Prof. Dr. Dana Schabo

Research interest

Movement ecology of birds, mutualistic interaction networks, population genetics, applied conservation

The aim of my research is to understand how individuals, species and communities persist in a complex human-dominated environment. One research focus is the movement ecology of raptors and passerines. In different projects, we investigate how individuals adapt their movement to the environment, which factors influence movement decisions, and how this differs between species or functional guilds. Moreover, I am interested in the impact of human land-use on mutualistic interaction networks. Thereby, I am especially interested in seed dispersal processes by frugivorous birds and mammals in subtropical and temperate forests. I also use population genetic and genomic analyses to complement field ecological data, e.g. to resolve past and present population dynamics of plant and animal species.

Methods
Field data, telemetry, bird banding, population genetics and genomics

Focal taxa
Vultures, raptors, passerines, woody plants of subtropical and tropical forests, small mammals

Research areas
South Africa, Hesse, Białowieza Forest (Poland), Bale Mountains