ABOL-BioBlitz – ABOL – The Austrian Barcode of Life

On the first weekend in July, the ABOL-BioBlitz was a guest at the GEO Day of Biodiversity in the Geopark Karawanken, this year for the first time in southern Carinthia. After the welcome and introductory words in Bleiburg, the Globasnitzbachtal was investigated in the afternoon and evening of the first day. There was something for everyone there – stream, forests, and also wonderful species-rich meadows that made botanists and entomologists’ hearts beat faster. On the second day, the high elevations of the Petzen were the target of the species survey. Equipped with cameras, nets, tubes, etc., the cable car took us to the study area. The sunny weather provided good conditions for the species search, only the wind in exposed locations was a bit of a hindrance. Due to the geological peculiarities and the southern influence, the region is particularly species-rich and therefore extremely exciting for all researchers. Initial estimates have already shown that around 1200 species have been found, which is an impressive number. The success is due not least to the large number of around 90 participating scientists, as well as the perfect organization of the event by the state of Carinthia, the Ökoteam and E.C.O.

We would like to thank you very much for allowing us to be there again, for the great food, the pretty t-shirts and the opportunity to meet friends and colleagues as well as new people.

We would like to call on collectors to contact us if they would like to provide samples of arthropods for DNA barcoding!

17. July, 2024/by Michaela Sonnleitner

N. Fial

10 years ÖEG insect camp

ABOL BioBlitz, Highlights, Veranstaltungen

Parallel to the Day of Biodiversity in the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald, ABOL was represented for the third time at the ÖEG insect camp from June 6th to 9th. Like ABOL, the insect camp also celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, and this year it took place in the Karwendel Nature Reserve in Tyrol. On this occasion, all participants were surprised with lovingly designed T-shirts. With a smile and a tear in her eye, the ÖEG youth officer Elisabeth Huber ceremoniously handed over the organization of the camp to Elisabeth Glatzhofer and Samuel Messner.

Around 40 experts and aspiring young entomologists collected various arthropod groups on 13 sample areas. Butterflies, beetles, cicadas, hymenoptera, bugs, flies, millipedes and the like were well represented due to the good weather. The sample areas were as diverse as the taxa collected themselves. Among others, coniferous forests, alpine pastures, ponds, alpine limestone grasslands, high alpine scree slopes and the river bank along the Isar were examined.

In short we presented our new Biodiversity Fund project RefDat and invited all participants to join the project. All interested parties could then pick up tubes prepared by our team for sampling the collected material.

Early in the morning, with full stomachs, a wide range of utensils and mostly ideal weather, the groups fanned out to the study area. After dinner, they met in the restaurant and prepared and identified in a relaxed atmosphere until late into the night. During this time, the opportunity was taken to exchange profound information and make new contacts. All the brave and bright ones went out to light up the night thunderstorms to catch moths with light traps at the end of the day.

We would like to thank the ÖEG team and the Karwendel Nature Park team for the great catering and organization and especially Elisabeth Huber for her many years of commitment! We are eagerly awaiting the results of the data analysis as well as the results of our DNA samples.

Impressions (photos: N. Fial, N. Szucsich):

17. July, 2024/by Michaela Sonnleitner

TdA Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald - Vienna-Liesing

M. Sonnleitner

The first ABOL BioBlitzes 2024

ABOL BioBlitz, Citizen Science, Highlights, Veranstaltungen

Thanks to the Biodiversity Fund projects ABOL-RefDat and GeMonA+, our ABOL team at the Natural History Museum Vienna grew at the beginning of 2024 and the first BioBlitzes were a good opportunity to support data collection and networking in the biodiversity community.

This year’s Day of Biodiversity of the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald took place in Vienna-Liesing, at the same time part of the ABOL team traveled to the ÖEG insect camp in the Karwendel Nature Reserve.

On the occasion of the City Nature Challenge, an excursion to the Vienna-Liesing study area around Himmelswiese started at the end of April. Some species were already recorded there and on the Days of Biodiversity on June 8th and 9th this list of species was further expanded. In ideal weather conditions, which only made catching insects difficult due to occasional gusts of wind, we went along forest paths and extensive meadows to different types of water. The bright expert T-shirts meant that we kept meeting interested visitors or experts from other species groups, which led to nice conversations.

At the Biodiversity Festival, we shared an information stand with the Mycological Society, which was packed thanks to the favorable mushroom weather beforehand!

The Day of Biodiversity came to a cozy end at a nearby wine tavern, to which all experts were invited. A big thank you to the organizing team, as always it was a great experience that ran smoothly!

