DivMoSt – Monitoring of species diversity in meadow orchards and development of methods for automated localization of meadow orchards in Austria
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Species-rich habitats such as traditional meadow orchards have declined in recent decades.These extensively managed grasslands with large-crowned fruit trees of various species and significant age heterogeneity provide important habitats for many different species.The project DivMoSt focuses on the following aspects: Biodiversity surveys of indicator species groups and orchard-specific assessments were conducted in 46 characteristic traditional orchard regions distributed across Austria.The collected data provide a solid basis and complement established biodiversity monitoring programs in Austria.Furthermore, the orchard-specific data are of great importance for further analyses, as there is currently no comprehensive geospatial dataset of traditional orchards in Austria.Therefore, another goal was to develop a method to automatically locate traditional orchard meadows in Austria.The method development was based on mapping traditional orchards, spatially explicit expert knowledge about orchard management, and the analysis of geodata, and especially multi-seasonal spectral data from satellite images with high spatial resolution (e.g.PlanetScope Data).The mapping of 46 km² landscape covered with orchard trees provided the solid training data for the spectral classification of the multi-seasonal satellite data.In combination with additional ancillary data, the location of fruit trees can be determined.To address gaps in biodiversity monitoring of orchard meadows, wild bees, butterflies, and grasshoppers were sampled along standardized transects in the 46 orchard areas.Bats were recorded using automatic ultrasound devices and supplementary net captures, while birds were documented through audio recordings and observations.As of the 2024 surveys, 225 wild bee species, 60 butterfly species, 26 grasshopper species, 22 bat species and 111 bird species have been identified, including species of high nature conservation importance such as the Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne), the Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), and the Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla).The results will be incorporated into Austria's biodiversity report to help identify potential threats earlier and implement targeted conservation measures.The project DivMoSt is funded by the European Union -NextGenerationEU, Biodiversity Fund of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management.
Source: Acta ZooBot Austria
DOI: 10.25365/azba.162.14
Authors: Kratschmer, Sophie, Linhart, Samira, Unglaub, Peter, Milchram, Markus, Immitzer, Markus, Holler, Christian, Rosner, Franz, Staples, Martina, Weißmann, Mirjam, Silhavy-Richter, Karin, Lanner, Julia, Strausz, Martin, Schuller, Norbert, Weis, Isabella, Schöll, Eva Maria, Hengsberger, Eva, Suppan, Franz
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7204204507