Subjects
and Projects
- The Spotted Hyaena Project (more)
Both field research and laboratory work as part of a long-term
project on the evolutionary ecology of spotted hyaenas in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater
and contribute to answering fundamental and applied questions in evolutionary
ecology. The basis is the careful observation of individually distinguished
animals, which can be identified by their unique spot patterns, and the
documentation of the individual life history of several hundreds of hyaenas.
- Chronoecology (more)
Experimental and methodical work of the work group chronoecology is oriented
on mutual interrelations between wild animals and their environment ("Umwelt"
in the sense of v.Uexküll), especially regarding human influence.
Connected are questions about animal welfare for free living animals,
how welfare problems can be identified and solved.
Temporal and spatial patterns can be used for judgements about living
conditions of individuals and groups and for prognostics. Scanning for
patterns in ecological processes may be a useful strategy to recognise
influences and to develop predictions about changes (Harvey et al. 1983).The
recognition and evaluation of complex patterns in ecological systems is
an important addition to causal analysis and its importance and power
was rather underestimated (Lawton 1996, Wiener 1995). Accordingly, analysis
of spatial and temporal variability of biological processes should find
more attention in descriptions of stressful situations and predictions
about consequences (Green 1979). This ecological approach follows the
idea of a "predictive ecology" (Peters 1991) on the organisational
level of individuals.
This requires investigations on original behavioural adaptations amd
the temporal and spatial niches of species.
- Physiological strategies of food consumption and food processing (more)
- The Sac-Winged Bat Project (more)
- The European Bat Migration Project (more)
- Niche Plasticity in Neotropical Bats (more)
- Feeding Ecology and Metabolic Physiology of Plant-feeding
Bats (more)
- The role of odours for mate choice and social
structure in Noctilio albiventris, the lesser Bulldog
bat (more)
- Blood-sucking bugs as a gentle method for
blood-collection in worm-blooded animals (more)
- The Cheetah Project (more)
In this project biologists and veterinarians collaborate closely
and fieldwork is done by using state-of-the-art methods to gain
new insights on reproduction, general health status and behaviour
of free-ranging Namibian cheetahs living on commercial farmland.
For this, individual recognition of the animals and knowledge of
their life history are important requirements.
- Brown Hare Project
The European brown hare (Lepus europaeus), once widely distributed
and intensely hunted, has become rare in many parts of Germany.
During the past years, this popular mammal has been classified as
endangered in the Red List of Endangered Species in several German
states. There is substantial controversy around several factors
for the dramatic decline, yet many essential facets of hare biology
and population dynamics remain unknown and require clarification.
The main focus of our research is the investigation of factors
influencing population densities of brown hares, particularly social
and reproductive tactics.
Projects:
- Influence of agricultural land use and habitat changes on
hare populations in the Biosphärenreservat Schorfheide-Chorin
(collaboration with Dipl.-Biol. Sarah Fuchs, Naturschutzhof
Brodowin)
>>>> more
- Mate choice, reproductive behaviour and reproductive physiology
in European hares g superfetation (collaboration
with RG 2, 4 and 5)
- Influence of health status on the survival of juvenile hares
(research project of RG 3 and Prof. Dr. Pohlmeyer und Dr. Strauss, Institut
für Wildtierforschung, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover
- The Eurasian Otter Project (more)
The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra L.) is one of the most endangered
mammalian species in Europe. We lack information about population
density, spatial patterns, reproduction, causes and proportion of
mortality and parameters for habitat quality which are necessary
for actions in conservation and control of their success. So a pilot
project was launched in the nature park "Nossentiner / Schwinzer
Heide" (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). A new non-invasive
method will improve our knowledge on otter populations causing less
stress for the animals.
- The Spotted Hyaena (more)
A general survey of the hunters of the Serengeti
- Game-Meat Hunting (more)
1. Illegal game-meat hunting in the Serengeti ecosystem and its impact
on the spotted hyaena population
2. Optimality model: costs and benefits of game-meat hunting in the Serengeti
- Movement of Elephants and other Wildlife in the Selous-Niassa Wildlife-Corridor
(more)
The Selous-Niassa Project
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