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ABOL BioBlitz in the National Park Hohe Tauern

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Like last year, ABOL again participated with a BioBlitz campaign in the day of biodiversity (Tag der Artenvielfalt) in the National Park Hohe Tauern. The experts met from 17th to 19th July in the Tyrolean part of the Hohe Tauern, in the Umbaltal – a vallay with lonely side valleys and a wide range of habitats up to the glacier region. After registration in Prägraten, where also general information was given, the 66 participants swarmed out to the different investigation areas in search of various animal groups, plants and fungi. A cell phone app made data acquisition easier. When darkness fell, nocturnal insects were attracted by means of light traps at different altitudes and the calls of bats were recorded using a batcorder. Despite poor weather conditions, interesting observations could be made, and many montane to alpine species were identified. We are very happy about the great interest in genetic recording of biodiversity using DNA barcodes, especially among the numerous young participants. Many thanks on behalf of the ABOL team! Thanks also to the organization team for the smooth running, the booking of accommodations – in the Virgental or in the Clarahütte at approximately 2000 m, for the shuttle options to the starting points, as well as for the fine regional meals.

A few pictures from the study area (photos: C. Lettner, M. Sonnleitner; title photo: NPHT Hechenblaikner):

Clara hut, Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Lilium martagon. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Astragalus alpinus. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Leontopodium alpinum. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Spider. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Fieldwork. Photo: C. Lettner
Diptera. Virgen. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Alpine pasture. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Leontopodium alpinum. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Umbal falls. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Umbal falls. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Draba aizoides. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Saxifraga aizoides - Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Closing Event. Prägraten. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Saxifraga oppositifolia. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Ranunculus glacialis. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Fieldwork with rain. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Hybrid between Nigritella rhellicani & Gymnadenia conopsea. Umbaltal. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Moth. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Fieldwork. Photo: C. Lettner
Dracocephalum ruyschiana. A rare species. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner
Allium victorialis. Umbal valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

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Days of Biodiversity 2020

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Dear ABOL community,

due to the current situation, we can finally announce that there will be an ABOL conference this year, on December 5th following the Biodiversity Forum.
Both events will take place together as Days of Biodiversity in St. Pölten – the 3rd Austrian Forum on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on December 4th and the 7th ABOL conference on December 5th. At the same time, it will also be possible to take part in the conference virtually (live streaming).

The conference fee for the ABOL meeting of € 20 for meals will be collected on site (free for students).

Abstracts for lectures and posters on DNA barcoding and its practical application can now be submitted! Please send an email to abol@nhm-wien.ac.at.

Please save the date! More detailed information will follow!

With kind regards,

the ABOL coordination team

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First ABOL BioBlitz 2020 in the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald/Pötzleinsdorf

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The planned festive event as part of the 15th anniversary of the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald fell victim to the measures of the Covid-19 pandemic, like so many other events in this year. The numerous experts from a wide range of disciplines nevertheless made the search for species a festival of biodiversity. Again, we were able to contribute with an ABOL BioBlitz!

All day on Friday and Saturday morning, more than 80 experts swarmed out in the study area, which was located in the 18th district of Vienna, in and around the Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark, in search for as many animal, plant and fungi species as possible. In addition to meadows and forests, three cemeteries, the Pötzleinsdorfer, the Neustifter and the Gersthofer cemetery, characterized by a very high biodiversity, were accessible for this event.  When darkness fell, various lepidopterists set light traps and the bat fauna was surveyed by experts.

Despite the poor weather conditions – especially on the second day – around 940 species of animals, plants and fungi were found within 24 hours. Part of these will be sampled again this year for establishing DNA barcodes. A warm thank in advance to all experts for participating in the ABOL BioBlitz. Thanks also to the event team for the good organization and catering, which worked perfectly despite the difficult general conditions due to the current Covid-19 measures!

A detailed report (in German only) and further photos can be found on the website of the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald ->here.

Some impressions from the Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark (Photos: M. Sonnleitner):

 

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ABOL BioBlitz 2020 & City Nature Challenge

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Dear ABOL community, dear colleagues,

Knowledge about biodiversity is more important than ever, not only in the scientific community, but also among the general public. The Days of Biodiversity have been significantly  contributing to our knowledge on biodiversity for many years. ABOL will this year again participate in Days of Biodiversity with ABOL BioBlitz actions in order to make the knowledge, provided by experts, available for the society. As last year, experts are invited to provide samples of determined organisms for DNA barcoding. Last year we were able to sample around 1.900 animals in this way and substantially contributed to Austrian reference data. More information and dates can be found -> here. This page is continuously updated.

In addition, we would like to draw your attention to the City Nature Challenge 2020, in which Austria will take part for the first time in Vienna, Graz and Wachau. The challenge takes place from 24th to 27th April. The observation data of plants, animals and fungi are recorded via the iNaturalist platform. Anyone can use e.g. cell phones to photograph organisms and upload photos, which are then determined by experts. The aim of the City Nature Challenge is to document the biodiversity in cities in a global competition. An exact knowledge of the species is not necessary, because the observations are, as far as possible, determined via crowdsourcing (i.e. from other iNaturalist users). Everyone can participate as a notifier and as a determining expert. This challenge is also well suited as a school project.

