biodiversity – ABOL – The Austrian Barcode of Life

Fortunately, the weather in the Hohe Tauern was kind to us this year, from July 18-20, 2025. At the National Park’s Day of Biodiversity, in the Gradental and Gartltal valleys in Carinthia, not only was the weather record-breaking, but so was the number of participating experts, with almost 100 registrations.

Many were already out in the field on Friday, searching for species. In the evening, nocturnal insects were attracted using light traps, photographed, identified, and recorded on Observation.org. Shortly after the light was set, over 160 species of moths from the study area were already registered on Observation.org!

While the majority of the researchers visited the Gradental valley on Saturday—a high valley that extends southwest from the Mölltal and is surrounded by 3,000-meter peaks—we, the ABOL delegation, explored the Gartltal valley to the south. The tall herbs along the forest clearings, with Heracleum, Filipendula, thistles, and other flowering perennials, were particularly interesting and productive in terms of insects. Further up, subalpine larch forest and grasslands rich in Nardus with characteristic silicate flora followed. The fens near Fleckmoos at about 2000 m were also very attractive and rich in flowers. In the late afternoon, we were picked up by the shuttle bus from the parking lot in Ranach. As usual, the transport was very well organized. We were back in the valley just in time before the thunderstorm.

On Sunday morning, the majority of the participants met in Döllach for the closing presentation. In addition to various contributions, the experts presented interesting species they had discovered – from the first record of a cave cricket in the area to the luminous moss, which is often found in semi-caves.

After the final group photo, most of the participants headed home.

From ABOL’s perspective, these opportunities are ideal for connecting with taxonomists—from long-time acquaintances to the many young participants. The one or other DNA barcode references from these biodiversity days will also contribute to filling the DNA database. We thank the organizers for their commitment and everyone who participates in the ABOL BioBlitz.

Impressions (Photos: M. Sonnleitner):

28. July, 2025/by Michaela Sonnleitner

N. Fial

ABOL at the ÖEG Insect Camp in the Nature Park Hohe Wand

ABOL BioBlitz, Highlights

For the fourth time (in a row), ABOL participated in the 11^th ÖEG Insect Camp from June 26^th to 29^th with a BioBlitz. This time, the trip took us to the Hohe Wand Nature Park in Lower Austria – a biogeographically highly interesting region on the northeastern edge of the Alps, where the Pannonian and Alpine climates converge, enabling a great diversity of species.

This year, around 50 participants were present – including numerous experts from a wide variety of animal groups, who recorded biodiversity at 25 sample plots. The numerous plots offered a broad spectrum: species-rich hay meadows, pine forests, caves, steep cliffs, scree slopes, dry grasslands, extensive sheep and cattle pastures, clear-cut successional vegetation, and even ibex, sika deer, and llama enclosures.

To mark the occasion, we once again presented our DNA reference database and invited all participants to collaborate.
Thanks to the almost perfect June weather, there was plenty of insect-related activity – only a thunderstorm on the day of our arrival put a damper on our plans. Early after breakfast, all the entomologists, armed with nets, exhausters, and leaf blowers, headed out into the field during the day. Those tireless ones who still had energy after dinner either met up in the research room for some social preparation and identification or went outside to set up the light traps. With a bit of luck, you might even be greeted by curious young foxes.

At the end of the day, thanks to the good weather, it was once again possible to hold a barbecue, where a few fireflies also joined us. A particular highlight for us were three relatively hard-to-find puff flies (Acroceridae), all of which were found on the same day.

Overall, it was once again a very productive insect camp, where we had the opportunity to exchange professional information in a relaxed atmosphere and bring the entomological community closer together. We would like to thank the coordinators Betty Glatzhofer and Samuel Messner and the team of the Hohe Wand Nature Park for the organization and are eagerly awaiting the results of the evaluation!

Impressios (Photos N. Fial):

14. July, 2025/by Michaela Sonnleitner

M. Sonnleitner

ABOL at the Day of Biodiversity in Baden bei Wien

ABOL BioBlitz, Citizen Science, Highlights

On June 13 and 14, 2025, the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald organized its 20th Day of Biodiversity– this year in the Lower Austrian part of the biosphere reserve around Baden bei Wien. Around 100 experts from various disciplines explored the diverse flora, fauna, and funga of the area from the Kurpark to the Lindkogel. In perfect weather conditions, numerous fascinating observations were made, and an impressive number of over 1,700 species were documented.
As in previous years, the primary goal was to record as many animal, plant, and fungal species as possible within 24 hours, thus collecting valuable data for nature conservation in the biosphere reserve. A diverse program for visitors was also offered: night hikes, guided excursions, and a “Festival of Biodiversity” on June 14 in the Kurpark, where interested guests could learn about nature and species conservation at numerous information booths.
ABOL was also there: On June 13, our team was out in the field collecting samples for DNA barcoding, and on June 14, we had an information booth available for questions. We had many interesting discussions about the role of DNA barcoding in biodiversity monitoring and nature conservation – and, last but not least, make new contacts and deepen existing collaborations.

