The future chances of the alpine murmur population (Marmota marmota) in the Gesäuse National Park

Diploma thesis at the University of Natural Resources Vienna Vienna The recent distribution area of the native Alpine murmur animal extends over the entire Alpine arch. Secured autochthonous deposits, i.e. naturally populated areas, can be found in Austria in the west part of the Alpine distribution centre (Vorarlberg, western parts of Tyrol). The border is drawn here with the Tyrolean Wipptal (PRELEUTHNER 1993). An isolated autochthonous population is also present in the Berchtesgaden area. Whether there were autochthonous stocks in eastern Austria (Carinthia, Styria, Upper Austria, Lower Austria) and thus also in the Gesäuse is still largely unclear (PRELEUTHNER 1993). Suspensions of marmots in Austria already existed in the 18th century and are still being carried out to this day (NIETHAMMER 1963). Well-founded faunistic knowledge is playing an increasingly important role not only in nature and environmental protection but also for spatial and landscape planning. Knowledge of the occurrences, distribution, stock and stock development of wild species is becoming increasingly important in view of the increased environmental problems and the growing conflict between wildlife and humans (e.g. GOSSOW 1992a, 1992b; GOSSOW & GAMAUF 1992; GAMAUF 1994). Especially in times when we humans already use almost every square millimetre of the earth for our mostly economically oriented purposes, protected areas such as national parks play an irreplaceable role in the conservation of the last areas close to nature and their dynamic development processes. The highest priority in nature conservation in national parks is to allow a natural development. Thus, national parks are ideal spaces for specific research approaches such as inventory surveys, ecological long-term studies and permanent observations and monitoring. Another important task of the National Park Administration is to offer visitors unadulterated nature experience in combination with environmental education. Therefore, a steering of visitor flows is essential in order to be able to better protect ecologically sensitive areas and, on the other hand, to draw visitors’ attention to special attractions or representative parts of the national park. National parks of IUCN Category II, such as the Gesäuse National Park, are natural land areas or marine areas designated (a) to protect the ecological integrity of one or more ecosystems in the interests of present and future generations, (b) to exclude use or use detrimental to the objectives of designation, and (c) to create a basis for spiritual and mental experience, as well as research, education and recreation opportunities for visitors. National parks must be environmentally and culturally compatible (IUCN 1994). The Gesäuse National Park, founded in 2002, is still a very young national park. For this reason, important basic data on the current population and the current distribution of plant and animal species are missing. This type of basic survey is promoted and promoted from the national park side, as well as the resulting results in the management plans and questions of visitor guidance. The primary goal of this diploma thesis is therefore to include the stock and spatial distribution of the Alpine murmur in the Gesäuse National Park and in adjacent areas. In addition, the data of the past is processed to obtain a rounded picture of past, present and future.