Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Rodents can cause extensive damage in agricultural systems resulting in considerable harvest loss and damage to agricultural infrastructure. In consequence the use of antifeedants or repellents increases world-wide in order to avoid... more
Rodents can cause extensive damage in agricultural systems resulting in considerable harvest loss and damage to agricultural infrastructure. In consequence the use of antifeedants or repellents increases world-wide in order to avoid rodent damage. This seems appropriate because the use of rodenticides might cause environmental problems. Common voles (Microtus arvalis) and house mice (Mus musculus) are major vertebrate pest species in agriculture in Europe. We tested how odor of plant secondary metabolites, semi-natural or synthetic substances, affect the feeding behavior of two different rodent species, focusing on females. We conducted laboratory feeding trials with common voles and house mice. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of nine deterrent herbal substances/combinations and one chemical substance in reducing food intake in common voles and three deterrent herbal compounds in house mice. Interestingly, we found one substance with attractive effect on the feeding behavio...
Feldmäuse (Microtus arvalis) und Hausmäuse (Mus musculus) sind wichtige Schädlingsarten in der Landwirtschaft in Europa. Diese Nagerarten können umfangreiche Schäden in der Landwirtschaft verursachen, was zu erheblichen Ernteverlusten und... more
Feldmäuse (Microtus arvalis) und Hausmäuse (Mus musculus) sind wichtige Schädlingsarten in der Landwirtschaft in Europa. Diese Nagerarten können umfangreiche Schäden in der Landwirtschaft verursachen, was zu erheblichen Ernteverlusten und Schäden an der landwirtschaftlichen Infrastruktur führt. Folglich wird weltweit verstärkt an der Entwicklung von Repellentien, (fraßabschreckende Substanzen) gearbeitet, um Nageschäden zu vermeiden. Der Einsatz von Repellentien wird zunehmend wichtiger, da die Verwendung von Rodentiziden zu Umweltproblemen führen kann, bzw. manche Populationen bestimmter Nagetierarten resistent gegen bestimmte chemische Substanzen der Rodentizide werden können. Wir führten Fütterungsversuche im Labor mit sekundären Pflanzenstoffen, halb-natürlichen oder synthetischen Substanzen an Feldmäuse und Hausmäusen durch. Ziel des Projektes ist es, fraßabschreckende Stoffe zu finden, um Nagetiere abzuwehren und damit die Schäden für die Landwirte zu mindern. Wir untersuchten...
The evaluation of the distribution of large herbivores in forest communities is an important question for animal ecology, forestry and management. The distribution of animals is often directly connected to their feeding habitat. However,... more
The evaluation of the distribution of large herbivores in forest communities is an important question for animal ecology, forestry and management. The distribution of animals is often directly connected to their feeding habitat. However, feeding habitat selection is influenced by a variety of different parameters, ranging from forest characteristics to human impacts. This project focuses on factors influencing feeding habitat selection by Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Lüneburger Heide, Germany. Next to browsing damage (as a dependent variable), different parameters such as tree density, tree heights, ground vegetation, but also possible human impacts and landscape features were recorded. Factors influencing browsing on beech (Fagus sylvatica), which can be regarded as a forestally target species and birch (Betula spec.), which is representing an alternative food resource to beech, were analyzed by a modelling approach. Our results reveal that br...
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Research Interests:
ABSTRACT The co-evolved relationship between the chemical composition of plants and herbivory is fundamental in understanding diet selection of herbivores and their impacts on plants and ecosystems. However, the impact of plant secondary... more
ABSTRACT The co-evolved relationship between the chemical composition of plants and herbivory is fundamental in understanding diet selection of herbivores and their impacts on plants and ecosystems. However, the impact of plant secondary chemistry on mammalian herbivory is not fully understood. We investigated seasonal influences of phenolics with low molecular weight (e.g., flavonoids, salicylates) and plant morphology of the tea-leaved willow (Salix phylicifolia L.) on moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) foraging. We analysed the relationship of different phenolic compounds in twigs and browsing in winter, and in leaves and the degree of leaf stripping in summer, and the role of plant morphology. In winter, higher concentrations of phenolics, e.g., myricetin-related compounds (belonging to the flavonoids), had a negative impact on herbivory by moose. This impact was not associated with a single compound but instead seemed to be more a result of synergistic or additive effects of different compounds. In contrast, the models for summer browsing showed a pronounced effect of plant morphology. Our analyses reveal differences in the relative importance of phenolics of low molecular weight and plant morphology on diet selection between seasons. These findings are relevant for understanding feeding decisions and mechanisms deterring mammalian herbivores known for shaping the vegetation on the ecosystem level.