Project ZOWIAC

All about the objective, the team and our project partners
Raccoon roundworm
Raccoon foraging in a garbage can

Background

Invasive alien species cause significant changes to species communities and ecosystems and are considered one of the most important threats to biodiversity worldwide. In addition, they can cause considerable economic damage and endanger both human and animal health. The EU Commission estimates the economic and health damage caused by IAS in Europe at 9.6-12.7 billion euros annually. In the course of globalization and a steadily increasing population and settlement density, invasive
and population density, invasive species are also becoming increasingly important in cities. In Europe, the raccoon and raccoon dog are considered invasive and are included on the Union list of invasive species (EU Regulation 1143/2014). The mink is also spreading steadily and has now established itself in many areas of Europe.

Exterior examination of the raccoon
Determination of detected parasites

Carnivore ecology

The high dispersal ability and generalist feeding ecology of these carnivores mean that they can colonize almost all natural habitats. In the process, they are suspected of being partly responsible for the decline of numerous native species. The raccoon and raccoon dog are also encroaching into urban areas where they can exploit anthropogenic resources and reach very high population densities. The species are known to act as hosts for a large number of parasites and pathogens and can transmit them to wildlife, livestock, pets, and humans. Because of their proximity to humans, there is therefore an increased risk of transmission of zoonotic pathogens (including raccoon roundworm), human pathogenic viruses (including West Nile virus, corona viruses), and microorganisms (including multidrug-resistant germs). The zoonotic risk, economic and ecological impact of invasive mammals can currently only be assessed to a limited extent due to the lack of scientifically sound data.

Morphological images
Genetic work in the laboratory

Objective

ZOWIAC aims to investigate invasion processes of alien mammal species, their interaction dynamics in native ecosystems, and the potential associated health risks. Current research approaches need to reflect the complexity of real ecosystems, landscapes, and urban spaces, but also incorporate the different spatial, temporal, and socio-political scales to enable effective management of invasive and immigrant carnivores at local, national, but also Europe-wide scales. ZOWIAC takes this integrated approach, leveraging Hessen’s expertise in ecology and biodiversity research, parasitology, infectious biology, and wildlife biology. Since future success in mitigating potentially negative impacts of IAS will also largely depend on public understanding and participation, a socio-ecological analysis will be used to identify and involve all relevant groups and stakeholders and their understanding and perception of risk.

