Seminar Series: Environment & Biodiversity
Focus on Current Research: From evolutionary biology and ecology to climate change, environmental issues, and biodiversity trends.
The lectures are open to the public – welcoming university staff, students, and anyone interested.
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Winter Term
Upcoming Event
Friday, 30 October 2026, 2:00 p.m. | Faculty of Natural Sciences, Seminar Room 424, 2nd floor
Katharina Prager, MSc (Austrian Academy of Sciences)
Host: Dr. Noreen Mutoro
Lecture: Acoustic signals as a behavioural ecology tool – what can calls tell us about cheetah behaviour?
Acoustic signals convey a wide range of information and are particularly important for communication over medium and long distances, as well as in densely vegetated habitats. Cheetahs also use vocalisations to communicate, producing very high-frequency calls known as chirps. In addition to their role in information transmission, these calls may also serve a concealment function, allowing cheetahs to remain undetected by prey or competitors.
Using cheetah chirps as an example, the lecture will explore how animals’ vocalisations are shaped by their respective ecological niches.
The event will provide fascinating insights into the acoustic communication of predators and demonstrate how studying animal vocalisations can help us better understand the relationships between communication, behaviour, and ecological adaptation.
About the Speaker
Katharina Prager is a PhD candidate in the Mammal Communication Research Group, led by Dr Angela Stöger. Her research focuses on the acoustic communication of predators and its social and ecological dimensions. In her current work, she investigates the adaptive function of cheetah vocalisations.
Research Areas
Behavioural Biology, Behavioural Ecology, Acoustic Communication in Cheetahs
Further Upcoming Events
Friday, 20 November 2026, 2:00 p.m.
Faculty of Natural Sciences (NLW), Seminar Room 435, 3rd Floor
Rod Peakall, PhD (Australian National University)
Research areas: Evolutionary Biology, Pollination Biology, Genetic Analysis, Chemical Ecology
Host: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Dötterl
Freitag, 27. November 2026, 14:00 Uhr
NLW-Fakultät, Seminarraum 413, 1. OG
Lena Graf, MSc (Universität für Bodenkultur, Wien)
Forschungsfelder: Fischökologie, Naturschutz (LIFE-Boat-4-Sturgeon)
Host: Sarah Wagner, MSc
Friday, 4 December 2026, 2:00 p.m.
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Seminar Room 434, 3rd floor
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Biol. Dr rer. nat. Harald Meimberg (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna)
Research Area: Integrative Conservation Research
Host: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jan Christian Habel
Friday, 11 December 2026, 2:00 p.m.
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Seminar Room 413, 1st floor
Dr Nora N Hanson (University of Salzburg, Department of Environment and Biodiversity)
Host: Assoz.-Prof. Dr. Jana Petermann
Friday, 15 January 2027, 2:00 p.m.
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Seminar Room 434, 3rd floor
Dr C. Ruth Archer (University of Münster)
Research Area: Evolutionary Biology
Host: Julia Witter, MSc.
Friday, 22 January 2027, 2:00 p.m.
Faculty of Natural Sciences (NLW), Seminar Room 424, 2nd Floor
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmitt (Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg)
Research areas: Evolution of Chemical Communication in Insects, Evolution of Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profiles in Insects, Functional Aspects of Chemical Interactions between Animals and Plants
Host: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Stefan Dötterl
Friday, 29 January 2027, 2:00 p.m.
Faculty of Natural Sciences (NLW), Seminar Room 424, 2nd floor
Dr Leonie Baier (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands)
Research Areas: Artificial Intelligence and Biodiversity, Bioacoustics, Sensory Ecology, Bat Research
Host: Dr. Sophie von Merten
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