The ascomycetous fungus Chalara fraxinea is a new invasive pathogen causing severe ash dieback thus threatening the existence of Fraxinus spp. in Europe. Our main aim is to characterize epidemic (Swiss) and post-epidemic (Lithuanian) populations of the ash dieback pathogen C. fraxinea in respect to virulence, genetic diversity and occurrence of mycoviruses, and to assess biological control potential of the identified mycoviruses against the disease.

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To bundle scientific and practical knowledge, a research project in conservation biology should involve practitioners from the onset. In GeneMig, practitioners and researchers first identified important topics and species of conservation concern in the context of environmental change. From this, a project of practical relevance will now be developed.

Available languages: German English

The project "Monitoring the effectiveness of habitat conservation in Switzerland" has been initiated by the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN to study whether habitats of national importance (dry meadows and pastures, bogs and fens, alluvial zones, amphibian spawning areas) are developing according to conservation targets. For this, a long-term monitoring project is established.

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The return of large carnivores such as wolf and lynx in the Alps leads to conflicts with the local population. The goal of this project is to present practical conservation and management options for wolf and lynx in the Alps.

Available languages: German English

Das Projekt "Biodiversität und Raumentwicklung" untersucht Zusammenhänge zwischen Biodiversität und Raumentwicklung auf Landschaftsebene. Dafür analysieren wir Daten des Schweizer Mittelands im Allgemeinen sowie der Kantone Aargau und Luzern im Speziellen für möglichst verschiedene Organismengruppen und unterschiedliche Aspekte der Biodiversität. Die Resultate werden kartographisch dargestellt und können zur Visualisierung von Szenarien der Landschaftsentwicklung eingesetzt werden.

Available languages: German

Red lists are essential for an objective recording of the threat of species and changes in biodiversity. The accessory study of the revision of the red list of fern and vascular plants aims to evaluate the practicability of using statistical methods as a tool for revisions and quality control of red lists.

Available languages: German English

L'obiettivo del progetto è di investigare la fauna e la flora associata ai vigneti, definire i fattori geografici, ambientali e gestionali che determinano le diverse componenti della biodiversità, valutare l’influenza del paesaggio circostante e infine quantificare il valore ecologico dei vigneti attraverso confronto con altri ambienti naturali.

Available languages: Italian

Grubbing by wild boars incorporates the forest floor into the mineral soil, which could significantly alter forest soil properties (physical, chemical and biological). This could not only affect carbon (C) and nutrient fluxes and stores, but also forest productivity and stand regeneration. The objectives of this study are be to assess how wild boar grubbing effects soil physical (soil bulk density, pH), chemical and biological (microbial biomass, composition) properties in deciduous forest stands as well a how they affect stand regeneration and understory development.

Available languages: English

Climate change is expected to affect the distribution and occurrence of breeding birds of mountain forests. In this study, we assess the direct and indirect effects of climate change on the realised ecological niches of habitat specialists of mountain forests by assessing key structural and vegetational habitat components along a climatic gradient.

Available languages: German English

Vegetation data of 150 Swiss mountain summits show: considerably more plant species are growing in those habitats today, and they have advanced to higher altitudes compared to hundred years ago. Is changing climate driving this phenomenon? Further studies in the Pyrenees, in Scotland and Scandinavia shall contribute to answer this question.

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