Leibniz-IZW-Seminars
The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research regularly organizes scientific seminars on various topics, in which invited speakers or IZW scientists present their work in the form of a lecture. The free lectures take place in the lecture hall of the IZW and are also broadcast live via video.
Interested persons are cordially invited to attend the Leibniz-IZW-Seminars in person or online. You are welcome to sign up for our newsletter at izwseminar@izw-berlin.de. The lectures will be held mostly in English.
Upcoming events
10th December 2025, 1 p.m.
Prof. George Gale (King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi)
Land use and wildlife coexistence: the use of salt pans by shorebirds in a key salt producing area in the Inner Gulf of Thailand
There are few modern examples of wildlife successfully utilizing production landscapes. One such example is the use of coastal salt pans (salt farms) by shorebirds. Salt pans have been recognized as alternative shorebird habitat for some time, but factors influencing shorebird use of these man-made wetlands are less studied, and even less is known about how management practices impact shorebird use. Additionally, salt farmers increasingly employ high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheeting to enhance salt yield and quality, which likely impacts use. We examined how water management practices, and other environmental and disturbance variables affected shorebird use in the Inner Gulf of Thailand, a key salt producing area. 363 managed salt pans/ponds were surveyed (Nov 2024-April 2025), 30 shorebird species (including critically endangered and endangered species) roosted and 22 species fed in 183 ponds. Pond management type (storage, evaporation, harvesting, HDPE) had the largest effect on shorebird abundance. Storage and evaporation ponds were most used, but use varied by shorebird size. Harvest ponds were used less regardless of shorebird size, while HDPE ponds were rarely used. Species richness and detection rates differed among pond types also depending on shorebird size. Other factors influencing use included bund vegetation cover (negatively correlated), distance to nearest building (positive) and distance to feeding site (negative) for short-medium-legged shorebirds, while long-legged species were influenced by pond salinity (negative) and distance to feeding site (negative). Value of salt pan habitat for shorebirds could probably be further enhanced by promoting incentives focusing on water management, whilst further studies are needed on the socioeconomics of HDPE use to avoid conversion of salt pans to less bird-friendly habitats.
14th January 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Lara Naves Alegre (University of Granada / Miguel Hernández University)
Integrating behavioural perspectives: From scavenger community dynamics to large carnivore conservation
Abstract follows
28th January 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Veronika Braunisch (Forest Research Institute Baden-Württemberg)
Interactions between recolonizing large carnivores and mammal communities based on long-term camera trap data
Abstract follows
10th February 2026, 1 p.m.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Ziegler (University of Cologne, Institute of Zoology, Köln)
Title and abstract follows
Contact
Organization
Constanze Wiechert
Tel: +49(0) 30 5168-336
E-Mail: wiechert@izw-berlin.de, izwseminar@izw-berlin.de
Technical support
Dorina Meneghini
Tel. +49(0)30 5168-340
E-Mail: meneghini@izw-berlin.de
Christine Reusch
Tel. +49(0)30 5168-123
E-Mail: reusch@izw-berlin.de
Accounting
Stefanie Lenz
Tel: +49(0)30 5168-459
E-Mail: lenz@izw-berlin.de
Last Update: 9th December 2025