Past Events

With two thirds of fish species on the red list, and up to 90% of the potential distribution of fishes being impacted by anthropogenic threats, Switzerland is facing an important challenge in terms of conservation. One of the main factors impacting fish populations is the lack of connectivity. With ... [more]

The African landscapes are rapidly changing with deforestation progressing everywhere. The African straw-coloured fruit bat, which aggregates in huge colonies is arguably the most numerous mammal of Africa and with it's unparalleled seed dispersal distances a key ecosystem provider. However, it also ... [more]

In animal groups, individual differences in morphology, physiology, and behavior can significantly influence how collective decisions are made during tasks such as foraging, predator avoidance, and roost searching. This talk will focus on the disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor), a species that ... [more]

I will describe observational and experimental studies focusing on social network dynamics in the rock hyrax and spotted hyena, as well as simple models of the dynamics of social networks. These studies highlight sociality at different scales, from seconds to years, and demonstrate the flexibility ... [more]

Through my PhD, I investigated a remarkable phenomenon of brain plasticity in the common shrew, focusing on how its brain adapts structurally and functionally to seasonal changes. The common shrew undergoes what is known as Dehnel’s phenomenon, a seasonal adaptation where brain and body sizes ... [more]

Geographic differences in vocalisations provide strong evidence for animal culture, with patterns likely arising from generations of social learning and transmission. The current knowledge on the evolution of vocal variation has predominantly focused on fixed repertoire, territorial song in ... [more]

Across taxa, social groups compete for territories and the resources they provide, engaging in interactions that pose significant fitness risks. Yet, the outcomes of intergroup conflicts are not fixed; individuals can mitigate these risks through within-group cooperation, allowing groups to gain ... [more]

Cognitive phenotypes of animals are shaped by the challenges they face throughout their lives and across evolutionary time. However, much cognitive research has focused on captive animals, largely divorcing them from these challenges. In this talk, I will present two lines of research investigating ... [more]

The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an iconic endangered species of the Galapagos archipelago which faces mounting anthropogenic threats. During the last three decades, much has been learned about the species from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. However — due to significant ... [more]

Migratory divides are junctures where populations of the same species following different migratory routes intersect. In white storks (Ciconia ciconia) migration strategies differ between the western and eastern flyways, yet the factors influencing flyway selection remain unclear. In this study, I ... [more]