Northeastern Austria Research Articles

An Early Neolithic house in the Foothills: A case study of pottery and lithic artefacts from the Biskupice site 18 (Wieliczka Foothills, southern Poland)

The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of pottery and lithic materials found in archaeological features associated with an Early Neolithic house from Biskupice (southern Poland) to shed light on exchange networks of the first farmers in Central Europe. The research began with the discovery of a unique fragment of a face vessel made in the Želiezovce style, a motif primarily found in Moravia and north-eastern Austria. Therefore, specialised analyses were undertaken to determine whether the Biskupice fragment was locally produced or originated from areas south of the Sudetes and Carpathians. The study involved an examination of raw clay material and the technology used to create the anthropomorphic vessel, aiming to establish its provenance (local production versus import). Petrographic methods were employed to analyse a diverse group of vessel types for comparison. Additionally, a selected group of pottery fragments, including the face vessel, underwent lipid residue analysis to determine their potential use. The combination of microscopic examinations and lipid residues analysis was utilised to study the link between the physical properties and function of the vessels. Finally, the archaeological context of other artifacts from the same house, including lithic assemblages, was investigated to determine the presence of both local and imported raw materials in Biskupice. The main conclusion of the study indicates local production of pottery, including the face vessel, and lithic implements. Conversely, a Transcarpathian transfer of some technological and decorative ideas, as well as imports of raw material such as obsidian, were confirmed.

Central European Agroclimate over the Past 2000 Years

Abstract Central Europe has experienced a sequence of unprecedented summer droughts since 2015, which had considerable effects on the functioning and productivity of natural and agricultural systems. Placing these recent extremes in a long-term context of natural climate variability is, however, constrained by the limited length of observational records. Here, we use tree-ring stable oxygen and carbon isotopes to develop annually resolved reconstructions of growing season temperature and summer moisture variability for central Europe during the past 2000 years. Both records are independently interpolated across the southern Czech Republic and northeastern Austria to produce explicit estimates of the optimum agroclimatic zones, based on modern references of climatic forcing. Historical documentation of agricultural productivity and climate variability since 1090 CE provides strong quantitative verification of our new reconstructions. Our isotope records not only contain clear expressions of the medieval (920–1000 CE) and Renaissance (early sixteenth century) droughts, but also the relative influence of temperature and moisture on hydroclimatic conditions during the first millennium (including previously reported pluvials during the early third, fifth, and seventh centuries of the Common Era). We conclude that Czech agricultural production has experienced significant extremes over the past 2000 years, which includes periods for which there are no modern analogs. Significance Statement As temperatures increase, droughts are becoming a growing concern for European agriculture. Our study allows recent extremes to be contextualized and helps to better the understanding of potential drivers. Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in oak tree rings were analyzed to reconstruct year-to-year and longer-term changes in both temperature and moisture over central Europe and the past 2000 years. We combine these proxy-based climate reconstructions to model how well crops were growing in the past. The early fifth and the early sixteenth centuries of the Common Era were most likely characterized by extreme conditions beyond what has been experienced in recent decades. Our reconstructions of natural variability might be used as a baseline in projections of future conditions.

Insights in Hailstorm Dynamics through Polarimetric High-Resolution X-Band and Operational C-Band Radar: A Case Study for Vienna, Austria

