{"id":758,"date":"2026-07-17T13:50:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T11:50:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/?page_id=758"},"modified":"2026-07-17T14:22:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:22:19","slug":"cfieldresearch-lab-lter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/cfieldresearch-lab-lter\/","title":{"rendered":"FieldResearch Lab (+LTER)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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CUAS operates a unique field research lab in Metschach (Liebenfels), at the border of three Carinthian districts:

Klagenfurt, Feldkirchen, and St. Veit. The area is approximately 15 ha in size, and is owned by the Privatstiftung K\u00e4rntner Sparkasse, who acquired the area in 2023 to protect the long-term research area from intensive farming and husbandry.

Since 1990, the area was leased by the state of Carinthia and has undergone frequent biodiversity research, such as bi-yearly analysis of vegetation and succession. The immense data acquired can now be built upon for many years to come.


The site\u2019s 10-year management plan details ways to create and promote microhabitats, including partial rewetting of the former fen\/bogland. In addition, the plan outlines mowing and grazing guidelines, which will be carried out by a neighboring farmer in consultation with our field engineer, to preserve native plants and contain invasive species.Vegetation analysis will continue with a network of sensors documenting abiotic factors and fauna.
In addition, the lab will serve as a unique research and educational area for both CUAS researchers and students, other institutions and schools, and the interested public.

Between 2023 and 2026, CUAS researchers have tested a wide variety of sensors and methods in the field, including but not limited to: audio sensors for bird and bat assessment; wildlife camera systems to capture vertebrates and insects; drones with different sensory systems, as well as eDNA and physiochemical test kits to survey soil quality and organic communities.

In 2026, a large infrastructure project will bring additional key research instruments to the field. The central component is a field research lab in the form of a container encompassing office space, servers, cooling equipment, batteries, tools, and a sterile bench for conducting genetic research.

Another key component is a certified climate station and associated key measuring equipment, embedding the lab within the Long-Term Ecological Research network (LTER Net), creating knowledge, inspiring solutions, and cultivating learning through inclusive and interdisciplinary long-term ecological research.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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Want to visit our field lab yourself? Want to conduct research? Contact us!<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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Inquiries for general information, excursions & education:
i.svetnik@cuas.at<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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Inquiries on infrastructure, research and husbandry:
g.pirker@cuas.at<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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CUAS operates a unique field research lab in Metschach (Liebenfels), at the border of three Carinthian districts: Klagenfurt, Feldkirchen, and St. Veit. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":265,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-758","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=758"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":828,"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/758\/revisions\/828"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forschung.fh-kaernten.at\/iceb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}