Investigations in ZOWIAC
The raccoon is a typical omnivore with a wide range of food resources. The raccoon’s resource use is oriented to supply, so it is likely that the raccoon can be locally significant as a mortality factor in protected areas designated for endangered species. For example, predation of lapwing nests by raccoons has been documented from Hesse. To date, however, there have been no comprehensive scientific studies showing the extent to which populations of native threatened species are affected by established predatory neozoa. This issue is of conservation importance nationwide, as it will help determine how raccoons and other invasive carnivores should be managed in the future, particularly in and around protected areas, thus enabling the scientific basis for potential local management needs for raccoons (and raccoon dog and mink based on them) in Germany.
With a view to better assessing the parasite fauna and zoonotic potential of all three target species, dissections, virus screening and fecal analyses will be performed. Targeted environmental areas in urban and agricultural regions will be sampled to better identify potential risk sites for human infections. Metagenome datasets are used to collect genetic information of potential zoonotic pathogens. The studies will be carried out using parasitological methods established by the applicants in parallel with the food ecology analyses. Genetic samples will be obtained during the project for more advanced questions such as reconstructing the demographic history of invasive populations. Further, additional samples will be acquired for the identification of genetic variability of pathogen resistance genes.
A realistic assessment of the ecological impact and zoonotic potential of invasive carnivorous species is only possible with a comprehensive understanding of their distribution. Only when it is known where these species occur, how they migrated and how they might spread further, can their impact on ecosystems and zoonotic potential be fully assessed and predictions made about future developments. In this context, it is also important to look beyond Germany in order to be able to include the spatial distribution as well as the ecological requirements of the species in their original ranges for more accurate predictions.
The joint project ZOWIAC will make an essential contribution to the development of up-to-date, well-founded and validated data in order to better assess the health risk posed by invasive carnivores to the population as well as to livestock and domestic animals and the impact on native species and ecosystems. Stakeholder workshops and a problem-oriented discourse field analysis will provide information on problem perceptions, controversies, and needs for action, among other topics. Specific stakeholders (e.g., hunters, animal rights activists, dog owners, forest nurseries, allotment gardeners, wildlife rehabilitators, citizen scientists) will be selected to discuss aspects such as awareness, distribution, biology, as well as associated health risks. In addition, quantitative surveys will be conducted in urban and rural areas in Hesse. Based on the results, derivations of options for action for science and practice will be formulated.
Findings and animal sightings are recorded in a database nationwide. This information on species occurrence and abundance contributes to a better understanding of ecosystem processes and ecosystem vulnerability. The provision of wildlife data to authorities and associations is part of the ZOWIAC concept.
Future success in mitigating the negative impacts of invasive carnivores depends significantly on the understanding and participation of the public, therefore all relevant groups and stakeholders should be involved. The special feature of ZOWIAC is therefore the interdisciplinary cooperation and networking of research from university and non-university institutions, ministries, authorities, animal protection, hunting and other nature conservation associations. In addition to the cooperation partners, citizens are also actively involved in the research project (Citizen Science). The ZOWIAC app and this website, which generates data and provides information on current research results, serve as the basis for this exchange. Since ZOWIAC includes wildlife ecology and health research aspects, the project will also provide results that can be the basis for decisions by the responsible ministries and authorities in dealing with invasive and alien predatory mammals in Germany and Europe.
Project management

Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel

Sven Klimpel is an infection biologist, parasitologist and professor at Goethe University and is also responsible for the research area Medical Biodiversity and Parasitology at Senckenberg. He focuses on the species and genetic diversity of infectious disease-transmitting organisms and pathogens as well as their ecology, population dynamics, development cycles and transmission mechanisms.

Prof. Dr. Sven Klimpel

Sven Klimpel is an infection biologist, parasitologist and professor at Goethe University and is also responsible for the research area Medical Biodiversity and Parasitology at Senckenberg. He focuses on the species and genetic diversity of infectious disease-transmitting organisms and pathogens as well as their ecology, population dynamics, development cycles and transmission mechanisms.

Dr. Dorian D. Dörge

Dorian Dörge is a biologist and specialist in vector-borne infectious diseases. In the project, he works on the spread of the species studied and ensures the quality of the website and data.

Dr. Dorian D. Dörge

Dorian Dörge is a biologist and specialist in vector-borne infectious diseases. In the project, he works on the spread of the species studied and ensures the quality of the website and data.

Dr. Norbert Peter

Norbert Peter is a biologist, forester, and hunter, responsible for organizing nationwide sampling as well as conducting research on the dietary ecology of raccoons and coyotes, and their parasites and pathogens.

Dr. Norbert Peter

Norbert Peter is a biologist, forester, and hunter, responsible for organizing nationwide sampling as well as conducting research on the dietary ecology of raccoons and coyotes, and their parasites and pathogens.

Anna V. Schantz

Anna Schantz is a biologist specialized in ecological and parasitological questions of raccoon dogs and raccoons. In the project, she carries out the molecular biological investigations, among other things.

Anna V. Schantz

Anna Schantz is a biologist specialized in ecological and parasitological questions of raccoon dogs and raccoons. In the project, she carries out the molecular biological investigations, among other things.

Dr. Sarah Cunze

Dr. Sarah Cunze is an environmental scientist and biologist. She focuses on climatically induced changes in distribution ranges of animals and plants. In the project, she is responsible for modeling spatiotemporal patterns in the occurrence of carnivores, associated parasites, and potentially endangered prey.