Abstract Data from a dual-polarized, solid-state X-band radar and an operational C-band weather radar are used for high-resolution analyses of two hailstorms in the Vienna, Austria, region. The combination of both radars provides rapid-update (1 min) polarimetric data paired with wind field data of a dual-Doppler analysis. This is the first time that such an advanced setup is used to examine severe storm dynamics at the eastern Alpine fringe, where the influence of local topography is particularly challenging for thunderstorm prediction. We investigate two storms transitioning from the pre-Alps into the Vienna basin with different characteristics: 1) A rapidly evolving multicell storm producing large hail (5 cm), with observations of an intense ZDR column preceding hail formation and the rapid development of multiple pulses of hail; and 2) a cold pool–driven squall line with small hail, for which we find that the updraft location inhibited the formation of larger hailstones. For both cases, we analyzed the evolution of different ZDR column metrics as well as updraft speed and size and found that (i) the 90th percentile of ZDR within the ZDR column was highest for the cell later producing large hail, (ii) the peak 90th percentile of ZDR preceded large hailfall by 20 min and highest updraft size and speed by 10 min, and (iii) sudden drops of the 90th percentile of ZH within the ZDR column indicated imminent hailfall. Significance Statement Thunderstorm evolution on the transition from complex terrain into the Vienna basin in northeastern Austria varies strongly. In some instances, thunderstorm cells intensify once they reach flat terrain, while in most cases there is a weakening tendency. To improve our process understanding and short-term forecasting methods, we analyze two representative cases of hail-bearing storms transitioning into the Vienna basin. We mainly build our study on data from a new, cost-efficient weather radar, complemented by an operational radar, lightning observations, and ground reports. Our results show which radar variables could be well suited for early detection of intensification, and how they relate to thunderstorm updraft speeds and lightning activity.

Pre-service teachers’ attitudes about teaching and learning in multilingual classrooms. Insights from the Austrian-wide summer school programme in 2021

ABSTRACT COVID-19-related school closures have caused educational disadvantages for school children around the world. Against this background, many countries have introduced catch-up programmes to counteract the growing educational inequality. The Austrian summer school was offered as such a supportive measure and primarily targeted learners with learning gaps, lower language skills, and German as an additional or second language (L2). In addition, pre-service teachers (PSTs) were, and still are, mainly involved in teaching during summer school. This study examines the extent to which PSTs believe they have the requisite knowledge and skills concerning linguistically and culturally responsive approaches to teach in multilingual classrooms to support students in catching up with potential learning losses. For this purpose, an online survey study was conducted during the nationwide implementation of the Austrian summer school 2021. Altogether, 109 PSTs in Western and Northeastern Austria were surveyed before and after participating in the summer school. The results show that despite their lack of knowledge and skills around linguistically responsive teaching approaches, PSTs experienced the summer school as a positive learning opportunity that improved their understanding of multilingualism and, according to their own assessments, supported their teaching skills in linguistically and culturally diverse contexts.

Benchmarking carbon sequestration potentials in arable soils by on-farm research on innovative pioneer farms

PurposeTackling the global carbon deficit through soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agricultural systems has been a focal point in recent years. However, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of actual on-farm SOC sequestration potentials in order to derive effective strategies.MethodsTherefore, we chose 21 study sites in North-Eastern Austria covering a wide range of relevant arable soil types and determined SOC pool sizes (0–35 cm soil depth) in pioneer versus conventional management systems in relation to permanently covered reference soils. We evaluated physico-chemical predictors of SOC stocks and SOC quality differences between systems using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.ResultsCompared to conventional farming systems, SOC stocks were 14.3 Mg ha− 1 or 15.7% higher in pioneer farming systems, equaling a SOC sequestration rate of 0.56 Mg ha− 1 yr− 1. Reference soils however showed approximately 30 and 50% higher SOC stocks than pioneer and conventional farming systems, respectively. Nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon stocks showed similar patterns. While pioneer systems could close the SOC storage deficit in coarse-textured soils, SOC stocks in medium- and fine-textured soils were still 30–40% lower compared to the reference soils. SOC quality, as inferred by FTIR spectra, differed between land-use systems, yet to a lesser extent between cropping systems.ConclusionsInnovative pioneer management alleviates SOC storage. Actual realized on-farm storage potentials are rather similar to estimated SOC sequestration potentials derived from field experiments and models. The SOC sequestration potential is governed by soil physico-chemical parameters. More on-farm approaches are necessary to evaluate close-to-reality SOC sequestration potentials in pioneer agroecosystems.

Outbreak of Cronobacter turicensis in European brown hares (Lepus europaeus).

