Vertebrate Ecology

Abstract

The course covers the ecology and conservation biology of birds and mammals. Important concepts from physiology, behavioural ecology, population biology, biogeography and community ecology will be linked to applications in conservation and management. A worldwide perspective will be complemented by a focus on the Central European fauna and its dynamics.

Objective

The students are familiar with important topics in animal ecology of vertebrates, with an emphasis on birds and mammals. They are able to link theoretical concepts with ecological phenomena and view them against an evolutionary backdrop. They can thus appraise applied aspects of the conservation and the use of animal populations, such as the influence of food availability on habitat use of birds and mammals, relationships between predators and prey species, or of herbivores on vegetation, and the effects of hunting and landscape change on animal populations. Students understand the biogeographical characteristics of the Central European vertebrate fauna and its temporal and spatial dynamics.

Content

The course deals with a number of main topics that include feeding and resource use, spatial behaviour and migrations, reproduction, population dynamics, competition and predation, parasites and diseases, biodiversity and distributions, and dynamics of the Central European fauna. There is an emphasis on linking theory with management issues in conservation and management of wildlife populations. During the first half of the course, examples will be drawn worldwide whereas during the second half, the course will focus more strongly on the European fauna, particularly of the Alpine region. Although the course is not designed to teach natural history of the native species, examples will cover much of the taxonomic breadth of the European fauna. The course includes a field excursion. Program (KB: Kurt Bollmann, N/A: 2nd lecturer): 26.9.22 Birds and mammals: similarities & differences, endothermy & body isolation, moult in birds (KB+N/A) 03.10.22 Feeding I: Food, metabolism (KB) 10.10.22 Feeding II: Energetic needs, foraging, digestion (KB) 17.10.22 Distribution and habitat use, bird migration (self-study) 24.10.22 Reproduction, litter and clutch size, breeding systems (N/A) 31.10.22 Population dynamics (KB) 07.11.22 Predation, predator-prey-cycles (KB) 14.11.22 Competition (N/A), Parasitism and diseases (self-study) 21.11.22 Biogeography of central European birds and mammals (KB) 28.11.22 Herbivores as landscape engineers (self-study) 05.12.22 Threats to birds and mammals, incl. climate change (KB) 12.12.22 Conservation biology of selected species (N/A) 19.12.22 Exploitation of mammals and birds + pilot test (KB)

Resources