Research

Funding: Verein der Förderer der Wildtierforschung e.V., 13.000 EUR

Project Details:
Wildlife losses are a commonly recognized problem when mowing land for forage and silage production. Although the causes and rates of loss for individual wildlife species are fairly well quantified, the effects of mowing on medium- or long-term population trends have been little studied. This is especially true in light of the increasing cultivation of bioenergy crops in two-crop systems in traditional cropland areas and in areas with intensive grassland management in recent years.
Against this background, it is urgently necessary to look for pragmatic ways of reducing wildlife losses that can be integrated into agricultural work processes by simple means and that promise a high degree of effectiveness. The present concept is based on the use of acoustic game deterrents or sirens, which, for example, attached to a mowing vehicle can lead to the startling of animals present in the mowing area. In order to effectively design such a game deterrent system, it is first necessary to gather the basic theoretical knowledge. In later follow-up projects, this information can be used to develop a practical game siren. The aim of the present study concept is to develop the basics for an acoustic game deterrent in the following work packages. The work packages a and b are designed as literature research :
a. Literature search and presentation of the audible range of target species, i.e., what frequency ranges and sound intensities appear most promising for acoustic game deterrence.
b. Literature search on sound propagation in agricultural areas.
c. Sound measurements in grassland: Here, the sound pressure of suitable frequencies at different heights and distances to the emission source as well as in different dense grass stands will be analyzed in a simple experiment. Since the focus of the study is in Western Europe, the following animal species are defined as target species in the literature study:
° roe deer,
° brown hare,
° wild rabbit,
° pheasant,
° partridge,
° mallard duck
° meadow birds (e.g. lapwing, curlew, oystercatcher)

Funding: Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL); Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung, 7.975 EUR

Project Details:
Development of a multifunctional barn concept for the animal-friendly keeping of dual-purpose chickens and brother cocks from chicks to food

Cooperation Partners:

Hochschule Osnabrück, Tierhaltung und Tierprodukte (Prof. Dr. R. Andersson)

Fachhochschule Südwestfalen, Fachbereich Agrarwirtschaft, Prof. Dr. M. Mergenthaler

Universität Bonn, Institut für Tierwissenschaften, Dr. I. Tiemann

Universität Bonn, Verfahrenstechnik in der Tierischen Erzeugung, Prof. Dr. W. Büscher

Funding: Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur Niedersachsen, 100.630 EUR

Project Details:
Das beantragte Projekt ConnEx adressiert mit den Lehrenden und den technischen wie didaktischen Service- und Support-Einrichtungen an den niedersächsischen Hochschulen zwei für die Dachinitiative Hochschule.digital Niedersachsen strategisch relevante Akteursgruppen und zielt auf eine strategische Förderung der Vernetzung, des Austauschs und Transfers innerhalb dieser Gruppen. Die Projektleitung hat die Leuphana Universität Lüneburg.

Results:

https://hochschuledigital-niedersachsen.de/home/connex-vernetzung-von-expertinnen-und-services/

Cooperation Partners:

Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst, Hochschule für Bildende

Künste Braunschweig; Hochschule Emden/Leer, Hochschule Hannover, Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover, Hochschule Osnabrück, Jade

Hochschule, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Leibniz Universität Hannover,

Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Ostfalia Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Technische Universität Clausthal, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Stiftung Universität Hildesheim, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Universität Osnabrück, Universität Vechta, ELAN e.V.

Funding: Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (MWK) Niedersachsen, 250.000 EUR

Project Details:
The DILEAVET project aims to optimize the existing framework conditions at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover for the design of digital teaching, the examination system and for the teaching of clinical-practical skills, and thus at the same time to create conditions that support the "FERVET" project.

Results:

Im Projekt DILEAVET wurden u. a. folgende Ergebnisse in den 4 Arbeitspaketen (AP) erzielt:

Im AP 1 "Weiterentwicklung von digitalem Schulungsmaterial und -angeboten" wurde ein Vermittlungskonzept erarbeitet. Für die Themenfelder elektronische Prüfungen und digitales Lehren und Lernen wurden bereits bestehende Schulungsmaterialien aktualisiert, neue Anleitungen angefertigt sowie Online-Seminare durchgeführt.