This is the first report of acute deaths in five European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) attributed to mucoid and necrotizing typhlocolitis caused by genetically different Cronobacter (C.) turicensis strains in northeastern Austria. As this opportunistic pathogen is mainly known for causing disease in immunocompromised humans and neonates, this previously unrecognized potential for a spill over from a wildlife reservoir to humans warrants further attention.

Animal Husbandry During Late Antiquity: Archaeozoological Analysis and Regional Comparison of the 4th to 6th Century AD Small Rural Settlement in Podersdorf am See (Burgenland, Austria)

ABSTRACT This study investigates the faunal assemblage from excavations in Podersdorf am See (easternmost Austria) dating between the 4th and 6th century AD. The site is located in a flat area east of Lake Neusiedl (Hungarian: Fertő tó), surrounded by numerous (palaeo-)lake depressions and comprises remains of small-scale rural installations from three phases between the 2nd and 13th century AD. In contrast with previous studies, which focus on urban sites or villae rusticace, Podersdorf offers the opportunity to examine the Late Antiquity period of transition at a peripheral, small-scale, rural site. In total, 904 animal bones were investigated. Although several features hint at a rural site of producers, such as the dominance of female sheep/goats there are, also indications for animal imports, including a high number of male/castrated cattle and pigs along with the presence of three different cattle morphotypes. Age and sex profiles of the main domesticated species (cattle, sheep/goats and pigs) show a slight emphasis on meat consumption. Chop and cut marks on horse and dog bones indicate cynophagy and hippophagy. Compared with contemporaneous sites in north-eastern Austria, Podersdorf has the highest NISP number of wild mammals, the second highest number of horses, and the second highest number of birds.

Taxonomic assessment of Sorbus subgenus Aria in the Malé Karpaty Mountains

In this paper we present a taxonomic assessment of Sorbus subgen. Aria in the Malé Karpaty Mts (western Slovakia and north-eastern Austria). Detailed field observations, morphological comparison, herbarium revisions, multivariate morphometric analyses, flow cytometry and molecular (nuclear microsatellite markers) analyses were used to assess the taxonomic diversity within this group. Diploids, triploids and tetraploids were detected. Diploids are represented by a single taxon, S. aria, which shows considerable morphological and genetic variability. Sorbus aria ranges from rare to locally abundant throughout the area studied. Triploids are confined to the central and southern parts of the region and include several single, presumably apomictic individuals and rare apomictic lineages, which are not treated as separate species here due to the very limited number of individuals recorded. Tetraploids show similar distribution patterns to those of triploids: S. danubialis and S. collina occur in the southern part of the mountains, while S. petraea, a new species described here, inhabits the central part of the mountain range. The entire population of S. petraea includes approximately one hundred individuals. It occurs mainly in the surroundings of Vysoká Mt. by the village of Kuchyňa, where it forms several small populations and approximately 30 individuals grow on Čierna skala hill by the village of Plavecký Mikuláš. In addition to these recent occurrences, there are two herbarium specimens from the 1960s documenting the species on Vápená Mt. The low genetic and morphological variability and flow cytometric seed screening indicate an apomictic mode of reproduction in this species and justify its recognition at the species level. Sorbus collina is reported here in Slovakia for the first time. We have not confirmed the occurrence of S. austriaca, S. buekkensis, S. carpatica, S. graeca, S. pannonica, S. thaiszii and S. zolyomii in the Malé Karpaty Mts and consider the previously published records to be erroneous. Lectotypes are designated for S. thaiszii and S. zolyomii. A determination key, detailed distribution maps and photographs of representative herbarium specimens of all taxa of S. subgen. Aria occurring in the Malé Karpaty Mts are provided. A line drawing and a photograph of the newly described species are also presented.

