Kontakt

The “polyandry revolution” has transformed our understanding of mating systems by revealing that multiple mating is widespread. Birds, especially passerines (Passeriformes), are a key model for studying postcopulatory sexual selection: social monogamy predominates, yet rates of extra-pair paternity vary enormously among species. This diversity enables powerful comparative analyses, complemented by multi-year, multi-generation datasets from single species that help unravel the evolutionary significance of female promiscuity. With largely non-invasive ejaculate collection now feasible, attention has shifted to sperm evolution and to interactions between sperm and the female reproductive tract. In this talk, I also address postmating isolation as an increasingly recognised component of the early stages of speciation in promiscuous birds.

Rabies remains a significant but preventable public health problem in Uganda, with domestic dogs serving as the primary reservoir for human infections. This talk presents an overview of rabies control efforts in Uganda, drawing on findings from both quantitative and qualitative studies. Key interventions discussed include mass dog vaccination as the cornerstone of rabies elimination, the availability and use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and the role of diagnostic infrastructure in strengthening surveillance and case confirmation. The presentation also highlights community awareness, health-seeking behavior, and sociocultural factors influencing rabies prevention and control. Framed within a One Health approach, the talk emphasizes the importance of coordinated action across human and animal health sectors, improved data integration, and community engagement to achieve sustainable rabies control and progress toward elimination in Uganda.

Arboreal locomotion is precarious and places multiple challenges upon stability. Previous studies have shown that captive primates respond to narrower and steeper supports by flexing limb joints and adopting a compliant gait. To better understand how wild primates navigate complex forest canopies, we combined two- and three-dimensional kinematic analyses of quadrupedalism and leaping across a broad phylogenetic sample, including platyrrhines, catarrhines, and strepsirrhines. Using modified GoPro cameras in natural habitats, we quantified limb joint kinematics, substrate diameter, orientation, and compliance, and developed a field-based 3D motion capture workflow to reconstruct leap trajectories and performance metrics. Our findings highlight the importance of field-based biomechanics and show that wild primates not only adjust to substrate constraints but can also manipulate compliant supports to improve locomotor performance.

Although communication rarely occurs in isolation, most of bioacoustics research has focused on individual calls or cues recorded under controlled conditions. However, animals in their natural environments communicate using a diversity of cues, transmitted across different modalities, and within complex social contexts. Until recently, these dynamics were difficult to study, but new recording technologies and analytical tools now enable a more integrated approach to studying animal communication. In this talk, I will highlight our recent work that pushes beyond traditional approaches, by integrating new methods and broader perspectives. Using examples from marmosets, lemurs and alpaca, I will show how we: (1) use robust and efficient data collection (animal-mounted sensors) and analytical methods (machine learning approaches); (2) examine vocal sequences to reveal structure and interaction patterns; and (3) incorporate social and contextual information to better understand how communication is embedded within group dynamics. I will end with a forward-looking view on combining these approaches – linking multimodal, multi-animal, multi-sensor data with automated protocols, to build a richer, more integrated understanding of animal communication.

Birds of the family Corvidae (crows, jays, magpies, and nutcrackers) are infamous for their behavioral, social, and cognitive complexity, but their ecological role is less known. In Central Europe, the vast majority of Corvids are prolific food hoarders, with some seed-hoarding specialists that play an important role in forest dynamics and resilience. Unfortunately, some species also cause damage to agricultural crops and are thus actively hunted in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. In this talk, I will first explore the ecological role of Corvids around the world, investigate the evidence for their positive and negative impact on ecosystems and agriculture, and provide an overview of the yearly number of birds killed in these three countries. Based on this quantitative foundation, I will then address the question whether current hunting practices can be justified from an ecological perspective and actually have the desired impact of reducing damages to crops and beyond.

Mammals increasingly navigate environments where multiple pressures (shifting land use, changing resource distributions, climatic variability, and predator presence) interact to shape the balance between risk, opportunity, and physiological demands. Behavioural adjustments in such settings arise from negotiating trade-offs rather than optimizing any single factor.

Research along urbanization gradients illustrates this interplay. Human presence, anthropogenic resources, and novel artefacts jointly reshape decision-making contexts for wildlife. Through camera-trap experiments using simulated human cues, standardized “rubbish-bin” setups, and exposures to artificial objects, it becomes possible to examine how diverse mammals adjust antipredator behaviour, foraging strategies, and responses to novelty across differently developed areas. Together, these perspectives reveal how animals weigh caution against exploitation in human-modified environments.

In mountain ecosystems, other constraints dominate. Cold-adapted species such as the alpine chamois must balance thermal requirements, forage availability, and predation risk in mountain systems that are simultaneously warming and experiencing the renewed expansion of large predators. Integrating fine-scale weather measurements, remotely sensed vegetation data, wolf telemetry, and high-resolution movement and body-weight records allows investigation of how chamois distribute their activity within a landscape shaped by thermal, trophic, and predatory pressures.

Across these contexts, a unifying pattern emerges: mammalian behaviour reflects the continual balancing of competing demands in dynamic environments. Viewing behavioural ecology through this integrative lens provides a coherent framework for understanding and anticipating responses to a changing world.