FFH butterflies in the Gesäuse National Park

The aim of this survey is to record the distribution of the FFH-protected butterflies with their habitats in the national park area of the Gesauses in order to obtain an assessment of the conservation status on the basis of the data collected. Due to the rather low effort of 5 days with excursions, the available results must be understood as a preliminary overview mapping. Together with preliminary surveys and data from the literature, distribution patterns of species can be derived. Terrain experience, knowledge of the habitats of populated habitats in the area and other comparable areas from the northern limestone Alps, as well as an aerial interpretation of the habitats of populated habitats in the area and other comparable areas from the northern limestone Alps, leads in this work to a surface identification of potentials based on the ÖK (Austrian Map), which can serve as a basis for subsequent recording of the butterfly species. At the same time, this map also shows existing recording deficits in the area. Knowledge deficits still exist mainly in the area of alpine pastures, avalanche channels but also in hard-to-reach areas, such as some trenches and steep slopes below 1 100 m above sea level, which is why the species sought can still be expected here. There is also a need for research on the distribution and use of potential caterpillar food plants for the species Maculinea arion and Parnassius mnemosyne. In the area of the Gesäuse National Park, 5 protected species of FFH butterflies have been identified so far. Of which Lopinga achine and Euphydryas aurinia are considered lost in the area. The Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo), which occurs mainly north of the Enns, finds its habitats extensively in steep structural rock walls and rocky avalanche channels in good stocks. The Black Apollo butterfly (Parnassius mnemosyne) has the conservation status B. It is strictly bound to occurrences of lerchensporn (Corydalis spp.) in structurally rich semi-open habitats, which it has along the Enns, the Johnsbach, other streams and in moist avalanche channels. Due to the rather low effort of 5 days with excursions, the available results must be understood as a preliminary overview mapping. Together with preliminary surveys and data from the literature, distribution patterns of species can be derived. Terrain experience, knowledge of the habitats of populated habitats in the area and other comparable areas from the northern limestone Alps, as well as an aerial interpretation of the habitats of populated habitats in the area and other comparable areas from the northern limestone Alps, leads in this work to a surface identification of potentials based on the ÖK (Austrian Map), which can serve as a basis for subsequent recording of the butterfly species. At the same time, this map also shows existing recording deficits in the area. Knowledge deficits still exist mainly in the area of alpine pastures, avalanche channels but also in hard-to-reach areas, such as some trenches and steep slopes below 1 100 m above sea level, which is why the species sought can still be expected here. There is also a need for research on the distribution and use of potential caterpillar food plants for the species Maculinea arion and Parnassius mnemosyne.