Status update of the Red List of Mammals in Austria with a focus on game species

The Red Lists of endangered vertebrates were compiled 18 and 16 years ago. Since then, there have been changes in the taxonomic conditions, the basic population, the ecological conditions and the endangerment disposition of the species. Species that were thought to be extinct, such as the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), have been able to re-establish themselves. The endangerment situation of many species has also changed. New potential threats such as climate change, neobiota, etc. have emerged and are having an impact on species. Insect mortality has a direct impact on the numerous insectivorous vertebrate species and ecosystemic effects on the remaining species. The nomenclature of mammals, which was used as the basis for the 2005 work, is in need of updating. As part of a project by F&P Netzwerk Umwelt GmbH (engineering office for biology and landscape planning), the Red List of mammals (excluding bats) in Austria is now to be updated. This update will include a checklist of Austria's mammals according to the current taxonomic classification, an endangerment analysis and classification of the mammals occurring in Austria (excluding bats) in the IUCN endangerment categories. In addition, short species profiles are to be compiled for each species, outlining taxonomic conditions, ecological requirements, distribution, endangerment factors and conservation measures. Data on game species collected by F&P Netzwerk Umwelt GmbH will be evaluated in interviews and/or workshops with scientific researchers from the Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management (IWJ) at the BOKU University. The findings will be used to create checklists and the species profiles mentioned above. These checklists as well as the species profiles and any (final) reports will again be evaluated by researchers from IWJ, with a focus on game species.