Dr. Sarah Cunze

Dr. Sarah Cunze is an environmental scientist and biologist. She focuses on climatically induced changes in distribution ranges of animals and plants. In the project, she is responsible for modeling spatiotemporal patterns in the occurrence of carnivores, associated parasites, and potentially endangered prey.

Ajdin Skaljic

Ajdin Skaljic is a software engineer in the project. He develops the ZOWIAC app and is responsible for quality assurance of incoming data.

Ajdin Skaljic

Ajdin Skaljic is a software engineer in the project. He develops the ZOWIAC app and is responsible for quality assurance of incoming data.
Riedberg Campus of the Goethe University

Goethe University

With more than 45,000 students, almost 600 professors and over 3,000 academic staff in 16 departments, Goethe University is the third largest university in Germany. With its namesake Johann Wolfgang Goethe as poet, thinker and natural scientist, it combines innovative thinking and interdisciplinary action.

Website
DBU Office Osnabrück

German Federal Foundation for the Environment

In accordance with the foundation’s mission and guiding principles, the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) promotes innovative, exemplary and solution-oriented projects for the protection of the environment with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. It is the DBU’s concern to contribute to the solution of current environmental problems, which result in particular from unsustainable economic and lifestyle practices in our society.

Website
Main building of the Senckenberg Museum

Senckenberg Society for Nature Research

The Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung was founded as early as 1817 by committed citizens of Frankfurt as the Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft. Today it is one of the most important research institutions around biodiversity and with the Frankfurt House one of the largest natural history museums in Europe.

Website

Sponsors

Scientific advisory board

Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmid

Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmid is President of the Hessian State Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG). As a lecturer at the RhineMain University of Applied Sciences, he gives lectures on “Climate Change, Climate Models and Climate Adaptation”. He is also Executive Director of the Lore Steubing Institute.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmid

Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmid is President of the Hessian State Agency for Nature Conservation, Environment and Geology (HLNUG). As a lecturer at the RhineMain University of Applied Sciences, he gives lectures on “Climate Change, Climate Models and Climate Adaptation”. He is also Executive Director of the Lore Steubing Institute.

Prof. Dr. Heinz Mehlhorn

Prof. Dr. Heinz Mehlhorn has been working on the transmission routes and control of parasites for over 45 years. He was head of the renowned Institute for Parasitology at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf and has been CEO of the Alpha-Biocare company since 2000. As a university lecturer, he trained numerous biologists, human and veterinary doctors.

Prof. Dr. Heinz Mehlhorn

Prof. Dr. Heinz Mehlhorn has been working on the transmission routes and control of parasites for over 45 years. He was head of the renowned Institute for Parasitology at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf and has been CEO of the Alpha-Biocare company since 2000. As a university lecturer, he trained numerous biologists, human and veterinary doctors.

Dr. Alexander Bittner

Dr. Alexander Bittner is a forest scientist and head of the Environmental Education and Communication Unit at the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) and its project groups “Waters and Nature Conservation” and “Sustainability Assessment and Sustainability Communication”.

Dr. Alexander Bittner

Dr. Alexander Bittner is a forest scientist and head of the Environmental Education and Communication Unit at the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU) and its project groups “Waters and Nature Conservation” and “Sustainability Assessment and Sustainability Communication”.

Prof. Dr. Paul Dierkes

Prof. Dr. Paul Dierkes is a didactician at Goethe University and has held the Opel Zoo Endowed Professorship of Zoo Animal Biology since 2014. He and his research group study the behavior of zoo animals.

Prof. Dr. Paul Dierkes

Prof. Dr. Paul Dierkes is a didactician at Goethe University and has held the Opel Zoo Endowed Professorship of Zoo Animal Biology since 2014. He and his research group study the behavior of zoo animals.

Cooperation partner

Ministries, authorities, governmental institutions and institutes
Nature conservation associations, projects, foundations and nature parks
Hunting Associations
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