Current projects

Development of an integrated wildlife management concept on a wildlife biological basis using the example of the Hunting Community of the Ore Mountains

The hunting communities in Saxony are given extensive tasks by the amendment to the Saxon hunting law. The present project is intended to show, in the sense of a case study of a large hunting community, how it is possible, even in a competing or even conflict situation with other actors, to perform responsibly these legally prescribed tasks within the management of the locally relevant game species. In the medium term, a wildlife management concept is to be developed for the hunting community, which meets the requirements of agriculture and forestry, nature conservation, animal welfare, tourism and hunting and which is an acceptable solution to everyone involved in this conflict situation between forestry, hunting and species conservation interests.

Representative for all game species being currently the subject of conflicts the focus of the project is on the red deer. It is a classic "umbrella species", which is why a approriate management has a positive impact on many species, including rare or endangered species, such as black grouse, wolf or lynx.

For the Saxon hunters, the results should lead to guidelines on how a large hunting community with its limited available resources can take on responsibility for the game species entrusted to them and thus fulfill their legal mandate. Using the red deer as an example, concrete and feasible recommendations are to be developed with regard to:

the conservation of biodiversity of all species including species-rich and healthy game stands
the appropriate consideration of the claims of all land users, in particular a near-natural forestry within the framework of the management of wildlife
ensuring animal welfare standards
the interplay of hunting, land use and nature conservation, in particular also taking into account the requirements of Natura 2000 sites
joint solutions with the tourism industry with regard to the experience of wildlife as well as the protection of the interests of wildlife
cross-border management of wildlife populations

In the first phase of the project in 2017, the deer population and its development over the last few years are to be quantified according to a specific map of the area under investigation. Furthermore, the landowners and hunters involved are to be informed. The objectives of the landowners, the framework conditions for hunting and the game damage situation as well as the habitat quality are to be assessed for the deer in the study area. The investigation of the spatio-temporal behaviour of the red deer, in particular also with regard to migratory movements between summer and winter ranges or between Saxon and Bohemian territory is planned in a second project phase.

Investigation into the occurrence of Sikawild in Bavaria

Responsible reseacher: Kristin Morgenstern

In addition to the native red deer, there are various occurrences of the sika deer in central Europe, mainly established in the 19th and 20th century. It has long been known that red deer and sika deer can hybridize in sympathetic occurrences and produce fertile offspring. These can also mate in the subsequent generations either among one another or with the respective individuals of both red deer or sika deer. In extreme cases, such as in large parts of Ireland, this can lead to a stable hybrid population in the long term.
In Bavaria there are so far no noteworthy occurrences of sika deer, however, the culling of sika deer has been increasingly reported for some years. A larger occurrence of a few thousand individuals can be found in the west of Bohemia, such as the Karlovy Vary region, so that the individuals shot in Bavaria have presumably immigrated from the stock of sika in the Karlovy Vary region.
The aim of this project is to investigate the extent to which such an immigration actually takes place and whether there are already indications for a hybridisation between red and sika deer in Bavaria. Molecular markers (microsatellite markers and mitochondrial markers) are used to distinguish between the two (sub) species, in addition to the collection of morphological features. For this purpose, corresponding standard protocols for DNA extraction and DNA amplification are firstly established on defined samples of animals from enclosures. practical recommendations for the future are worked out. Subsequently, in Eastern Bavaria (Vogtland, Fichtelgebirge and Bavarian Forest), individuals which were phenotypically classified as red deer, sika deer or suspect are investigated with the help of molecular genetic methods. On the basis of the results, the consequences of possible migration are evaluated for the native red deer and practical recommendations for the future are worked out.

Investigation of stress as a factor influencing feeding impacts by wild ruminants on forest vegetation

