Research on the pulse of the time

Wildlife and hunting research as an applied research discipline has a special meaning when working on practice-oriented issues. Despite the wealth of knowledge acquired by the wildlife biological scientific community in recent decades, innovative research approaches need to be applied to answer outstanding research questions. Based on research results, the transfer of knowledge into practice is of immense importance to draw a more complete overall picture of the wildlife species in order to preserve and manage wildlife appropriate for the respective species.

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Insight into our research

Our research fields

Our chair deals with the biology and ecology of wildlife in different ecosystems as the basis for the development of targeted management measures in nature conservation, forestry, agriculture and hunting. A particular focus of interest is the conservation of zoo and phytodiversity. Moreover, the man plays an essential role, which is also the subject of our research in dealing with wildlife.

Current Projects

The current research involves projects which investigate the impact on game species caused by humans. Furthermore, one research question aims on how large herbivore species, on the one hand, can be used sustainably and, on the other hand, can be used purposefully to preserve biodiversity as well as how the effects of railway and road traffic on ungulate species and predators can be reduced. The most recent project deals with the question of whether there are hybridisations between two biological deer species in Bavaria.

Publications

The publications recently published deal with the hunting of red deer hinds under legal animal welfare aspects, feeding ecology, activity patterns and the denning behaviour of the Javan dhole and possible hybridisation between species of deer.

Research Focus

BIODIVERSITY

Stability criteria in forest ecosystems
Genetic diversity and biodiversity in forest ecosystems

WILDLIFE BIOLOGICAL BASICS

Wildlife genetics, in particular molecular genetics, cytogenetics inclusive to ecological genetics
Evolutionary biology
Population biology
Physiology
Ethology
Sociobiology
Wildlife diseases and their epidemiology

NATURE CONSERVATION

Management of endangered animal and plant species within and outside protected areas
Reintroduction of endangered and extinct species

WILDLIFE AND FOREST

Ecophysiology and eco-ethology of endemic hoofed game species
Wildlife management in forest ecosystems, especially wildlife stock inventory, biologically appropriate game densities/abundance, game damage prevention
Quality management, certification

HUMAN AND WILDLIFE

Socio-economic aspects of the use of wild animals in different regions of the world
Wildlife utilization as part of forest management concepts
Wildlife utilization and conservation
Wildlife management in large protected areas
Human history and hunting
Ethics and hunting
Hunting culture, hunting equipment, hunting rights
Environmental communication and environmental education