Impressions (photos: M. Sonnleitner)

16. July, 2024/by Michaela Sonnleitner

ABOL BioBlitz in the National park Hohe Tauern

ABOL BioBlitz, Highlights, Meetings, Veranstaltungen

This year’s ABOL BioBlitz series was completed with the Day of Biodiversity in the Hohe Tauern National Park on the Deferegger sunny side in East Tyrol. As in previous years, the weather this weekend was rather bad. At least this year we had some sunny windows in which flying insects, especially bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies could be observed. The first evening was already dedicated to the light traps – nocturnal insects were attracted and mapped with light traps on the banks of the Schwarzach river and in the alpine area at Speikboden. Saturday was devoted entirely to searching for species in the study areas above St. Veit and St. Jakob, up to high alpine locations. In the evening, nets for catching bats were set up around the House of Water of the National Park, which served as a base, with which, together with echolocation, 5 species of bats could be detected. At the final event on Sunday, the first results and provisional species numbers were presented. Thanks to the voluntary and unpaid work of around 70 experts, the data situation in this area, which had been rather sparse until then, was significantly improved. We hope to get some more samples for the creation of DNA barcodes and to successfully complete the ABOL-BioBlitz collecting season.
We would like to thank the national park team for the perfect organization of accommodation, food and transport!

Impressions from the study area:

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggen valley. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggen valley. Insects on Apiaceae inflorescence. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggen valley. Myricaria germanica on the Schwarzach river. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggen valley. Species rich meadow. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggen valley. Welcome. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggental. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggen valley. N. Szucsich at the closing event. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

TdA NP Hohe Tauern, Defereggen valley. Light trap. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

2. August, 2023/by Michaela Sonnleitner

TdA Nockberge - Bärengrube. Photo: O. Macek

ABOL-BioBlitzes in Tyrol and the Carinthian Nockberge Mountains

ABOL BioBlitz, Highlights, Meetings

On July 7 and 8, the ABOL team was present at two simultaneous events: the Day of Biodiversity in Tyrol and the GEO-Day of Nature in Carinthia.

At the Day of Biodiversity in Tyrol, in Leutasch, four very different and exciting study areas were examined for their biodiversity. In a moor area with orchid-rich fens and an intact mountain pine high moor, night was turned into day with numerous light traps – at least for the nocturnal insects and their researchers. In addition, many fireflies, which are rarely observed in such high numbers today, lit our way. The numerous butterfly experts were also present high on the mountain in the direction of Arnkopf, at a species-rich meadow and an interesting gravel area. The beautiful weather on Saturday contributed to rich observations of various animal groups. The final event on Saturday afternoon was well attended and very informative and interesting with a very well-prepared photo presentation which was put together in a very short time. Experts from various fields contributed briefly, from the geology of the study area, a short introduction to iNaturalist to a poem about a moth (Baptria tibiale).

First results were presented, there was a lot to find on the four survey plots: 11 orchid species, about 200 different butterflies, including the rare dusky large blue (Phengaris nausithous), more than 50 bird species, including black grouse, golden eagle and tawny owl, some recordings on the bat-detector and sundew and moorland hawker in the moorland. As part of the post-processing, some more exciting species will surely be added to the species list. Also, the culinary art and the interaction among the experts wasn’t missed out, before we started the long journey home, which was definitively worth it! Many thanks to the organizing team!

The other part of the ABOL team took part in the GEO Day of Nature in the Nockberge. With the ‘Bärengrube’ (translated ‘bear-cave’) near Innerkrems we went this year to north-exposed sites of the biosphere reserve, with a diverse geology and soils, from dolomite to mica schist and numerous boggy areas. Not in every organism group the call for ‘bear’ associations could be served as elegantly as the botanical Lycopodium, a pun that loses its punch line in English. Not even the butterfly experts were successful due to the lack of Arctiinae sightings. The familiar atmosphere and the perfect weather led to the fact that nevertheless nobody was grieved. Moreover, the sightings of all three grouse species consoled even the melancholic about the absence of species like Contarinia baeri.

Our thanks go again to the organizers of E.C.O., the biosphere reserve team and the Ökoteam for the perfect organization and for opening the wide field of bear puns.