Responsible reseacher: Jens-Ulrich Polster

The project is an innovative approach for an improved risk analysis and investigation of stress induced feeding damage by native hoofed game species. Thereby a holistic approach of the causal complex from game density and habitat structure to forestry and hunting management strategies is pursued in the seasonal rhythm. Regeneration areas of the most important forest tree species and stands susceptible to peeling in different spatial structures and mixtures will be investigated regularly on feeding damage by native wild ruminants. Therefore the proportion of cortisol metabolites from faecal samples of the occuring species is determined as a measure of general stress in the laboratory. A comprehensive analysis of the individual habitats in the area of the sample plots should then serve to identify important influencing factors on the stress of the wild animals and the feeding damage caused by them in that area and to make recommendations to reduce this damage. Up to 16 pairs of sample plots with forest regeneration will be selected which differ with respect to the local tree species composition, silvicultural and hunting management and their geographical location. On all sample plots, data are to be collected to elaborate a habitat assessment for the locally-occurring wild ruminant species and for two years feeding damage to the forest regeneration is to be recorded quarterly using a proven sampling procedure (e.g. Bavarian procedure for vegetation assessment). In addition, faecal samples of the occurring wild ruminants are to be collected and the concentration of cortisol metabolites is to be measured in the laboratory as a characteristic of stress on the local population. A camera monitoring on some sample plots will allow statements about the stay frequency and duration, as well as local influencing factors on feeding behaviour.

Preservation of open landscapes through targeted land and wildlife management - integration of Wild Red Deer populations in the Open Land Management (subProject 3)

Coordination by IWGD and several project partners

In the framework of the project the qualitative and quantitative effects of grazing by red deer are to be analyzed for different plant communities in open lands on the Grafenwoehr Military Training Area / Bavaria. On a solid data base the landscape management effectiveness and nature conservation significance of the red deer grazing should be monitored in terms of the conservation status of open land communities. The main task is to find out functional relationships and mechanisms between the activity, grazing in open lands and development of the vegetation to identify control options, as well as problems and limitations of the approach. From the lessons learned and experiences (according to the results) a conceptual framework for the practical implementation of the system 'red deer grazing' should be developed. As a study area two sub-habitats of the military training area were selected at different sites and vegetation types. The project is divided thematically into three areas.

Vegetation ecology: Using an experimental approach, the dynamics of productivity, food quality and food intake should be analyzed and the influence of tending strategies (fire and mowing) be tested. For this purpose, 4 test plots each with 3 treatment options are selected on which a detailed vegetation mapping is carried out several times a year.
Behaviour: In each habitat up to 15 red deer are to be marked with GPS transmitters. The transmitters provide detailed information on the spatio-temporal behaviour and the use of vegetation.
Use of vegetation: For the part of the habitat with the highest intensity of use a separate vegetation survey is recorded by aerial photography and mapping. This is to be extended by a drones based monitoring of seasonal vegetation dynamics and thus provides a detailed basis with high resolution for evaluating the telemetry data.

For more information on this collaborative project with the Institut für Wildbiologie Göttingen und Dresden e.V., click here.

Study on the Ecology of Javan dhole (Cuon alpinus javanicus) in Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia

Cuon alpinus javanicus

(in cooperation with Wildlife Laboratory, Forest Resources Conservation Department, Faculty of Forestry, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Dr. Muhammad Ali Imron)

Responsible reseacher: Sandy Nurvianto

This research project titled “The Study on the Ecology of Javan dhole (Cuon alpinus javanicus) in Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia." This project is aimed to understand the Javan dhole ecology in East Java, Indonesia. Javan dhole is categorized as an endangered C2a(i) by IUCN since the population size estimated to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and either continuing decline, observed, projected or inferred in number of mature individuals and the population structure have no subpopulation estimated to contain more than 1,000 mature individuals.
The scientific information concerning the ecology of this species is really few and the existing data concentrated in India that just covered the small portion of its broad range. The intentions to conserve this species in its natural range are very low since it is deemed as a pest in mostly of its range. Since the Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) became extinct, dhole replace it's position as a top rank predator in the ecosystem of Java Island. The Javan dhole’s role as predator often make it in the difficult position since it kills endangered species as it’s prey such as banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus). However, it's existing as the part of ecosystem is very important.
The management and conservation effort to ensure the sustainability of this species population are absolutely needed. In order to define the appropriate management planning decision, the sufficiently reliable scientific information concerning the ecology of this species is required. The information is including the relationship between dhole and its habitat in the middle of human induced disturbance. The result of this research will give a significant contribution in the process of formulating the management and conservation decisions on this species.
There are four questions that will be answered in my research project:

How are the existing conditions (the current status) of Javan dholes (Cuon alpinus javanicus) population and prey in Baluran National Park (BNP)?
How are their movement behavior inside the park?
How are their responds against the gradients of environmental conditions and anthropogenic disturbance within the park?
How are their diet profiles and feeding habits?