Taraxacum sect. Erythrosperma in Slovakia. Part II. Notes on distribution and ecology of Taraxacum danubium

Taraxacum danubium is xerothermic species of Taraxacum sect. Erythrosperma occurring in Central Europe with the highest frequency in southeastern Czechia, northeastern Austria and southwestern Slovakia. Since its description in 1970 from Devínska Kobyla Hills in Slovakia the species was documented from numerous localities across the country, however overall study on the species distribution in Slovakia was still lacking. Thus in this paper, we present a detailed survey on its chorology in Slovakia based on our long-term field observation and data excerption from herbarium specimens with commentary on the distribution (over 60 localities in Slovakia) and biology of the species. Western Slovakia seems to be a centre of its distribution, while towards east the number of populations rapidly decreases. Karyology and ecology are discussed. The full list of locations and distribution map are presented.

Diverse natal dispersal in four sibling red kites originating from Austria, including wintering in Tunisia

Four red kites (Milvus milvus), (siblings, RK1, RK2, RK3 and RK4) from the same nest in north-eastern Austria were tagged with telemetry (GPS/GSM/UHF) loggers on 23 June 2018 during the pulli growth stage and tracked until 5 April 2019. RK1 (female), RK2 (male), RK3 (female) and RK4 (female) occupied post-fledging areas until 1 August 2018 when they then began to migrate following a south-eastern direction. RK1 wintered in central Italy and used three temporary settlement areas (TSA). RK2 and RK3 migrated to the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea and returned back to winter in their natal area. They used three and two TSA, respectively. RK4 reached the Italian coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, crossing the sea in 12 h with an average flight speed of 58.6 km·h−1). The bird flew at an average altitude of 429 m above sea level before arriving in Algeria. RK4 then crossed the neighbouring border and wintered in Tunisia. It used two TSA (one in the Czech Republic and one in Tunisia). The migration behaviour and wintering locations among these floaters with the same genetic background during natal dispersal was substantially different and supposedly influenced by various environmental factors rather than by genetics.

A 400-year reconstruction of spring–summer precipitation and summer low flow from regional tree-ring chronologies in North-Eastern Austria

Atmospheric and streamflow drought back to 1600 were reconstructed with provenance-verified regional Pinus-sylvestris and Pinus-nigra chronologies of earlywood, latewood and ring width, detrended by signal-free regional curve standardization, from the Weinviertel, a dry region in Eastern Austria. Linear regression models with Weinviertel latewood indices as predictor variables were used to estimate regional April–August precipitation totals (R2 = 0.47) and seven-day minimum flow from May to October (best fit: R2 = 0.65). As a novelty, the well-known dendrochronology quality measure “Expressed Population Signal” in a modified version is used to define a scaling factor for empirically estimating the reconstructions’ time-varying reliability.For the detection of drought years in the reconstructed time series, four stages of drought of increasing intensity were defined as conditions below median, and below the 33rd, 20th, and 5th percentile—representing 2-year, 3-year, 5-year and 20-year recurrence intervals.The method for the extension of time series of low flows into the past is applicable in the Weinviertel and can be a useful source of historical hydrological and meteorological information restricted by the uncertainties coming along with proxy records. Of the analyzed period back to 1600, the 19th century is the driest one closely followed by the 18th century, sharing the overall driest period from 1775 to 1813. The phase with the longest continuous atmospheric dry period is 1807–1811. The longest hydrological drought lasted from 1832 to 1839.

Evaluation and validation of the ASCE standardized reference evapotranspiration equations for a subhumid site in northeastern Austria

Abstract Employing evapotranspiration models is a widely used method to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ETREF) based on weather data. Evaluating such models considering site-specific boundary conditions is recommended to interpret ETREF-calculations in a realistic and substantiated manner. Therefore, we evaluated the ASCE standardized ETREF-equations at a subhumid site in northeastern Austria. We calculated ETREF-values for hourly and daily time steps, whereof the former were processed to sum-of-hourly values. The obtained data were compared to each other and to ET-values measured by a weighing lysimeter under reference conditions. The resulting datasets covered daily data of the years 2004 to 2011. Sum-of-hourly values correlated well (r2 = 0.978) with daily values, but an RMSE of 0.27 mm specified the differences between the calculation procedures. Comparing the calculations to lysimeter measurements revealed overestimation of small ETREF-values and underestimation of large values. The sum-of-hourly values outperformed the daily values, as r2 of the former was slightly larger and RMSE was slightly smaller. Hence, sum-of-hourly computations delivered the best estimation of ETREF for a single day. Seasonal effects were obvious, with computations and measurements being closest to each other in the summer months.

