological Corridor La Gamba (COBIGA). The Tropical Field Station La Gamba, a research and teaching facility of the University of Vienna, plays a central role in rainforest research and raises awareness about rainforest conservation. It provides access to its properties for research purposes upon prior consultation. The study areas encompass various habitat types, including primary rainforest, reforestation areas of different ages, open shrublands, and oil palm plantations. The project will contribute to a better understanding of the distribution and behavior of wildlife in these habitats, support conservation efforts, and enhance knowledge about tropical ecosystems.