Risk management with integrated monitoring of conservation-related species for the development of roads

Responsible reseacher: Jens-Ulrich Polster

Transport infrastructure projects must take into consideration the context of planning law provisions, inter alia, to a large extent on the nature conservation requirements today.
This is, in many cases, a challenge, especially if we are dealing with complex, and sometimes also contradictory, nature conservation requirements.
For example, it is important to minimize collision events between vehicles and wildlife as much as possible. Dense fences along the roads provide a viable means, but they pose two basic problems. On one hand fences have huge landscape-cutting effects.
The second problem is less easily solved. A (mostly) dense fencing is only possible on the non-crossing roads (e.g. motorways). For lower order roads and most of the railway tracks, this does not apply.
We currently do not know whether short sections with game fences that are broken by sections of areas that are fence-free also result in a reduction of collision events or if these are ineffective or even counterproductive.
The lectureship in Wildlife Ecology and Management employs this example and in the context of the development of the railway Knappenrode-Horka/Polish border with integrated monitoring to deal with uncertainties with regards to project concerns of conservation-related species. These include, in the present case, the wolf, the eagle, and the kites.
Risk management means the development of concepts that integrate the requirements of conservation with those of the roadway support and resolve conservation target internal conflicts as much as possible.
Besides the establishment these policies, long-term monitoring procedures should be reviewed and be established to translate innovative sensophysiological approaches, methods of prevention of collision events between (in this case rail) vehicles and wildlife, and whether and in what form these can be integrated into technically viable solutions.

Studies on adaptability of oak-(Quercus spec. L.) populations under changing climate conditions

(in cooperation with Molecular Ecology of Woody Plants Working Group, Prof. Dr. Doris Krabel)

Responsible researcher: Bayartaa Nyamjav

As a reaction to various case-scenarios and forward-looking statements concerning climate change, forest scientists started to focus their interest on mechanisms of adaptability of tree species and especially to mechanisms of a plant to react on a changing environment. In this context a number of questions have to be solved:

do different populations of a species have different abilities to react challenges like climate change?
if yes, Which are the mechanisms change in which populations are more adaptable than others?
are the most adjusted populations those with the highest adaptability for future ecological conditions?
Which populations will be the most adjusted ones in the future?
Which traits are suitable for measuring adaptability?

Due to their long life span, their attachment to one and the same place and almost a comparably changing environment, the survival of a tree species or tree population critically depends on the capacity to adapt to different environmental situations.
This capacity (adaptability) has to be regarded on the individual or the population level.
At the individual level this capacity is over expressed as a specific phenotype.
Concerning forest trees, there exist a number of possibilities how the plants might react on different situations. The mechanism of abscission leave as one response to drought stress, or the differentiations of wood as a result of mechanical forces are two examples.
At the population level adaptability and adaptedness to a specific environment is over expressed in specific genetic structures. This means that the occurrence of specific genetic variants and their distribution within the population is expressed more than it should be (DUKE and Krabel 2000).
As a result of this strategy, the process of selection by specific morphological and / or physiological subpopulations might be generated. In some cases synthesis subpopulations are adjusted to very specific environmental conditions.
The actual project focuses on the genus Quercus, which has a wide spread in Central Europe and adjust to very different environmental conditions, from the floodplain ecosystems along the rivers with regular flooding every year (Quercus robur, DUKE 1998) to poor, dry soils (Quercus petraea). But it is not known at this time if these two oak species are clearly different biological species. HOWEVER, due to their wide ecological amplitude, oaks are assumed to be an ideal model organism for the present project.

The AIMS of this project are:

Determination of the genetic structures from oak (Quercus sp. L.) populations (seeds) from different extreme sites (floodplain vs. dry)
Evaluation of selection processes by determination of the genetic structures of young seedlings by drought treatment experiments
Determination of the influence of water supply during the induction phase of bud and leaf development and other phenotypic characteristics during the vegetation period
Determination of genetic determination of morphological / anatomical traits by investigating the progeny of different species origins
Evaluation of trait variation of different oak origins, from stands with different water supply and the reaction on varying water supply
Intermediate-term observations on the influence of varying water supply on growth, morphology, anatomy and physiology as well as phenology on the oak origins

The results will allow conclusions about the adaptability capacity of an important forest tree species regarding water availability. Additionally the results of the project will offer the possibility to decide whether selected origins are suitable or not suitable for specific sites which is a precondition for silvicultural management in the frame of climate change.

Renewal of the monitoring of the Electronic wildlife warning systems on the B202 in Schleswig-Holstein