Complex Pattern of Ploidal and Genetic Variation in Seseli libanotis (Apiaceae)

Using flow cytometry we explored the cytogeography of Seseli libanotis (Apiaceae) from central Europe and several adjacent areas. We detected diploids and tetraploids, but no triploids. Diploids are distributed across nearly all study areas, whereas tetraploids occur in Czechia, the Pannonian lowlands of northeastern Austria and western Slovakia, in southeastern Slovakia, in the Eastern Carpathians and the Apuseni Mts in Romania, and in Croatia. The distribution of cytotypes is nearly allopatric. Only in some regions on the northern border of the Pannonian basin, in southern Poland and in Romania they are parapatric. Only one mixed-ploidy population (located in Poland) was detected. In Czechia and Slovakia, we did not find differences in the elevational distributions of cytotypes; tetraploids, however, seemed to have a broader elevational range and slightly prevail at lower elevations. Using sequencing of the trnL-trnF region of cpDNA we detected high haplotype diversity with no relation to cytogeography (longitude, latitude or elevation).

Present-day surface deformation of the Alpine region inferred from geodetic techniques

Abstract. We provide a present-day surface-kinematics model for the Alpine region and surroundings based on a high-level data analysis of about 300 geodetic stations continuously operating over more than 12 years. This model includes a deformation model, a continuous surface-kinematic (velocity) field, and a strain field consistently assessed for the entire Alpine mountain belt. Special care is given to the use of the newest Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) processing standards to determine high-precision 3-D station coordinates. The coordinate solution refers to the reference frame IGb08, epoch 2010.0. The mean precision of the station positions at the reference epoch is ±1.1 mm in N and E and ±2.3 mm in height. The mean precision of the station velocities is ±0.2 mm a−1 in N and E and ±0.4 mm a−1 in height. The deformation model is derived from the point-wise station velocities using a geodetic least-squares collocation (LSC) approach with empirically determined covariance functions. According to our results, no significant horizontal deformation is detected in the Western Alps, while across the Southern and Eastern Alps the deformation vectors describe a progressive eastward rotation towards Pannonia. This kinematic pattern also makes evident an increasing magnitude of the deformation from 0.1 mm a−1 in the western part of Switzerland up to about 1.3 mm a−1 in the Austrian Alps. The largest shortening is observed along the southern front of the Eastern Alps (in the northern area of the Venetian-Friuli Basin) and in the northern part of the Apennine Peninsula, where rates reach 2 and 3 mm a−1, respectively. The average accuracy of the horizontal deformation model is ±0.2 mm a−1. Regarding the vertical kinematics, our results clearly show an ongoing average uplift rate of 1.8 mm a−1 of the entire mountain chain, with the exception of the southern part of the Western Alps, where no significant uplift (less than 0.5 mm a−1) is detected. The fastest uplift rates (more than 2 mm a−1) occur in the central area of the Western Alps, in the Swiss Alps, and in the Southern Alps in the boundary region between Switzerland, Austria, and Italy. The general uplift observed across the Alpine mountain chain decreases towards the outer regions to stable values between 0.0 and 0.5 mm a−1 and, in some cases, to subsidence like in the Liguro-Provençal and Vienna basins, where vertical rates of −0.8 and −0.3 mm a−1 are observed, respectively. In the surrounding region, three regional subsidence regimes are identified: the Rhône-Bresse Graben with −0.8 mm a−1, the Rhine Graben with −1.3 mm a−1, and the Venetian-Friuli Basin with −1.5 mm a−1. The estimated uncertainty of our vertical motion model across the Alpine mountain belt is about ±0.3 mm a−1. The strain field inferred from the deformation model shows two main contrasting strain regimes: (i) shortening across the south-eastern front of the Alps and the northern part of the Dinarides and (ii) extension in the Apennines. The pattern of the principal strain axes indicates that the compression directions are more or less perpendicular to the thrust belt fronts, reaching maximum values of 20×10-9 a−1 in the Venetian-Friuli and Po basins. Across the Alpine mountain belt, we observe a slight dilatation regime in the Western Alps, which smoothly changes to a contraction regime in western Austria and southern Germany, reaching maximum shortening values of 6×10-9 a−1 in north-eastern Austria. The numerical results of this study are available at https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.886889.

