Gruppenfoto TdA Hohe Tauern. Foto: M. SonnleitnerM. Sonnleitner

ABOL BioBlitz at the Day of Biodiversity in the National Park Hohe Tauern/Lungau

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The last BioBlitz this year was carried out by ABOL in the course of the Biodiversity Day in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The study area ranged from montane to alpine altitudes in the upper Mur valley in the national park municipality of Muhr im Lungau. The JUFA Hotel in St. Michael, the Sticklerhütte and the Rotgüldenseehütte served as bases. A total of 64 experts on 25 different groups of organisms took part in the Biodiversity Day; many of them also participated in the ABOL BioBlitz.

Unfortunately, heavy rainfalls accompanied the event – not a good precondition for successful surveys. On the one hand, many species were not active and also the experts had problems to move forward in the often steep and slippery terrain. Nevertheless, due to persistence and creativity a considerable number of species could again be detected. As planned, some researchers set up their light traps already on Friday evening to attract nocturnal insects – especially butterflies. Fortunately, the temperatures did not drop very much, so that many, mostly characteristic mountain species, could already be surveyed during this action. In addition, five bat species were detected by sound detectors. Naturally, most of the species were recorded by the botanists, which were able to work even in bad weather by the persevering group. The data recording in this case was mainly done via the app ObsMapp (observation.org).

In the course of a pleasant get-together at the JUFA Hotel on Sunday morning, the results and findings of the last two days were discussed, there was also opportunity to exchange ideas with other experts and and to give the participants a short summary of the BioBlitzes from the past two years.

We would like to thank the National Park team for the excellent organization, the transport with shuttle busses and the nice accommodations. A big thank you from our side also to all who participated again in the ABOL-BioBlitz action!

Impressiones from the study area (Photos: M. Sonnleitner):

Symphyta. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Bombus sp. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Dianthus carthusianorum. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Eriophoretum. Upper Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Lepidoptera. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Group photo. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Diptera. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
End of valley behind the fountain of the Mur river. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Path to the fountain of the Mur river. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Gomphocerus sibiricus. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Argynnis paphia. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Fountain of the Mur river. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Path to the fountain of the Mur river. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Dianthus superbus. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Fountain of the Mur river. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Digitalis grandiflora. Rotgülden lake. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
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Sabine Schoder

ABOL BioBlitz at the Tyrolean Day of Biodiversity in the Nature Park Kaunergrat

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In Tyrol, ABOL was once again able to participate in the Day of Biodiversity with a BioBlitz Initiative. Selected areas in the Nature Park Kaunergrat were examined – from wet to dry, lean meadows to bog areas, boulder fields, alpine meadows and alpine grasslands. In addition to butterfly experts, who began their surveys with light traps on Friday evening, experts on beetles, grasshoppers, flies, hymenoptera, birds, mammals, plants and fungi took part in the event. On Saturday, the participants flocked to the various survey areas to compile as comprehensive a species list as possible by late afternoon. Finally, at 16h, an invitation was extended to the Experts’ Coffee in the Nature Park House “Gacher Blick”, where there was time to exchange ideas and to let the Day of Biodiversity come to a pleasant end. A final presentation of the results will take place this year for the first time in autumn – probably partly online.

We would like to thank all participants of the ABOL BioBlitz! A big thank also goes to the organisers of the Day of Biodiversity, who managed with great spontaneity to move the planned event location from the Pfundser Tschey to the Kaunergrat Nature Park and still provide perfect catering and accommodation.

Impressions from the study area: (Photos: C. Leeb):

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M. Sonnleitner

GEO day of nature and ABOL BioBlitz in the Biosphere Reserve Nockberge

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The third ABOL BioBlitz of this year took place as part of the GEO day of nature in the Biosphere Reserve Nockberge in Carinthia. 70 experts and companions surveyed animal, plant and fungus species at the basis of the Zunderwand and in the vicinity of the Erlacherhaus. Due to the special geological situation, where limestone islands protrude from the silicate bedrock, the diversity of species is particularly great here, as lime- and silicate-loving species coexist. The focus was also on the numerous peculiarities occurring here, especially species that are very rare or only narrowly distributed. The study area was rich in different habitats such as pastures, limestone grasslands, rock crevices and scree slopes, bogs, drainage fields and creeks. Therefore, more than 1180 species could be registered within 24 hours. The beautiful weather also contributed to the success. On the other hand, there were also groups that were surprisingly rarely found, such as bumblebees, whose main season had obviously not yet started. However, the exact number of species that was recorded will only be known after extensive post-processing by the respective experts. We hope for active participation in the ABOL BioBlitz and are confident that we can close one or the other gap in the DNA barcode reference data for Austria.

We would like to thank the organizers and the participants in the ABOL BioBlitz!

Impressions from the event and the study area (Photos: M. Sonnleitner):

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