Of lynxes and limetrees: New Insights into the Historical Ecology of the Bavarian Forest on the Threshold of Modernity

TL;DR

This paper investigates the historical ecology of the Bavarian Forest around 1845 using archival records, biodiversity surveys, and early distribution maps to understand past species distributions and inform current conservation.

Contribution

It provides new insights into 19th-century biodiversity documentation and forest composition through analysis of archival sources and early scientific records.

Findings

Documentation of species like Eurasian lynx and capercaillie in 1845

Identification of rare tree species and venerable specimen trees

Historical data supporting long-term environmental change studies

Abstract

This study explores the historical ecology of the Bavarian Forest at the threshold of modernity through the lens of a large-scale biodiversity survey conducted in 1845 across the Kingdom of Bavaria. Focusing on the Forestry Office of Zwiesel, the article analyses archival records that document the distribution of animal and tree species during a period of administrative rationalisation and early scientific systematisation. These sources include official correspondence, detailed species inventories, and early distribution maps compiled under the direction of zoologist Johann Andreas Wagner. The study highlights local and regional observations of fauna, such as the Eurasian lynx, capercaillie, and various freshwater fish, and presents new data on historical forest composition, including the presence of rare tree species and venerable specimen trees such as the "Urwaldtanne" and the "Wolframslinde". By integrating historical ecology, environmental history, and digital humanities, the article sheds light on how 19th-century state institutions, scientific actors, and local knowledge contributed to the early documentation of biodiversity. The findings also offer a basis for long-term environmental comparisons and inform current conservation efforts in the region.