A big thank you goes to the organizing team for the excellent preparation and execution of this successful event!

Impressions (photos by N. Szucsich, V. Kargl, M. Sonnleitner)

3. July, 2025/by Michaela Sonnleitner

Days of Biodiversity ´25 – a review

Highlights, Meetings, Veranstaltungen

The Days of Biodiversity ’25, which ABOL once again has co-organized, are over. Our thanks go to our co-organizers Biodiversity Hub, BOKU, ZooBot, NOBIS, University of Vienna and NHM Vienna for the smooth cooperation. First and foremost, however, we would like to thank all participants for inspiring lectures, interactive workshops and lively discussion rounds.

Under the motto “Together on the way out of the biodiversity crisis”, the focus was on the challenges associated with the global decline in biodiversity and possible solution strategies. Around 500 experts, researchers and interested parties came together to discuss current developments and sustainable paths for the future.

38 sessions focused on the latest scientific findings and the development of practical solutions. National and international experts from the fields of nature conservation, research and practice presented innovative approaches to actively counteract the loss of biodiversity. One of the many highlights was a panel discussion on the Austrian Biodiversity Policy Barometer 2024, in which representatives from politics, science, agriculture and the Austrian Biodiversity Council debated the most pressing challenges and solutions. The importance of joint efforts and interdisciplinary cooperation was particularly emphasized.

ABOL celebrated the 10th anniversary of the ABOL initiative with its own session, a review of the development of molecular methods in species identification, an outlook on future directions and a series of interesting lectures on ABOL projects and monitoring approaches.

In addition to the professional exchange, there was plenty of time and space for networking. The great response and consistently positive feedback from participants underline the success of the event and confirm the need for joint initiatives. The Days of Biodiversity ’25 have impressively shown that effective measures to counteract the loss of biodiversity can only be implemented through close cooperation at local, national and international levels.

We would like to thank everyone involved for their valuable contributions and commitment and look forward to continued successful cooperation on the way to a more sustainable future!

To the conference-website ->HERE (in German only)

Impressions from the conference:

