Record of reported species: Styria wins the global City Nature Challenge

The larva of the antlion was spotted in Austria for the first time this year as part of the City Nature Challenge. The net-winged insect is related to the lacewing. Photo: Gernot Kunz

Observers in Styria recorded 5,158 different animals, plants and fungi as part of the international City Nature Challenge between 24 and 27 April 2026. This saw the region take first place in the "species" category. Ostrava in the Czech Republic made the most observations, with just under 140,000, whilst the San Francisco Bay Area had the highest number of participants, namely 3,019.

The aim of the City Nature Challenge is to document as many wild animal, plant and fungus species as possible in the immediate vicinity over a four-day period and upload them to the iNaturalist platform. These records are analysed and classified by experts, thereby making them scientifically usable. Gernot Kunz, a biologist at the University of Graz and the Universalmuseum Joanneum, played a key role in organising Styria’s participation. 764 nature enthusiasts submitted almost 61,000 records of 5,158 different registered species. Gernot Kunz discovered the antlion for the first time in Austria, the larva of a net-winged insect. A plant discovered for the first time in Styria is the Water Crowfoot.
For the City Nature Challenge in the Styria region, the University of Graz and the Universalmuseum Joanneum (UMJ) collaborated with, amongst others, the Berg- und Naturwacht and the Blaurackenverein Graz. Around 300 school pupils also contributed their observations. Researchers from the University of Graz and the UMJ helped to identify the species.

Dagmar Eklaude

Related news

The Arctic up close: ORF special feature on the University of Graz’s research station in S

Students from the University of Graz are spending two weeks conducting research at the Univerisity of Graz research station at the Sermilik Fjord in Greenland, which has been operational for three years. They are measuring glacial runoff, tracking ice melt in real time and installing weather stations. ORF is following the expedition and will be reporting on the special feature ‘Arctic Adventure’ across its various channels from 20 July.

Chemical crash: Researchers at the University of Graz are investigating the reactions in detail for the first time

Matthew Timm and Leonhard Grill have, for the first time, succeeded in unravelling how fundamental chemical processes take place and how new molecules are formed. The findings of this study have just been published in the journal Science.

What is ‘Dr AI’ supposed to decide, Giovanni Rubeis?

Analysing X-rays, documenting diagnoses, searching through databases: artificial intelligence is already providing significant support with administrative and routine tasks in the healthcare sector. To what extent should it be involved in clinical matters – that is, in treatment recommendations or treatment decisions? How do we prevent built-in biases that could be detrimental to certain individuals?

Commissioned by NATO: University of Graz tests high-tech textiles

As part of an international project, antimicrobial and fire-resistant fabrics with UV protection are being developed in Zagreb. Pharmacists from the University of Graz are ensuring that these fabrics are skin-friendly.