Main
scientific investigations within the last years
Surveys
in regard to Nature Conservation
·
Evaluation of
distribution and ecology of bryophyte
species listed in the FFH directive Annex II and Annex V in
Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Burgenland, Wien, OÖ.
·
Austrian Report to the European Council
regarding bryophytes listed in the FFH directive
·
Compilation of the Check List of Austrian Bryophytes within the framework of the
Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) in Austria
·
Compilation of Red
Data Lists for bryophytes in
various counties (Lower Austria, Vorarlberg)
·
Studies on the occurrence
and ecology of Austrian blanket bogs
·
Studies on the regeneration of peatlands in the
Waldviertel (Lower Austria) with practical implementations at three bogs.
·
Comprehensive studies on
biodiversity of bryophyte species of dry
grasslands, salt meadows, wetlands, urban environments and woods in Austria and Greenland
·
Monitoring of bryophytes
in remote areas (Biosphere Reserve
Wienerwald, Thayatal National Park, Donau-Auen National Park, wilderness area
Dürrenstein)
·
Assessment of vegetation with an emphasis on
bryophytes in urban ecosystems
· Participation in
the development of MOBI, a tool for monitoring biodiversity in
·
Surveys of landscapes worth to be protected in
different parts of Austria (e.g Biotopkartierung Vorarlberg, Biotopkartierung
Niederöstereich, Biotopkartierung Oberösterreich, Biotopkartierung Wien)
·
Three studies on the influence of electric power stations on plant biodiversity
at the rivers
Methodological studies in Plant Ecology, Biodiversity
and Conservation Biology
· Basic research
in the field of urban greening – plant cover by moss; development
of methods and applications for outdoor and indoor purposes
· Modelling the expansion of invasive and other species
in respect to climate change (Zechmeister et al. 2007)
·
Development of a Red Data List concept for Austrian
bryophytes (e.g. Zechmeister et al. 2013, Schröck et al. 2013)
· Evaluation of surrogates
for species richness (e.g. multi-basket approach) (e.g. Sauberer et al.
2004)
· Participation in
the development of MOBI, a tool for monitoring biodiversity in
· Calculation of
new mathematical indices for the evaluation of landuse-intensity and
biodiversity of a landscape by using remote sensing and GIS (e.g. Moser et
al. 2002)
·
Preparation of an
intensive research program on the influence of fragmentation on plant populations and metapopulations of dry
grasslands and the evaluation of conservation strategies (e.g. PVA, MVP) -
submitted to FWF
· Studies on the
influence of land-use on the plant diversity (vascular pants,
bryophytes) with respect to various scales (landscape-, habitat-,
substrate scale) (e.g. Zulka et al. 2014, Zechmeister et al. 2003)
·
Assessment of endangered bryophytes in cultural
landscapes, their reproductive strategies and life-forms in relation to
land-use (e.g. Zechmeister et al. 2002)
Synecology/Phytosociology
· Synecological
studies on water spring vegetation and spring-mires in Austria
· Synecological studies
on various types of mires (bogs, fens, transition mires, mires covered by
woods)
· Synecological
studies on various types of urban ecosystems (e.g flat-roofs, fallow lands,
flora of historic buildings)
Studies
in bioindication and biomonitoring to assess the influence of atmospheric
pollutants on ecosystems and humans
·
Biomonitoring of atmospheric background depositions of
heavy metals and nitrogen on a regional and national level within an European
framework (UN-ECE ICP-Vegetation) for three decades
·
Investigations of indoor pollutants by active
moss monitoring in cooperation with Fundacio IMIM (
·
Studies on the distribution of road traffic emissions (PAHs, metals, metalloids incl. PGE) along
major roads in alpine ecosystems in
·
Research on tracers
for road traffic emissions by tunnel experiments
·
Biomonitoring of the cumulative effect of acid rain and
toxic gaseous substances in urban areas (e.g.
·
Monitoring of the
influence of N-deposition within EMEP
program on 28 permanent plots at NP Kalkalpen
·
Investigation on the correlation of heavy metal depositions and
altitude within the Austrian Alps
·
Investigations on the use of infra-red photographs for
detecting the influence of environmental pollutants on tree vitality within or
near urban areas (Vienna)