Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology
| Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology | |
|---|---|
| founding | 1977 |
| Sponsorship | University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna |
| place | 1160 Vienna, Savoyenstr. 1 |
| management | Walter Arnold |
| Website | www.fiwi.at |
The Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology (FIWI) is a research institute of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna . The central task of the institute is to research the needs and behavior of wild animals in ecological contexts in order to create the scientific basis for efficient nature, species and environmental protection, for the sustainable use of multifunctional landscapes.
history
The Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna was founded in 1977. At the beginning of 2011 the institute was merged with the Konrad Lorenz Institute for Comparative Behavioral Research ; the two institutes together form the Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna. The merger resulted in a center with around 80 scientists.
research
In order to meet the requirements of wildlife ecology, the research institute pursues an interdisciplinary approach: biologists, chemists, forest scientists, engineers, mathematicians and veterinarians form working groups that cooperate closely.
Scientists conduct research in the fields of applied ecology , ecophysiology and population ecology , ecological genetics , and wildlife medicine (Conservation medicine). Within these research areas, the institute investigates long-term, interdisciplinary and cross-border research on various levels: individuals, populations , ecosystems . A wide variety of methods are used, from simple observation to fine chemical analysis, molecular biology and mathematical modeling.
Researchers from the various focus groups work together with colleagues from other research groups. For example, research projects with a physiological focus (e.g. on Alpine marmots and European ground squirrels) have also led to publications on population dynamics, spatial distribution and conservation of these species.
National and international contributions to nature and species protection
In addition to its contributions to basic biological research , the research institute is also active in several initiatives for nature conservation and the preservation of threatened animal species ( species protection ) in Austria as well as across borders in the entire Alpine region and internationally. Institute staff have developed the wild Ecological and Regional Planning among others and include instrumental in the reintroduction project for the Ural in Austria and Przewalski's horses in Mongolia.
Services
The role of the institute as a service provider is also unusual for a scientific research institute. This includes the routine examination of animals found dead or killed in the pathological laboratory, which also provides information about current disease and epidemic problems in the wild. Further services of the institute are expert reports, e.g. B. suspected poaching or insurance fraud due to traffic accidents allegedly caused by game as well as the detection of poisoning of wild animals. Age determinations for hunted game are of direct importance for hunting practice.
The cross-border coordination office for brown bears, lynxes and wolves (KOST), in which the research institute is involved, is a committee made up of representatives from the Ministry of the Environment , the Chamber of Agriculture , the hunting law and nature conservation departments of the states, the WWF , the central office of the state hunting associations, the state & Forst Betriebe Austria, and the bear advocates and wolf representatives of the federal states. The task of KOST is to coordinate measures in the management of bears, lynxes and wolves between the state authorities and to ensure a technically sound, uniform procedure.
financing
Since its inception, the facility has been financed by a construction that is unusual for a university institute. It is operated jointly by the Republic of Austria and the Society for the Promotion of the Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology. The institute is thus the only ecological research facility in Europe that is supported to a considerable extent by private commitment.
Individual evidence
- ^ Website of the Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology
- ^ Website of the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
- ↑ APA press release: Karlheinz Töchterle: Survival strategies of native wild animals in the focus of science.
- ^ Website of the Department for Interdisciplinary Life Sciences
- ↑ Publications of the Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology
- ↑ Information page on wild ecological spatial planning on the website "Ecological Networks in the European Alps"
- ^ Website of the Ural Owl Project
- ↑ Website of the Gobi research project on wild horses, wild asses and other wild animals ( memento of the original from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Brochure of the Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology
- ^ Website of the cross-border coordination office for the brown bear, lynx and wolf
