Biodiversity and Conservation Biology ¶

Contents ¶

Projects
Services and products
Publications
Aktuell
Research Groups and Staff

The research unit Biodiversity and Conservation Biology studies the diversity of life in its various forms, from genetic diversity to the diversity of species and ecosystems as well as their interactions. In collaboration with partners such as federal, cantonal and local authorities, we elaborate scientific knowledge for management strategies for the conservation of biodiversity and the preservation of natural resources in Switzerland and internationally.

Projects ¶

The pilot project GENSCOP establishes a network of experts in applied conservation genetics. This platform, co-financed by the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), is primarily directed towards the cantonal authorities for solving questions on applied conservation genetics.

We investigate the role of hybridization in climate adaptation using the white oak species complex as a study system, with a special focus on Austria and Southeastern Europe.

TAMERS will assess the role of information flow and trust between scientists and practitioners, and develop recommendations for communicating assisted migration strategies at a European scale.

Fungi are central to the functioning of ecosystems. Despite their demonstrable importance, fungi have so far been neglected in biodiversity conservation. This project contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of fungi in Europe and thus improves the basis for their protection.

The Translational Centre Biodiversity Conservation aims to bridge gaps between research and practice. Experts from research and practice work together in working groups to process knowledge into practical synthesis products.

Services and products ¶

The project "Monitoring the Effectiveness of Habitat Conservation in Switzerland" aims to determine whether habitats of national importance (dry meadows and pastures, alluvial areas, bogs and fens, amphibian breeding sites) are changing according to their conservation targets and maintaining the same surface area and quality.

BatScope allows to consistently import recordings from BATLOGGERs (and other devices), the structured storage of these data in projects and recording events, visual control of the recordings (spectrograms), and the automated recognition of the calling bat species.

In the national data and information centre SwissFungi, we compile collection data and environmental data on the species of fungus that exist in Switzerland, and thereby document spatial and temporal changes in their populations. SwissFungi provides the basis for implementing conservation measures for fungus.

In the national data and information centre SwissLichens, we compile data on lichen habitats and their ecology, and in doing so document spatial and temporal changes in their populations in Switzerland. SwissLichens provides the basis for implementing conservation measures for lichens.

The book "Flora indicativa" includes ecological indicator values and biological characteristics of around 5500 vascular plant species, 600 moss species and 200 lichen species of the flora of Switzerland and the Alps. The extensive main tables are digitally available.

The combination trap for flying insects is a combination of a window trap and a yellow pan trap.

Publications ¶

Araujo M.L., Gabriel S. S. Ferreira L., Nakamura G., Túlio P. Coelho M., Rangel T.F. (2025) 'treesliceR': a package for slicing phylogenies and inferring phylogenetic patterns over evolutionary time. Ecography. 2025(1), e07364 (9 pp.). doi:10.1111/ecog.07364 Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Oggier A., Gross A. (2025) Der Zitronenseitling und die Risiken verwilderter Zuchtpilze. Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer (Familie: Pleurotaceae). Factsheet Neomyceten. Birmensdorf: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Oggier A., Gross A. (2025) Pleuroto dorato e i rischi dei funghi coltivati inselvatichiti. Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer (famiglia: Pleurotaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca per la foresta, la neve e il paesaggio WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

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Aktuell ¶

Das Beispiel der Verhüllenden Korallenflechte zeigt, wie der Schutz einer Flechtenart und die Erhaltung der natürlichen Flussdynamik in Auenlandschaften Hand in Hand gehen können.

Merkblatt für die Praxis 732023

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Available languages: German, French, Italian

Research Groups and Staff ¶