Impressions from Leutasch in Tyrol:

Impressions from the Nockberge:

20. July, 2023/by Michaela Sonnleitner

ABOL BioBlitz at the ÖEG insect camp 2023

ABOL BioBlitz, Highlights, Meetings

This year ABOL participated for the second time in the ÖEG insect camp with a BioBlitz. This year the four-day camp took place in the picturesque scenery of the Salzburger Kalkhochalpen of the Naturepark Weißbach and led us to species-rich mountain meadows, forest edges, swamp meadows up to alpine lawns.

Before starting into the field, the variety of different fields of expertise became apparent in the form of the stored equipment: Leaf vacuums for bugs, cicadas and various hymenoptera, beetle traps, luminous traps for moths and other nocturnal animals, hoverfly-, wild bee-, butterfly- & dragonfly-nets, sieves for millipedes, mosquito traps and much more. All framed by identification literature, binoculars, taxidermy utensils and a wide variety of collecting tubes.

In a short ABOL-presentation, the relevance of an Austria-wide DNA reference database and DNA-based identification approaches were presented. Interested participants could pick up tubes prepared by the ABOL team to barcode their collected animals. A Malaise trap for a metabarcoding approach was also set up again.

The days were very suitable for professional exchange and a common barbecue with an enjoyable evening in the naturepark rounded off the program wonderfully.

It can be said that the goal of the ÖEG, the promotion, documentation and representation of scientific entomology in Austria, was fully achieved during the four days. A big thank-you to the youth referent of the ÖEG Elisabeth Huber and the team of the Naturepark Weißbach, the schedule was flawless! Thank you very much for having us!

Impressions:

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Rainbow in Lofer. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Rock face on the way to Asenmoos. Photo: V. Kargl

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Rock face on the way to Asenmoos. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Enallagma cyathigerum. Photo: V. Kargl

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Collecting soil animals. Photo: V. Kargl

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Hochgrub, Leoganger Steinberge. Entomologist. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Grasenberg near Weißbach. Steep, rocky windbreak area. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Hochgrub, Leoganger Steinberge. Entomologist working in an alpine habitat. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Hochgrub, Leoganger Steinberge. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Hochgrub, Leoganger Steinberge. Clematis alpina. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Hochgrub, Leooganger Steinberge. Alpines Untersuchungsgebiet. Foto: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Asenmoos. Wet habitats, marshes. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Malaise trap for metabarcoding. Falleck – steep meadow. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Hochgrub, Leooganger Steinberge. Alpine habitat. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect Camp 2023. Barbecue at Weißbach, Hintertal. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Falleck. Steep meadow. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG insect camp 2023. Rhyssa persuasoria, sabre wasp. Photo: V. Kargl

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Niedergrub. Leoganger Steinberge. Pasture with Primula farinosa. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Falleck. Species rich meadow. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

ÖEG Insect camp 2023. Hochgrub, Leoganger Steinberge. Entomologists working in an alpine habitat. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

3. July, 2023/by Michaela Sonnleitner

M. Sonnleitner

The first two ABOL BioBlitzes of 2023!

ABOL BioBlitz, Highlights, Meetings, Veranstaltungen

The first two Days of Biodiversity took this year place in Vienna (allotment Villaweg) and Lower Austria (Klosterneuburg, Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald).

In Klosterneuburg, we were exploring species-rich meadows, natural Wienerwald brooks, or the biosphere reserve core zone “Dombachgraben” in fantastic early summer weather. In Vienna, too, the weather left nothing to be desired – only the floodlights of the nearby soccer field competed in the evening with the insect light traps and bat catching, including a night tour. Nevertheless, a Viennese peacock moth (Saturnia pyri) could be observed at a light trap, a highlight for everyone!

While in Vienna all sites in and around the Villaweg allotment were easily accessible on foot, the area in Klosterneuburg, on the northern edge of the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald, extended over several square kilometers and a shuttle service was provided. The species search started on Friday morning and ended on Saturday noon in a festival of biodiversity with information booths and expert excursions!

Even though DNA barcoding may appear to be a more complex topic at first glance, our ABOL information booth was well visited and we could inform visitors about the different activities of ABOL as well as win experts for the ABOL BioBlitz! At this point we would like to thank the organizers for the great organization!