Parameter-specific hydroclimatic sensitivity of a low-elevation network of living and historical tree-ring series from north-eastern Austria

Compared to the alpine regions of Austria, the eastern part of the country is overall warmer and drier with some tree species growing at the dry limit within their ecological range. This suggests that tree rings may be a valuable proxy for hydroclimatic variability. In this study, we develop ring-width, earlywood-width and latewood-width chronologies obtained from drought sensitive living trees and historical timber from one of the driest and warmest regions of Austria, the Weinviertel. For this, samples of four different tree species − fir (Abies alba Mill.), spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), oak (Quercus petraea Liebl., Q. robur L., Q. cerris L.), and pine (Pinus sylvestris L., P. nigra Arnold) were collected from 88 sites (23 forest stands and 65 historical constructions). 1589 samples (oak: 592 samples, pine: 577, spruce: 212, fir: 208) were dated. Dendro-provenancing was required to ensure that only regional material has entered the chronologies. According to the analyses, historical pine and oak wood were nearly 100% regional, while spruce and fir wood were imported to a great extent with only 44% spruce and 35% fir confirmed to be regional. Because site conditions of historical wood samples are unknown but can have a significant influence on tree growth, changes to site replication over time were important in the assessment of chronology reliability. We also controlled for potential artificial increases in sample depth when more than one construction element is made from a single trunk.We assessed the pine (1584-2011 AD) and oak (1244-2011 AD) chronologies’ potential for reconstructing past hydroclimatic variability by means of response functions in a 17-months window from previous June to current October with climate data from three weather stations (Vienna, Retz, Brno) from 1897 to 2010 AD. The highest seasonal response coefficients are for oak and pine ring width (∼0.43) with respect to aggregated March to July precipitation totals and Thornthwaite climatic water balance. These chronologies reveal a high potential for estimating past changes in regional-scale moisture availability during the earlier growing season.

Genetic variation, phenotypic stability, and repeatability of drought response in European larch throughout 50 years in a common garden experiment.

Assessing intra-specific variation in drought stress response is required to mitigate the consequences of climate change on forest ecosystems. Previous studies suggest that European larch (Larix decidua Mill.), an important European conifer in mountainous and alpine forests, is highly vulnerable to drought. In light of this, we estimated the genetic variation in drought sensitivity and its degree of genetic determination in a 50-year-old common garden experiment in the drought-prone northeastern Austria. Tree ring data from larch provenances originating from across the species' natural range were used to estimate the drought reaction in four consecutive drought events (1977, 1981, 1990–1994, and 2003) with extremely low standardized precipitation- and evapotranspiration-index values that affected growth in all provenances. We found significant differences among provenances across the four drought periods for the trees’ capacity to withstand drought (resistance) and for their capacity to reach pre-drought growth levels after drought (resilience). Provenances from the species' northern distribution limit in the Polish lowlands were found to be more drought resistant and showed higher stability across all drought periods than provenances from mountainous habitats at the southern fringe. The degree of genetic determination, as estimated by the repeatability, ranged up to 0.39, but significantly differed among provenances, indicating varying degrees of natural selection at the provenance origin. Generally, the relationship between the provenances’ source climate and drought behavior was weak, suggesting that the contrasting patterns of drought response are a result of both genetic divergence out of different refugial lineages and local adaptation to summer or winter drought conditions. Our analysis suggests that European larch posseses high genetic variation among and within provenances that can be used for assisted migration and breeding programs.

