ABOL-BioBlitzes 2026 – from the river plain to the summit

A look back at a successful ABOL field season 2026!

Since 2019, the ABOL coordination team has been actively involved in the various Days of Biodiversity, conducting ABOL BioBlitz surveys. These surveys generate DNA barcodes and familiarize experts with this methodological approach. This year’s Days of Biodiversity were once again very popular. Thanks to the numerous dedicated experts, many species were documented, and there was also lively participation in the ABOL BioBlitzes.

This year’s events covered a wide range of habitats – from lowlands with dry grasslands, meadows and forests to the highest elevations with fens and alpine grasslands.

The season started on June 12th and 13th in the Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve in Vienna’s district Penzing. More than 100 experts recorded a total of 1,455 species in dry grasslands, meadows, and forests of the hilly zone. Despite the changeable weather, this event was a great success. At the subsequent Biodiversity Festival, young and old alike were able to experience geology, nature conservation, and biodiversity firsthand. At the ABOL information stand, visitors learned about the possibilities of genetic methods for species identification.

Similar site conditions prevailed at the following Geo-Day at Simon Hof in Mittertrixen, Carinthia. Although the ABOL coordination team couldn’t be there in person, participants were still offered the opportunity to contribute tissue samples for DNA barcodes. We received very positive feedback from the event, where no effort was spared to survey biodiversity on an actively managed farm on June 27th and 28th. Deciduous forests, ponds, and rocky habitats invited biodiversity exploration. The approximately 40 researchers recorded 850 species.

Two Days of Biodiversity took place simultaneously on the second weekend of July. From July 10th to 12th, Day of Biodiversity was held in the Tyrolean part of the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Debant Valley. The wide altitudinal range – from the montane to the alpine zone – was reflected in the high number of species. In fantastic weather, approximately 60 researchers documented around 2,400 observations. The habitats could not have been more diverse – from larch and Swiss pine forests to pastures, alpine meadows, scree slopes, spring meadows, fens, and an alpine lake, everything was represented. This enormous diversity also led to numerous samples for generating DNA barcodes.

Simultaneously, on July 10th and 11th, the Geo-Day of Biodiversity took place in the Untere Lavant European Protected Area. There, the focus was on hilly riparian zones, floodplain forests, oxbow lakes, ravine and slope mixed forests, and grasslands. With great effort – not all participants stayed dry – the species composition was also recorded there. Approximately 45 researchers were able to identify just under 1,000 species.

The GEO-Day of Biodiversity in the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve on July 17th and 18th marked the culmination of the ABOL BioBlitzes. Biodiversity was surveyed around Lake Falkert at altitudes between approximately 1,300 and 2,000 meters. The area is characterized by alpine pastures, larch and Swiss pine forests, near-natural stream headwaters, and Lake Falkert itself. Around 35 researchers documented an estimated 735 species.

The results of this year’s Days of Biodiversity demonstrate once again the value of collaboration among dedicated experts in recording biodiversity and how this collaboration can also facilitate the DNA barcode reference database. A heartfelt thank you goes to all the organizers and participants who contributed to the success of the events.

You can find more information and highlights here:

Tag der Artenvielfalt: Auf Entdeckungstour in Wien-Penzing | Biosphärenpark Wienerwald
20 Jahre Tage der Artenvielfalt – nationalparksaustria.at | DE

Impressions (Photos by M. Sonnleitner, J. Heinzl, N. Szucsich):