To this end, Lorin Timaeus holds lectures and a workshop for teachers. All dates can be found at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-wien/journal; Registration until March 11th at cncwien@gmail.com. Instructions for the iNaturalist app can be found at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-wien?tab=about

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2. Austrian Forum on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services

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On December 18, the 2nd Austrian Forum on Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services took place at VetMed Uni Vienna with the motto Land Use and Biodiversity.
In addition to lectures on the measurement and assessment of biodiversity and the launch of the Biodiversity Atlas for Austria (https://biodiversityatlas.at/), the Austrian Biodiversity Council went public with five key demands to protect biodiversity. Measures to stop the biodiversity crisis, compliance with obligations, the change into an ecologically responsible society, the strengthening of education and science, as well as the topic of the forum, the change to biodiversity-promoting land use were presented and discussed in workshops by experts.
Anyone who feels connected to the goals of the Network for Biodiversity can sign a Memorandum of Understanding (https://www.biodiversityaustria.at/netzwerk/mou/).

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ABOL meeting 2019 – in retrospect

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Dear ABOL community,

this year, the ABOL meeting took place in Innsbruck for the first time. Gorgeous winter weather formed the framework for the 3-day event, which consisted of the first D-A-CH User Group Meeting (UGM) on the subject of DNA methods in environmental management and the 6th ABOL meeting. The first two days with top-class lectures and interesting discussions were dedicated to the application of DNA-based methods in environmental monitoring and implementation at the legal level. At the method pitch, the participants could explore details about different methods. The last day’s ABOL meeting amended the scientific basis of DNA barcoding and the important issue of creating reliable references that are essential for further applications. The breadth of international participation and the diversity of the presentations ideally reflected the opening up of ABOL to the entire biodiversity community. We thank all speakers for the exciting contributions and all participants for coming!
Special thanks go to Michael Traugott and his team for the perfect organization and last but not least for the world premiere of the first genetic determination of a Krampus at the conference dinner :-)

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope for fruitful cooperation next year.

Best Regards,

the ABOL coordination team
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Some impressions from the DACH-UGM and ABOL meeting (Photos by Veronika Neidel and Michaela Sonnleitner):

 

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Elisabeth Haring spoke at the “Fridays For Future Vienna” strike on “Biodiversity and Climate Crisis”

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Biodiversity is a term that is far from being firmly anchored in people’s minds. Global climate change can no longer be ignored as a fact, problem and danger, “Fridays for Future” is an expression of this situation. By contrast, the “Sixth Mass Extinction” is fully under way, yet many people are still unaware of the term biodiversity. This, and the fact that a trend reversal of global warming cannot take place without simultaneously stopping habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, was addressed in Elisabeth Haring´s talk at the “Fridays For Future” strike on 15.11. on the Stock im Eisenplatz in Vienna.

https://fridaysforfuture.at/regionalgruppen/wien

 

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Early bird Registration extended!

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Dear ABOL community, dear colleagues,

We have extended the early bird registration for this year’s ABOL conference until October 18th !
Conference contributions in the form of 15 minute talks or lightning talks (3 minutes) can be submitted until October 31st.

Registration

Further information about the conference can be found on our conference website.

We look forward to your participation!

The ABOL coordination team

 

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ABOL BioBlitz in the National Park Hohe Tauern

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“Summit of Biodiversity at the foot of Mt. Grossglockner” was the motto of the 13th Day of Biodiversity of the Hohe Tauern National Park, in which ABOL again participated with a BioBlitz. From 26th to 28th July, more than 60 experts examined the Gössnitztal, an elongated high valley at an altitude of about 2,000 m, and the valley floor around Heiligenblut. In addition to plants and fungi numerous groups of animals were processed, a mobile app often facilitated the data acquisition. At dusk, light traps were installed to attract nocturnal insects – especially moths – at different altitudes. In addition, bats were observed and their calls recorded by a batcorder.
We are pleased that the genetic detection of species diversity using DNA barcodes has met with great interest. Thus, numerous samples can contribute to the establishment of a Genetic Guide of Austrian biodiversity.

A big compliment and a great thank you to all organizers. No logistical challenges – several accommodations had to be organized, researchers had to take buses to the starting point for hikes, etc. – was too big.
We would like to thank the entire National Park team and the experts for their cooperation in the ABOL-BioBlitz!

TdA Gruppenfoto Kaisermantel, Kräuterwand Sempervivum montanum Agg., Gössnitztal Volucella pellucens, Gössnitztal Pinus cembra, Gössnitztal Subalpiner Wald - Gössnitztal Gössnitztal Gössnitztal Gössnitztal Gössnitztal Bombus pratorum on Epilobium angustifolium - Gössnitztal Dactylorhiza majalis - Gössnitztal Hesperiidae, Gössnitztal Gössnitztal Fen, Gössnitztal (c) M. Sonnleitner Kachelmoor ABOL Team Botaniker Heiligenblut with Mt. Großglockner (c) M. Sonnleitner TdA - group photo
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ABOL 2019 – Registration open!

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Dear ABOL community and interested people!

As already announced, this year’s ABOL conference will take place in Innsbruck on December 6, 2019 following the DACH-UGM “DNA Methods in Environmental Management”, which will cover everything from the application to the scientific basis of DNA barcoding. Both meetings can be attended together – at a reduced conference fee, but also separately.

Registration is already possible (-> registration).

For our ABOL meeting we look forward to interesting contributions in the form of talks (15 min. + 5 min. discussion) or lightning talks (3 min., max. 3 slides, no posters possible!). The abstracts are submitted via the registration page.
The conference language of the ABOL meeting is English, the first one and a half days of the UGM will be held in German, followed by an afternoon in English.

An early registration pays off! Early Bird registration and submission of abstracts until October 1, 2019, registration deadline October 31, 2019.
Visit our conference website for more information!

We look forward to an interesting meeting in a new frame!

The ABOL coordination team

 

 

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