The CSCF receives requests from the Federal Government, the Cantons, private agencies of ecology, scientists and private individuals. The interrogation of the database is ruled by our deontology. Our center is able to inform you on the following groups of the Swiss fauna : invertebrates, fishs, amphibiens and reptiles (managed by the KARCH), mammals (bats managed by KOF, CCO).The results are delivered either as listing (fax, mail), on floppy disc or through e-mail as associated work file. They contain :

1. a catalogue of data (species, township, year, status according red data list, name of observer) summarized according to the district or to surface units (max 2x2 km) for recent data

2. raw data summarized according to the district or to surface units for older data (>20 years) or for already published data

We accept only requests in writing (mail, fax, Email) ; the following information must be given :

- short description and name of principal of planned study

- faunistic groups or species concerned

- concerned area (send a copy of the area's map…)

- your deadline (please allow at least 3 working days)

Our services will be invoiced according to your status. The information is free if the query comes directly from institutions that finance the CSCF, if you are a regular volunteer contributor or if your query is part of a scientific study for which exchange of information with the CSCF is planned. You will have to pay a small fixed sum if you work for a federal or cantonal administration. In all other cases the rate of CHF 120.- per hour is applied.

Questioning is free of fees

You can access two different servers.

With your click on either button, you acknowledge and promise to act according to our copyright conditions and our deontology.

For both servers a help line is available. Click on the button (top left). Prior to your first questioning it is useful to read the help document. You can also access the help document during questioning: click on the wanted topic (blue, underlined) for which you need more information. 

Map Server (maps)		Table Server (listing)

 

Both servers could be created thanks to the support of :

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Distribution maps

Today tracing distribution maps for a species on a national, regional or local level is routine work at the CSCF. These maps are not only useful for distribution atlas, but also for the illustration of inventories, diploma research, scientific publications, eco-faunistic studies.

Potential distribution maps

Maps of observed distribution of any animal depends on field observations and do not always reflect the possible distribution.

It is therefore sometimes useful to visualize the potential distribution which is based on the description of habitats for any given species on a national level (see thematic maps further down).

These predictions are obtained through modelisation in a geographic information system (GIS).

Such models have been used by: Prof. Dr. J. Hausser, Lausanne University, for the Atlas of Swiss Mammals (1995), by the CSCF (see Projects), for distribution models of bats in the canton of Neuchâtel (with C. Jaberg) and for the atlas of Swiss Reptiles (with U.Hofer).

The CSCF makes availbale its modelling tool called GRASP Generalized Regression Analysis and Spatial Predictions). New opportunities created by these methods are rpesented under SPACE 8Spatial Analyses in Conservation and Ecology.

Thematic maps

The CSCF uses special maps on a regular basis ( numeric model of an area, hydrographic net, national and cantonal boundaries, district boundaries, lakes, features of national importance …). These maps are developed by other institutions (GEOSTAT, Federal Office of Statistics, Federal Office of Topography, Federal Office of the Environment …). They are used in the geographic information system (GIS) as background for maps, for statistic models of species distribution and for studies on landscapes and protection of habitats. For copyright reasons, these maps cannot be distributed to a third party. Only special maps developed by the CSCF can be asked for under certain conditions.

Supported by the information in our data base, we can :

- evaluate and compare specific sites, habitats, regions etc.

- verify biological models which need faunistic data on a large scale

- cross-analyse habitats and fauna

- give a statistic analysis and cartographic image of given data

The The CSCF tries to coordinate work on several levels :

- we propose standardized methods for collecting field data

- we help with the creation of your personal faunistic data base

- we participate in the meetings of several groups of field naturalists

- we exchange and distribute information among naturalists through our bulletin and our website.