GEO Day of Biodiversity in South Carinthia

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!