Impressions:

Day of Biodiversity in Klosterneuburg - collecting species

7. June, 2023/by Michaela Sonnleitner

Hochstaudenflur, Kölnbreinsperre, TdA Hohe Tauern. Foto: M. Sonnleitner

ABOL BioBlitz in the National Park Hohe Tauern

ABOL BioBlitz, Citizen Science, Highlights, Meetings

Once again this year, the Biodiversity Day in the National Park Hohe Tauern was not accompanied by good weather. With gusts of wind, cold, rain and occasional windows of sunshine, dedicated experts collected biodiversity data again last weekend – this year in the Carinthian part of the National Park in the Maltatal. The high altitudes around the Kölnbrein reservoir were investigated, but also the lower altitudes of the municipality of Malta, lighth traps were set up and bats were mapped with nets and batcorders. Due to the adverse conditions, diurnal insects were mainly collected in the short sunny windows, especially on the last day. The ABOL coordination team was there in full force and, as in previous years, will submit samples for DNA barcoding as part of an ABOL BioBlitz. We would like to thank everyone who took part! Furthermore, we thank the National Park team for the excellent organisation and support!
Congratulations on the Hohe Tauern Biodiversity Report, which was presented at the final meeting (-> download here).

Report from the Organizer (in GERMAN only): -> here

Impressions from the study area:

Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Großelend valley. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Malta-Hochalmstraße and reservoir Galgenbichl. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Angelica sylvestris. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Großelend valley. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Tenthredo notha, sawfly. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Großelend valley with Hochalmspitze. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Meeting of experts in Malta. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Cirsium heterophyllum. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Großelend valley with. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Light trap at the Hotel Malta. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: O. Macek

Goats. Kölnbrein reservoir, Malta valley. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Malta-Hochalmstraße. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Kölnbrein creek. Malta valley. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Parnassius phoebus, Kölnbreinsperre, TdA Hohe Tauern. Foto: M. Sonnleitner

Mitopus morio. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Species rich site at Kölnbreinsperre, TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

Campanula scheuchzeri. Kölnbrein reservoir. TdA Hohe Tauern. Photo: M. Sonnleitner

3. August, 2022/by Michaela Sonnleitner

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022; St. Lorenzen at Reichenau. Photo: C. Leeb

ABOL-BioBlitz at the GEO Nature Day in the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve

ABOL BioBlitz, Citizen Science, Veranstaltungen

This year’s GEO Nature Day in the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve was dedicated to wet habitats around St. Lorenzen ob Reichenau. Consequently, there was also some moisture from above on the first day – the herpetologists thanked them with proof of the complete amphibian inventory, with alpine salamander, alpine newt, common toad and common frog. On Saturday, when the weather was beautiful, we went to the peat bog of St Lorenzen, among other sites. Designated as Ramsar protection area in 2011, dragonfly species were also found here for the first time during the Geo-day in the Nockberge. Although the moor, with a high proportion of rarities, is considered a relatively species-poor habitat, thanks to the many experts, around 1000 species were again recorded this year.

The Carinthia University of Applied Sciences used various types of traps, which, for the first time for the GEO Nature Day, are to be analyzed using DNA barcoding. In addition, environmental samples were taken to test an eDNA approach, which is likely to significantly increase the number of species detected.

A great thanks to the organizers and all participants in the ABOL BioBlitz!

A few impressions from the study area:

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022. Light trap. St. Lorenzen at Reichenau. Photo: C. Leeb

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022. Light trap. Photo: N. Szucsich

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022, mosses and lichens on rock. Photo: N. Szucsich

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022 Light trap Foto: C. Leeb

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022 - Viviparous lizard. Foto: C. Leeb

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022 - Alpine salamander. Photo: C. Leeb

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022. Leucorrhinia dubia. Photo: N. Szucsich

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022 - Alpine newt. Photo: C. Leeb

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022. Moor. Photo: N. Szucsich

Geo-Tag Nockberge 2022. Peat bog. Photo: N. Szucsich

27. July, 2022/by Michaela Sonnleitner

ABOL BioBlitz in Tyrol

ABOL BioBlitz, Highlights, Veranstaltungen

The long journey was worth it: on July 8th and 9th the Day of Biodiversity, including a ABOL-BioBlitz, took place in the Ehrwald Basin/Biberwier, in the Ausserfern region of Tyrol. In the large valley basin, framed by the Wetterstein Mountains and the striking Zugspitze massif, the local bird sanctuary with the remains of a former extensive moor landscape was collected and mapped for 24 hours by experts from various groups of organisms. Further study areas were the picturesque Weißensee, a moist, steep southern slope and other smaller areas. The sunny weather contributed to the fact that plenty of flying insects could also be recorded. We hope for numerous samples from the participants, from which ABOL will have DNA barcodes created, and thank you very much in advance for your commitment. We would also like to thank the organizers for allowing ABOL to take part once again, as well as for the excellent catering and organization!

A few impressions from the study area: