A5077527033- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Marine and environmental studies
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Marine and fisheries research
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Transboundary Water Resource Management
- Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Sport and Mega-Event Impacts
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Myxozoan Parasites in Aquatic Species
- Hydrological Forecasting Using AI
- Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
- transportation and logistics systems
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
BOKU University
2018-2025
Bundesamt für Wasserwirtschaft
2022
Environment Agency Austria
2022
Understanding and predicting the ecological consequences of different management alternatives is becoming increasingly important to support environmental decisions. Ecological models could contribute such predictions, but in past this was often not case. are developed within research projects rarely used for practical applications. In synthesis paper, we discuss how strengthen role modeling supporting decisions with a focus on methodological aspects. We address mainly modellers also...
Abstract The EU Nature Restoration Law represents an important opportunity for freshwater habitat restoration and, consequently, biodiversity protection. However, a number of challenges must be anticipated in its implementation, which may compromise success. Some aspects, particularly those relating to ecosystems, require more clarification. We use riverine ecosystems illustrate existing ambiguities the proposed legislation and potential consequences leaving these aspects open interpretation...
Aquatic ecosystems are under severe pressure. Human activities introduce an array of pressures that impact and their components. In this study we focus on the aquatic domains fresh, coastal marine waters, including rivers, lakes riparian habitats to transitional, as well shelf oceanic habitats. environmental risk assessment approach, identified chains link 45 human through 31 82 ecosystem linkage framework >22,000 activity-pressure-ecosystem component interactions were found across seven...
Large river-floodplain systems are hotspots of biodiversity and ecosystem services but also used for multiple human activities, making them one the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. There is wide evidence that reconnecting river channels with their floodplains an effective measure to increase multi-functionality, i.e., ecological integrity, habitats species functions systems, although, selection promising sites restoration projects can be a demanding task. In case Danube River in Europe,...
The capacity of ecosystems to supply ecosystem services is decreasing. Sustaining this requires an understanding the links between impacts pressures introduced by human activities and how can lead changes in services. Here, we apply a novel approach, assessing 'risk service supply' (RESS), across range aquatic seven case studies. We link aggregate impact risk from on components, with relative score their potential greatest RESS found where component high subject risk. In context, explore...
The summer tourism market in Austria builds significantly on the country's opportunities for outdoor recreation such as mountaineering, mountain biking or water sports. This paper looks at most important activities from a perspective and considers likelihood of impacts by climate change based an extended literature review. It also examines current trends demand concludes with both general activity-specific adaptation mitigation measures. data collection review process covered relevant peer...
Abstract Aim Systematic conservation planning is vital for allocating protected areas given the spatial distribution of features, such as species. Due to incomplete species inventories, models (SDMs) are often used predicting species’ habitat suitability and probability occurrence. Currently, SDMs mostly ignore dependencies in predictor data. Here, we provide a comparative evaluation how accounting dependencies, that is, autocorrelation, affects delineation optimized areas. Location...
Global initiatives have been increasingly focusing on mainstreaming the values of biodiversity and ecosystem services into decision-making at all levels. Due to accelerated rate which is declining its consequences for functioning ecosystems subsequently, they provide, there need develop comprehensive assessments benefits nature delivers society. Based expert evaluation, we identified relevant flow linkages in supply-side socio-ecological system, i.e. from supply eight case studies across...
Water temperature is one of the most important abiotic parameters in rivers having direct and indirect effects on fish. Especially cold-water species like brown trout (Salmo trutta) are limited by high temperatures. Beside physiological stress, higher water temperatures also reinforce emergence diseases. In this study we investigate thermal regimes based a large-scale dataset covering Austria (approximately 70,000 km²). The analyses aim to clarify what extent support proliferative kidney...
Abstract Aim Rivers belong to the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Historical anthropogenic alterations have, and future climate change will further affect rivers species therein. While many studies have projected effects species, little is known about severity of these changes compared historical alterations. Here, we used a unique 300‐year time series hydrological data explore vulnerability 48 native fish in upper Danube River Basin past potential environmental changes. Location Upper...
Freshwater biodiversity is declining, despite national and international efforts to manage protect freshwater ecosystems. Ecosystem-based management (EBM) has been proposed as an approach that could more efficiently adaptively balance ecological societal needs. However, this raises the question of how social objectives can be included in integrated plan. Here, we present a generic model-coupling framework tailored address for ecosystems, using three components: biodiversity, ecosystem...
Abstract Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is an emerging parasitic that affects wild and farmed salmonid fishes worldwide. Currently, it widespread in Europe with records many countries. This study assessed the status of PKD river Wulka, a small Austrian river, which was known to host vital brown trout population despite having high water temperatures. Contrary initial hypothesis free from PKD, we observed overall prevalence 92%. Noninfected fish were restricted uppermost section....
Freshwater habitats and biota are among the most threatened worldwide. In Europe, significant efforts being taken to counteract detrimental human impacts on nature. line with these efforts, MERLIN project funded by H2020 program focuses mainstreaming ecosystem restoration for freshwater-related environments at landscape scale. Additionally, Dammed Fish one of main threats affecting European Networks – river artificial fragmentation. Meeting objectives both projects work a large, pan-European...
Freshwater habitats and biota are among the most threatened worldwide. In Europe, significant efforts being taken to counteract detrimental human impacts on nature. line with these efforts, MERLIN project funded by H2020 program focuses mainstreaming ecosystem restoration for freshwater-related environments at landscape scale. Additionally, Dammed Fish one of main threats affecting European Networks—artificial fragmentation river. Meeting objectives both projects work a large, pan-European...
Dams offer indispensable services, including hydropower generation, water for irrigation, and flood mitigation. These barriers disrupt natural river flows, affecting ecosystems structural functional connectivity. The number of dams in the Nile River Basin has increased during last decades. However, little is known regarding spatiotemporal variation network fragmentation individual dam contributions. We used Reach Connectivity Index (RCI) centrality measures to assess temporal spatial changes...
Two factors complicate the ecological status classification of very large rivers in Europe according to EU Water Framework Directive: First, current assessment methods do not fully consider specific ecology (such as lateral connectivity and role floodplains for status). Second, most Europe's have been severely altered by human activities such flood protection, damming navigation. The aim our study is develop an method identifying suitable biological metrics basis multi-metric bioassessment...
The Agenda 2030 of the United Nations stipulates an ambitious set 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were globally agreed upon and demand coherent, context-specific implementation at national level. To address complexity challenges therein, is designed to be integrated, indivisible, universal. numerous multifaceted interactions in-between SDGs with corresponding measures pose a complex challenge for decision-makers implementing them worldwide that requires support comprehensive...
Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are statistical tools to identify potentially suitable habitats for species. For SDMs in river ecosystems, species occurrences and predictor data often aggregated across subcatchments that serve as modeling units. The level of aggregation (i.e., model resolution) influences the relationships between environmental predictors—a phenomenon known modifiable area unit problem (MAUP), making outputs directly contingent on resolution. Here, we test how...
Abstract Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is a found in salmonid fish that widespread Europe and North America. The dependency of the clinical signs on water temperature extensively reported rainbow trout, but detailed information brown trout lacking. In this study, juvenile were exposed to spores Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae then kept at different ambient temperatures (16°C, 19°C 22°C) for 10 weeks along with recording morbidity throughout experiment. At 6, 8 post‐exposure, from each...
The sustainable management of very large rivers is based on the assessment their environmental condition. However, unlike for smaller rivers, this yet less advanced due to specific complexities river systems. In Europe, reflected by lack an international typology classifying these ecosystems into units with homogenous features. Focussing European >10,000 km2 catchment size, we collated datasets describing orographic, geological, geomorphological, hydrological and climatic features riverine...
Nymphs of all 29 described Prosopistoma species share a conspicuous synapomorphy: round mesonotal shield, the carapace. They occur in Palaearctic (nine species), Oriental (12 species) and Afrotropic as well Australian regions (six two species, respectively). Relatively little is known about their ecology, but past extant distribution patterns indicate an association with undisturbed conditions. pennigerum rare European mayfly nymphs. Formerly common large rivers, it has been extirpated from...
Ecological connectivity is key to maintaining a coherent and resilient network of protected areas in the EU. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 has identified unhindered movement species, nutrients ecological processes across connected landscapes as feature Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N) conserved areas. However, date, streamlined guidance on planning implementing measures specifically at European scale been limited. This report presents methodological framework guidelines mapping...