Im AP 2 "Wissenstransfer" wurden Videos angefertigt, welche auf dem YouTube-Kanal der TiHo "TiHoVideos" oder intern zur Verfügung stehen; außerdem wurde u.a. ein virtuelles Mikroskop für das Fach Mikrobiologie für die Studierenden und als OER-Beitrag eine Sammlung zu Modellen erstellt.

Im AP 3 "Entwicklung und Etablierung von Modellen und Lernstationen im CSL" erfolgte eine Entwicklung von Escape-Room-Szenarien und deren Etablierung in Lehrveranstaltungen sowie die Entwicklung und Etablierung von Simulatoren und Lernstationen zum Thema Zier- und Wildvögel-Tierarten.

Im AP 4 "Digitalisierungskonzept zu kommunikativen Kompetenzen" wurden Best-Practice-Videos und Worst-Case-Videos zur Schulung kommunikativer Kompetenzen erstellt.

 

OER-Beitrag auf "twillo"

https://www.twillo.de/edu-sharing/components/render/9a067b21-c565-4894-a380-d2630c8f8fc8

 

TiHoVideos:

https://www.youtube.com/user/tihovideos

 

ENZIG-STROHM A, KNOLL M T, BETTERMANN V, CHODZINSKI A, HEINEMANN I, TIPOLD A, WISSING S, SCHAPER E: Tierschutzgerechte Vermittlung klinisch-praktischer Fertigkeiten. Tierschutztagung 2023, 16.03.2023 - 18.03.2023, München

Funding: Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur Niedersachsen, 25.000 EUR

Project Details:
Im Rahmen des Projektes sollen wichtige, an niedersächsischen Hochschulen im Einsatz befindliche audiovisuelle Systeme zur Videoaufzeichnung und -kommunikation für die Digitale Lehre verbessert, mit Schnittstellen zur interaktiven Nutzung versehen, besser in vorhandene Lernplattformen integriert und ihre Bereitstellung über die Academic Cloud vorbereitet werden.

Results:

Im Rahmen des Verbundvorhabens "Audiovisuelle Systeme und Videoplattform (AVVP)" erfolgten an der Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover Maßnahmen zum langfristigen Einsatz von Opencast; außerdem wurden u.a. diverse Hörsäle bzw. Lehrveranstaltungsräume für die hybride Lehre und für die Aufzeichnung von Veranstaltungen technisch ausgestattet.

https://hochschuledigital-niedersachsen.de/home/audiovisuelle-systeme-und-videoplattform/

Cooperation Partners:

Universität Osnabrück (Projektleitung)

Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen

Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig

Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover

Hochschule Hannover

Hochschule Osnabrück

Jade Hochschule

Ostfalia Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Technische Universität Clausthal

Universität Vechta

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

Funding: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, BSH, 80.857 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the research project is to answer scientific questions related to the effects of offshore wind farms on harbour porpoises in German waters. Therefore, both the sound-related effects on the population of harbour porpoises that occur during construction and the cumulative effects from the construction of offshore wind farms, for which an assessment concept will be developed (FP 2), will be investigated. The objective of this research project is to establish the cause-effect relationship between sound exposure and harbour porpoise occurrence as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of measures used to reduce effects on harbour porpoises (noise mitigation and deterrence). First, underwater noise recordings during the construction of offshore wind farms will be analysed with regard to the noise emission from the pile driving. Based on this data and considering physical area-specific parameters, the sound propagation will be modelled. The modelling enables to estimate noise emissions in the entire study area. A model will be used to determine whether the existing data are sufficient to explain effects on the occurrence of harbour porpoises. In a study, data will be identified, criteria established and, with a model, their applicability tested to investigate cumulative effects of offshore wind farm construction on the occurrence of harbour porpoises.
The work in this project will answer the following questions:
1)How can the effects of anthropogenic noise emissions during the construction of offshore wind turbines on harbor porpoises be assessed cumulatively?
2)Can the collected data on pile-driving noise, deterrence and porpoise detections as well as construction-related shipping sufficiently explain the effect of the construction work on the occurrence of harbour porpoises?
An evaluation that takes into account all constructed wind farms has not been carried out yet, but is imperative in the future, among other things to evaluate the success of the application and further developments of noise mitigation measures. The evaluation of the current noise mitigation concept and state of the art using data and findings from the previous projects make an important contribution to the planning of the upcoming further expansion of offshore wind energy.

