Department of Evolutionary Ecology

Evolutionary ecology research for species conservation

The Department Evolutionary Ecology investigates the influence of social, ecological and anthropogenic environments on the survival and reproductive success of wild animals. Ultimately, we aim to evaluate the adaptability of free-ranging wildlife populations to environmental changes such as climate and land use changes. We focus on long-term field studies in Europe and Africa, where we investigate multiple generations of individuals with known life-histories. We use high-throughput GPS and telemetry for spatial tracking alongside behavioural and physiological biologging. We apply minimally-invasive methods such as stable isotopes and nutritional analyses; services we also offer to external collaborators. >> More information

Selected projects of the department

Behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology of the spotted hyena population in the Ngorongoro Crater

How – and how well – do group-living animals respond to social and environmental change? To address this question, we study the evolution of social behaviour and behavioural and evolutionary processes shaping the life history and fitness of group-living animals using an entire population of wild spotted hyenas (eight groups, more than 2500 individuals) that we have been monitoring since 1996 and for which we compiled an almost complete genetic pedigree across nine generations.

Movement ecology of common noctule bats in anthropogenic landscapes

The research of this project is dedicated to the questions of how highly mobile species such as the common noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) survive in intensively used farmland or in city landscapes and which factors influence individual behaviour and local populations.

GAIA Initiative @ Leibniz-IZW — a research, conservation and technology cluster

The GAIA Initiative’s vision is to advance our understanding of selected carnivore and scavenger species in human-impacted ecosystems and to utilize this knowledge to solve real-world conservation problems — by using sentinel animals in early-warning systems for environmental change and critical ecological incidents. To achieve this, GAIA harnesses the full potential of technology to enable rapid and reliable wildlife research for conservation, using and developing high-throughput telemetry, biologging, and machine learning to form a globe-spanning network of animal, human, and artificial intelligence. GAIA implements these systems directly with partners to maximise conservation impact.

Evidence-based solutions for the farmer-cheetah conflict in Namibia

Conflicts between humans, their livestock and carnivores are globally widespread. Developing sustainable solutions is challenging, particularly for threatened carnivore species. We demonstrate with the example of cheetahs in Namibia how detailed information on spatial movements of cheetahs can be used by farmers to adapt their cattle management. This results in substantial decrease of cattle losses and thus in reduced killing of cheetahs by farmers.