Days-of-biodiversity 25 - Keynote J. Settele

Days of Biodiversity 25 - panel discussion

20250225_Days-of-Biodiversity_Ice_Breaker_Chloe_Potter_NHMW_061

Days of Biodiversity 25, Icebreaker at NHM Vienna

5. March, 2025/by Michaela Sonnleitner

M. Sonnleitner

GEO Day of Biodiversity in South Carinthia

ABOL BioBlitz, Citizen Science, Highlights

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

Christoph Gruber | BOKU-IT

These were the Days of Biodiversity 2023

Highlights, Meetings, Veranstaltungen

“Together on the way out of the biodiversity crisis” was the title of the Biodiversity Days 2023 from November 8^th to 10^th, which took place at BOKU Vienna.
In 9 sessions, different aspects of the biodiversity crisis and different actors were addressed. This breadth of topics was only possible through the first-time cooperation between 5 organizing institutions. ABOL would like to thank the Institute for Hydrobiology and Water Management (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna), the Austrian Biodiversity Network (University of Continuing Education Krems), NOBIS – Network of Biological Systematics Austria, and the ZooBot – Zoological-Botanical Society in Austria for the successful collaboration. The success is reflected not only in the fact that the event was sold out with more than 200 participants on site (many more took part online), but above all in the lively discussions and solution-oriented approaches of the individual sessions.
The conference opened with a very thrilling video message from Jane Goodall: an appeal to stand up for nature and biodiversity – just like she did. The morning keynotes by Franz Essl – “Green transformation – please together with nature” and by Alice Vadrot – “Biodiversity policy in the tradeoff between scientific evidence and diversity of values” – as well as the panel discussion with BM Leonore Gewessler and representatives from the Science and the Austrian Biodiversity Council can be viewed on the BOKU Vienna YouTube channel.
The first morning was dedicated to the ecosystem water, which is now one of the most threatened ecosystems. In addition to presenting the dramatic situation of many aquatic species, practical protection and restoration projects were also presented and possible solutions were outlined in a joint discussion. The afternoon was dedicated, on the one hand, to taxonomic experts in teaching and research, and, on the other hand, to the importance of platforms and associations in biodiversity research. Possibilities and approaches were presented to counteract the loss of knowledge of species among the population and the decline in specialists in various species groups. As part of the evening event, various specialist associations and platforms were able to present themselves and network with posters over drinks and snacks.
The morning of the second day was filled with lectures by young scientists on a wide range of topics from biological systematics, ecology, biodiversity and nature conservation. The Young Researcher Prize was awarded by a jury at the evening event for the best lectures and posters. The afternoon was dedicated to the topics of monitoring in times of biodiversity crisis and the responsibility of science in times of multiple crises. Both sessions featured long and exciting discussions, but in the end the time was still too short. The demand for an Austrian biodiversity center was not only raised in these two sessions. The creation and management of high-quality biodiversity data and their integration at national and international levels has been repeatedly discussed as an urgent goal.
The presentation of the annual barometer of Austrian biodiversity policy by the Biodiversity Council opened the last day of the event and led to the panel discussion entitled “Dialogue with Politics”. Conclusion of this year’s barometer continues the trends of the Biodiversity Council’s previous evaluations: “too little and too slow”. At the political level, the need for action has already been recognized and initial goals have been defined – but it has also been clearly shown that the implementation is a major challenge due to the framework conditions of practical policy.
The event concluded with sessions on communication of biodiversity sciences and ecosystem services, with further thematic interfaces between science, nature conservation and society.
The conference further strengthened the biodiversity landscape in Austria and networked it in many ways!
We would like to thank our sponsors, the co-organizers and everyone who contributed to the successful event!

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - E. Haring, Session 3

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - Keynote A. Vadrot

Days of Biodiversity 2023 at BOKU Vienna - Opening

Days of Biodiversity - M.A. Fischer, Session 3

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - Session 2, S. Kapelari

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - Session 1, discussion

Days of Biodiversity 2023 at BOKU Vienna

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - N. Szucsich, Session 5

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - great thanks to our sponsor Microsynth

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - Session 2, E. Glatzhofer

Days of Biodiversity 2023 - Session 2, discussion

Days of Biodiversity 2023 at BOKU Vienna - Keynote F. Essl

20. November, 2023/by Michaela Sonnleitner

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - group photo

M. Sonnleitner

DNA barcoding workshop at the University of Zambia 2.0

Highlights, Meetings, Projects, Veranstaltungen, Workshops

Due to last year’s great success, the 2^nd DNA barcoding workshop took place in September at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in the capital Lusaka.
As part of the OeAD project “Inventorying biodiversity in the tropics: Establishing a DNA-barcoding pipeline for characterizing and monitoring Zambia’s biodiversity” led by the University of Graz (Stephan Koblmüller and Lukas Zangl) and participation by ABOL and Prof. Cyprian Katongo (UNZA ) students and staff of UNZA were trained in all the necessary steps to create DNA barcodes. The workshop began with a series of lectures on various aspects of DNA barcoding as a standard approach to recording biodiversity, its possible applications in monitoring, the challenges of a national biodiversity initiatives and opportunities for students and doctoral candidates to conduct research in Austria. The remaining workshop days covered the entire process of creating DNA barcode references – from sampling to data analysis. The DNA barcodes generated from fish and dragonflies are intended to serve as a crystallization point around which a national initiative in Zambia can be formed. Using the dragonflies, the participants were also introduced to the preparation and identification of insects. Laboratory work with DNA extraction and PCR, as well as the processing and evaluation of sequence data, were particularly popular. Overall, the workshop was once again a great success with around 30 participants.

Collecting dragonflies at the Kafue river

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - collecting dragonflies & damselflies at the Goma lakes, UNZA

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - lecture series: Dr. Zangl

Preparation and determination of dragonflies for DNA barcoding

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - tissue sample

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - data analysis

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - lab work

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - Prof. Katongo (UnNZA), Dr. Koblmüller (Univ. Graz)

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - collecting trip to the Kafue river

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - Prof. Katongo (UNZA)

Fish from the Kafue river for DNA barcoding

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - collecting dragonflies at the Kafue river

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - lecture series: Dr. Koblmüller

Collecting dragonflies at the university lake, UNZA

DNA barcoding workshop at UNZA - lecture series: Dr. Semani

19. October, 2023/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: