Am 18. – 19.März 2027 organisieren wir die Tagung Dynamische Stadt:Ökologie am Fachbereich Umwelt & Biodiversität der Universität Salzburg.
Für mehr Informationen auf den Link klicken.
Behaviour and Physiology of Small Mammals
We are interested how species adjust to their environment. These environments can be the diverse conditions animals encounter in different climatic regions or the novel and variable habitats they face in cities.
In one of our projects, we are studying the influence of different drivers of urbanisation, like light and sound pollution, on the behaviour and physiology of shrews and mice. We are also interested in animal vocalisation, where we analyse the twittering calls of shrews and the ultrasonic vocalisation of house mice.
To answer our questions, we use classic behavioural experimentation, the recording and analysis of acoustic data as well as the measurement of metabolic rates and hormonal levels. Most of our experimental work is done on wild-caught small mammals, which we bring into short-term captivity. To understand the influence of captivity on wild animals, we are currently analysing the adjustment of wild-caught mice to the laboratory environment. At this moment, our work is conducted mainly in Portugal, in collaboration with the research group Ecophysiology of Small Mammals at the University of Lisbon.
Current research topics
- Impact of urbanization on small mammals
- Consequences of captivity on wild-caught small mammals
- Twittering of shrews
- Ultrasonic vocalisation of house mice, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology
- Sustainability project at the University of Lisbon, Portugal: DOMUS – housing and getting to know the biodiversity of the Faculty of Sciences up close
Opportunities for theses (BSc or MSc)
Interest in a BSc or MSc thesis in my group? Just talk to me!
Current available MSc projects
- The infuence of traffic noise on field activity patterns in small mammals
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Post-fire recolonisation by the Iberian water shrew (Neomys anomalus)
Mus musculus © Christine Pfeifle
