Agriculture, Forestry & Conservation
Forest roads as habitats
This project is being executed by order of the Österreichischen Bundesforste AG (ÖBf) within the framework of the LE 14-20 program.
We investigate several animal groups (butterflies, grasshoppers, dragonflies, harvestmen, snails, amphibians, reptiles, capercaillie and hoofed game) along forest roads and in adjacent habitats from the lowlands to the mountains.
Are flower strips useful to facilitate beneficial arthropods in greenhouses?
In 2013 and 2014, the agricultural experimental station in Wies (DI Doris Lengauer) conducted experiments with flower strips in plastic tunnel greenhouses.
The main goal of the study was the development of tailored flower strips at the tunnel margins to facilitate populations of beneficial arthropods as antagonists against aphids, whiteflies, thrips and spider mites. We studied True Bugs, Hymenoptera, Robber Flies, Hover Flies und Beetles, in co-operation with Esther Ockermüller and Erwin Holzer. The results are very interesting: The biodiversity increases, both beneficial arthropods and suporters of pest species (e.g. ants) profit from flower strips.
Positive effects prevail, flower strips enhance biodiversity and the presence of beneficial arthropods.