Cooperation Partners:

JASCO Applied Sciences

Funding: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie, BSH, 40.256 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the research project is to answer scientific questions related to effects of offshore wind farms on harbour porpoises. Therefore, effects that occur during construction as well as cumulative effects from the construction of offshore wind farms will be investigated and an assessment concept will be developed. First, data from harbour porpoise click detectors are evaluated, which provide important information on the occurrence of harbour porpoises. The objective of this research project is to establish the cause-effect relationship between sound exposure and harbour porpoise occurrence as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of measures used to reduce effects on harbour porpoises (noise mitigation and deterrence).
The work in this project aims to answer the following question:
1)Are the applied noise mitigation measures during the construction of offshore wind farms sufficient to ensure the protection of the harbour porpoise?
An evaluation that takes into account all constructed wind farms has not been carried out yet, but is imperative in order to evaluate the success of the application and further developments of noise mitigation measures. The evaluation of the current noise mitigation concept and the state of the art using data and findings from previous projects make an important contribution to the planning of the upcoming further expansion of offshore wind energy.

Funding: ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Sea), 22.760 EUR

Project Details:
There is an increasing concern on the effects of underwater noise on hearing of cetaceans. However, cochlear frequency maps (i.e. distribution of frequencies along the cochlear spiral within the inner ear) are still lacking for marine mammal species. The aim of this study is to predict the cochlear frequency map for harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), based on morphometrics of the sensory cells of the organ of Corti (hearing organ). Once the map for a species is known, it will be possible to identify the frequencies that are impaired once lesions are found in the inner ear, and have better understanding of the consequences for individual to have a hearing loss in a particular hearing range. In cases of noise-induced hearing loss, it will be possible to extrapolate the characteristics of potential sound sources that have triggered a damage. This map will be a crucial tool for management of the effects of underwater noise on hearing in porpoises, as well as improved decision-making in conservation plans for harbour porpoises and other marine mammals.

Results:

Morell, M., Rojas, L., Caplot, A., Siebert, U. 2022. Prediction of the cochlear frequency maps of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Report to ASCOBANS (reference SSFA-ASCOBANS-2022-002_TiHo)

https://www.ascobans.org/sites/default/files/document/ascobans_ac28_inf8.6_report-cochlear-frequency-maps-hp_0.pdf

Funding: BFG, 9.212 EUR

Project Details:
In this project, a diagnostic examination of nutria shot in 2020 and 2021is carried out, and liver tissue is made available for chemical analysis. For this purpose, 41 individuals from Lower Saxony will be autopsied, including a histologic examination of lung, liver, kidney and spleen tissue. In addition, an individual age determination (adult animal/juvenile animal), sex, nutritional status, general health status and a sampling of liver tissue will be provided. Chemical residue analyses will be carried out by the BFG. The diagnostic findings are presented and summarized in an Excel sheet and final reports per sampling.

Results:

In this project, a diagnostic examination of nutria shot in 2020 and 2021 was carried out, and liver tissue is made available for chemical analysis. For this purpose, 41 individuals from Lower Saxony were autopsied, including a histologic examination of lung, liver, kidney and spleen tissue. In addition, an individual age determination (adult animal/juvenile animal), sex, nutritional status, general health status and a sampling of liver tissue was provided. Chemical residue analyses were carried out by the BFG, the results were not yet reported. The diagnostic findings were presented and summarized in an Excel sheet and final reports per sampling. All animals showed typical traumatic, death-related injuries with histologically recognizable agonal changes in the lungs and the circulatory system. In addition, low-grade diffuse liver lipidoses were found in three animals, and high-grade urolithiasis was found in one animal. Five animals were pregnant females. Chronic interstitial pneumonia with a suspected infectious, presumably viral cause was diagnosed in 27 animals.

Funding: MWK über UMG Göttingen, 44.446 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2) is the causative agent of COVID-19. The course of the COVID-19 pandemic so far has emphatically shown that a coordinated bundling of interdisciplinary and complementary expertise is necessary in order to decode the diverse aspects of the biology, pathology and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 and to use the knowledge gained clinically for the treatment of patients as well as for modeling the course of infection in the population. In order to be able to provide and implement such a holistic approach, the federal state of Lower Saxony offers ideal conditions with its internationally renowned science locations. We are therefore applying for financial support for collaborative research to set up a COVID-19 research network in the state of Lower Saxony (COFONI).