Professional Interests

Much of my research centres on mechanisms of how vertebrate animals use their habitat and how they feed, and how they influence their prey populations. As my present (ungulate herbivory) and former (avian piscivory) study systems often involve human-wildlife conflicts, I try to link basic research with the needs of practical problem solving. Similarly, I am interested in how scientific results of conservation biology studies can be used for conservation planning and policy formulating.

Current Position

Programme manager 'Forest-Wildlife-Landscape'
Deputy head of Section Biodiversity within the Department Landscape at WSL

Current Projects

Managing the WSL research program 'Forest-Wildlife-Landscape', which aims at understanding interactions between wildlife, man and landscape. Particularly, we study how browsing by ungulates (mainly red deer Cervus elaphus, chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, and roe deer Capreolus capreolus) drives long-term forest dynamics. We also look at how human activities in forests affect sensitive species, using forest grouse (mainly capercaillie Tetrao urogallus) as model organisms. Results should facilitate sustainable forest and wildlife management. We believe in involving decision makers at an early stage, and run a stakeholders' platform that will develop regional game management guidelines.

Previous research/employments:

1993 –1998:   Senior Assistant/lecturer with the Chair for Nature and Landscape Protection, Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ), based at the Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL.

• Landscape structures and habitat use by vertebrates
• Models of animal distribution
• National nature conservation policy

1985 – 1992:   Project manager at the Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach.

• Piscivory by overwintering cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo in Switzerland (mechanisms and impacts) Cormorant Research Group
• Population trends and habitat selection of overwintering waterfowl in Switzerland (within the international monitoring scheme run by Wetlands International, Wageningen NL)

1982 – 1985:   Text author in the 14-volume project 'Handbuch der Vögel Mitteleuropas' (eds. Prof. U.N. Glutz von Blotzheim, Dr. K. Bauer)

1983 – 84:   Postdoctoral research fellow at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, South Africa:

• Breeding biology in marine terns (particularly Swift tern Sterna bergii)

1976 – 1982:   Masters thesis, graduate studies, and Ph.D. thesis at the University of Berne (Prof. U. N. Glutz von Blotzheim, Prof. P. Tschumi):

• Feeding strategies, resource use and grazing impact of overwintering diving ducks (Aythya, Bucephala) and coot (Fulica atra)

Teaching

Currently an undergraduate course in animal ecology at the forestry department of the Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETHZ) . See also: List of available themes for diploma theses; list of diploma and Ph.D. theses supervised

Other professional activities

include or have included serving on the board of / as representative to / as expert for / as committee member of …
Swiss Biodiversity Forum,
Swiss Academy of Science sc/nat,
Swiss Zoological Society SZG,
Wetlands International (Wageningen, NL),
Ala - Swiss Ornithological Society,
Swiss Avifaunistic Commission, Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (BUWAL)
…and reviewing manuscripts for various ecological and ornithological journals

Other interests (when there is time left)

Karate, growing rare native plants in our garden, travelling, bird and mammal watching (preferably in the more remote parts of the world), enjoying good food and wine (preferably in the less remote parts of the world).