FFH butterflies in the Gesäuse National Park

The aim of the present survey is to record the distribution of the FFH-protected moths and their habitats in the Gesäuses National Park area in order to arrive at 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 present results must be understood as preliminary overview mapping. Together with preliminary surveys and data from the literature, distribution patterns of the species can be derived. In this work, 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 interpretation of aerial images lead to a broad identification of potentials on the basis of the Austrian Map (ÖK), which can serve as a basis for subsequent recording of the butterfly species. At the same time, this map also shows existing coverage deficits in the area. Knowledge deficits exist mainly in the area of alpine pastures, avalanche channels but also in hard-to-reach areas, such as some ditches and steep slopes below 1100 m above sea level, which is why it is still possible to expect the presence of the sought-after species here. There is also a need for research into the distribution and use of potential caterpillar food crops for the Maculinea arion and Parnassius mnemosyne species present in the area. In the area of the Gesäuse National Park, 5 protected FFH butterfly species have been identified so far. Of which Lopinga achine and Euphydryas aurinia are considered lost in the area. The most favorable conservation status A in the area is the Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo), which occurs mainly north of the Enns and finds its habitats extensively in steep structural rock walls and stony avalanche channels in good stocks. The Black Apollo butterfly (Parnassius mnemosyne) has the conservation status B. It is strictly bound to the occurrence of lark spur (Corydalis spp.) in structurally rich semi-open habitats, which it collects along the Enns, the Johnsbach, other streams and in wet avalanche channels. Due to the rather low effort of 5 days with excursions, the present results must be understood as preliminary overview mapping. Together with preliminary surveys and data from the literature, distribution patterns of the species can be derived. In this work, 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 interpretation of aerial images lead to a broad identification of potentials on the basis of the Austrian Map (ÖK), which can serve as a basis for subsequent recording of the butterfly species. At the same time, this map also shows existing coverage deficits in the area. Knowledge deficits exist mainly in the area of alpine pastures, avalanche channels but also in hard-to-reach areas, such as some ditches and steep slopes below 1100 m above sea level, which is why it is still possible to expect the presence of the sought-after species here. There is also a need for research into the distribution and use of potential caterpillar food crops for the Maculinea arion and Parnassius mnemosyne species present in the area.