For over a century, it was assumed that only the European minnow occurred in Europe. Today, however, it is clear that “minnows” are a species complex that encompasses many genetic lineages. Even in Austria there is not only one minnow species. At least four species can be found in domestic waters. These species are endangered not only by the introduction of out-of-state relatives, but also by a number of environmental changes, with climate change playing a particularly important role for these cold-loving fish.

In October 2022, the project “Biodiversity of Minnows” will start, which is part of the funding program “Sparkling Science 2.0” (Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research). The project team, led by the Natural History Museum Vienna, will work together with students and fishermen to gain new scientific insights into the distribution and diversity of minnows in Austria. Join in!