Detection of Dirofilaria in Austrian dogs

A recent increase in the occurrence of Dirofilaria repens and Dirofilaria immitis has been reported from the eastern neighbouring countries of Austria (Slovakia, Hungary). In order to obtain data from Austria--especially from the areas bordering these countries--blood samples of dogs from Gänserndorf (northeastern Austria, bordering Slovakia) and Neusiedl (eastern Austria, bordering Hungary) were examined for the presence of Dirofilaria spp.-DNA by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). For D. repens one (out of eight) and six (out of ninety) positive dogs were found, respectively. D. immitis-DNA was not detected. Most of the positive dogs had previously been abroad in known Dirofilaria endemic areas. Two dogs, however, had never been abroad and presumably became infected in Austria. To investigate an autochthonous focus, 1366 mosquitoes from the eastern part of Austria were also examined by qPCR. Although positive mosquitoes could not be found, an emerging endemic occurrence of D. repens in Austria due to positive dogs seems possible.

Comparison of lysimeter based and calculated ASCE reference evapotranspiration in a subhumid climate

The standardized form of the well-known FAO Penman-Monteith equation, published by the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE-EWRI), is recommended as a standard procedure for calculating reference evapotranspiration (ETref) and subsequently plant water requirements. Applied and validated under different climatic conditions it generally achieved good results compared to other methods. However, several studies documented deviations between measured and calculated reference evapotranspiration depending on environmental and weather conditions. Therefore, it seems generally advisable to evaluate the model under local environmental conditions. In this study, reference evapotranspiration was determined at a subhumid site in northeastern Austria from 2005 to 2010 using a large weighing lysimeter (ETlys). The measured data were compared with ETref calculations. Daily values differed slightly during a year, at which ETref was generally overestimated at small values, whereas it was rather underestimated when ET was large, which is supported also by other studies. In our case, advection of sensible heat proved to have an impact, but it could not explain the differences exclusively. Obviously, there were also other influences, such as seasonal varying surface resistance or albedo. Generally, the ASCE-EWRI equation for daily time steps performed best at average weather conditions. The outcomes should help to correctly interpret ETref data in the region and in similar environments and improve knowledge on the dynamics of influencing factors causing deviations.

Acute Die-off of Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in the Eastern Austrian Alps due to Bacterial Bronchopneumonia withPasteurellaceae

Monitoring circulating pathogens in wildlife populations is important in evaluating causes and sources of disease as well as understanding transmission between wild and domestic animals. In spring 2010, a sudden die-off in a chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) population sharing habitat with livestock occurred in northeastern Austria. Nineteen animals were submitted for examination. Necropsy and pathohistologic and bacteriologic results yielded lesions associated with Pasteurellaceae species. Additional testing included enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus and random amplification of polymorphic DNA PCR analysis to evaluate the circulating strains. The isolated strains were most closely related to Mannheimia glucosida and Bibersteinia trehalosi. Reports of mass mortalities in chamois due to pneumonia have been reported previously in the northern Alpine area of Italy. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of acute mortality due to strains of Mannheimia and Bibersteinia in Austrian chamois.

Fine-scale phylogeographic contact zone in Austrian brown trout Salmo trutta reveals multiple waves of post-glacial colonization and a pre-dominance of natural versus anthropogenic admixture

Two major mtDNA lineages of brown trout come into contact in the upper Danube basin of Central Europe. The region is additionally confronted with stock management programs that often use domesticated foreign strains creating confusion as to what constitutes native and non-native populations as well as how to define major management units. In a unique system in north eastern Austria we provide additional support that the so-called Atlantic lineage of brown trout is native to the upper Danube and provide a high resolution microsatellite screening protocol that clearly distinguishes between natural and anthropogenic introgression, with the latter being minimal. Sequencing of 6,000 bp of mtDNA also shows that domesticated stocks primarily stem from a distinct albeit genetically diverse sub-clade of the Atlantic lineage, approximately 50,000–100,000 years divergent from the native Atlantic stocks, thought to have expanded into the region during the Holocene. The futility in defining large-scale management units based on mtDNA lineages for such broadly distributed and highly fragmented species is discussed.