LTSER Platform Neusiedler See - Seewinkel - Austria

The LTSER platform Neusiedler See – Seewinkel represents Europe‘s most western steppe lake - Lake Neusiedl (Austria) - and the cultural landscape that it’s surrounded by. It extends a total area of about 500 km² and is characterized by the steppe lake, it’s reed belt and a mosaic of salt marshes, periodically dry saline lakes, sand habitats, dry and wet grasslands, vineyards, cropland, touristic infrastructure and rural settlements.
The region (average altitude 120 m.a.s.l.) is characterised by a hot, dry Pannonian climate with an annual precipitation of 600 mm and temperatures between 40 °C in summer and -20 °C in winter, making this area unique in Austria and contrasts the alpine landscapes of western Austria.
Located on the eastern edge of the alps and the western edge of the small hungarian plain the area is one of Austria’s hotspots of biodiversity. Alpine, asian, mediterranean and nordic species are present as well as endemics. The high diversity of habitats results from a high variability of environmental factors as different soil types, flooding and draught but also anthropogenic influence.
The LTSER platform includes 8 national institutions: Biologische Station Neusiedler See, Nationalpark Neusiedler See – Seewinkel, ABOL (NHM Wien), Hydrographischer Dienst Burgenland, Medizinische Universität Wien, Universität Wien and Umweltbundesamt.
Scientific research is therefore wide but can be summarised on (1) monitoring of freshwater ecosystems, (2) bird migration and breeding behaviour, (3) mapping and assessment of vegetation, (4) monitoring of climate and effects of climate change, (5) monitoring of insects, (6) conservation management and (7) regional development.
The aim of the research is to provide decision-making tools for sustainable ecosystem management and conservation as well as sustainable regional development.