Research

Comparison of social calls between sympatric bat species of the genus Carollia and their function as species-specific recognition mechanism

Sozialrufe sympatrischer Fledermausarten der Gattung Carollia und ihre Funktion als artspezifischer Erkennungsmechanismus

Project Investigators: PD Dr. Sabine Schmidt; Tania Bosia

Duration: October 2015 until September 2022

Funding: DAAD, 2.507 EUR

Project Details:
The bat genus Carollia, belonging to the family Phyllostomidae, is largely widespread in Central and South America and the species Carollia perspicillata, C. sowelli and C. castanea are known to occur sympatrically in some parts of these regions. These species are very similar in morphology and feeding habits. Moreover, they possess a polygynous social organization, with males defending roosting sites and attracting females in their harem.
It is suggested that vocalizations may play a fundamental role as premating isolation barrier in sympatrically living, cryptic species. This study aims at the comparison of the context-specific social call repertoires in the three Carollia species to evaluate their role as mechanism for maintaining species diversity. Especially, we hypothesize that vocalization from the courtship context differ more among species than those from e.g. agonistic interactions, and that bats are able to discriminate between sister species based on their vocalizations.

Results:

Bosia T., Villalobos F, and Schmidt S (2021) Evidence for vocal diversity during physical interference at the perch in sympatric Carollia species (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae): a key to social organization and species coexistence? Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab040/6327516.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Federico Villalobos, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Herediea, Costa Rica

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Spreading of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to different body tissues of the pig during acute phase of infection

Untersuchungen zum Nachweis von Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in verschiedenen Organen des Schweins während der akuten Infektionsphase

Project Investigators: Dr. Doris Höltig; Dr. Jochen Meens; Dr. Judith Rohde

Duration: December 2015 until End 2022

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Analysis of uroliths of guinea pigs

Harnsteinanalyse bei Meerschweinchen

Project Investigators: Reuschel; Fehr; Pees

Duration: Beginning 2014 until End 2022

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Consortium - cat Genome project

Consortium - Katzengenomprojekt

Project Investigators: Prof. Dr. O. Distl

Duration: September 2014 until End 2022

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Acoustic communication and parasite infections in an endangered folivorous primate, the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus, von Wurmb 1787)

Akustische Kommunikation und Parasiteninfektionen bei einem bedrohten folivoren Primaten, dem Nasenaffen (Nasalis larvatus, von Wurmb 1787)

Project Investigators: Apl. Prof. Dr. Ute Radespiel; Prof. Dr. Christina Strube; Dr. Marina Scheumann

Duration: 2011 until 2022

Funding: DAAD, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and external through collaboration

Project Details:
The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) is a large-bodied folivorous primate, forming harem and bachelor groups in lowland tropical rainforests in Borneo. Due to anthropogenic habitat loss and fragmentation, this primate species is highly endangered, and a better knowledge of their behavior and health status may improve their conservation and management. The goal of this project is to study its superficially known vocal signalling system and its intestinal parasite load to evaluate negative consequences of habitat fragmentation and the zoonotic risks that need to be considered when designing effective management programs. We investigate and compare those aspects in one-male (harem) and all-male (bachelor) groups in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Borneo, as well as in the Labuk Bay Sanctuary to study the role of vocalizations in governing spacing and cohesion. Furthermore, we assess intestinal parasite communities to link them to social grouping pattern and communication and to get insight into their significance for zoonotic diseases.

Results:

e.g.:

Scheumann, M., Röper, K. M., Nathan, S. K., & Goossens, B. (2022): Third-party vocal intervention in the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Int. J. Primatol., 43: 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-021-00273-9

Klaus, A.; Strube, C.; Röper, K. M.; Radespiel, U.; Schaarschmidt, F.; Nathan, S.; Goossens, B.; Zimmermann, E.(2018): Fecal parasite risk in the endangered proboscis monkey is higher in an anthropogenically managed forest environment compared to a riparian rain forest in Sabah, Borneo in PlosOne 13(4). https:// doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195584

Klaus, A.; Zimmermann, E.; Röper, K.M.; Radespiel, U.; Nathan, S.; Goossens, B.; Strube, C. (2017): Co-infection patterns of intestinal parasites in arboreal primates (proboscis monkeys, Nasalis larvatus)in Borneo.Int. Journ. for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 6(3): 320-329. https.//10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.09.005

Röper, K.M.; Scheumann, M.; Wiechert, A.B.; Nathan, S.; Goossens, B.; Owren, M.J.; Zimmermann, E. (2014): Vocal acoustics in the endangered proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Am. J. Primatol. 76 (2): 192-201. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22221

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. Benoit Goossens, Danau Girang Field Center, Malaysia, and Cardiff University, GB

Dr. Ikki Matsuda, Primate Research Center, Inumyama, Japan

Dipl. Biol. Kathrin M. Röper, Zoo Hannover

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Association studies between polymorphisms of equine candidate genes and fertility in stallions and mares of Hannoverian Warmblood

Assoziationsstudie zwischen Polymorphismen von equinen Kandidatengenen und der Fruchtbarkeit von Hengst und Stute beim Hannoverschen Warmblutpferd

Project Investigators: Prof Dr Ottmar Distl; Prof Dr Harald Sieme

Duration: Beginning 2007 until End 2022

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Phylogeography and ecological diversification of the genus Oophaga in Central and South America

Phylogeographie und ökologische Diversifizierung der Gattung Oophaga in Zentral- und Südamerika

Project Investigators: Prof. Dr. Heike Pröhl

Duration: Mid 2005 until End 2022

Funding: DAAD, DGHT

Project Details:
Die Pfeilgiftfrösche der Gattung Oophaga zeichnen sich durch ein komplexes Territorial-, Paarungs- und Brutpflegeverhalten aus. Aus diesem Grund sind sie Modellobjekte in vielen Studien zur Beantwortung evolutionsbiologischer Studien. Weiterhin sind die meisten dieser Arten polymorph, d.h. sie unterschieden sich in ihren bioakustischen Signalen, Farbmustern und anderen morphologischen Variablen zwischen den Populationen. Auf Grund dessen ist es häufig schwierig Arten klar abzugrenzen. Das Ziel dieses Projektes ist eine molekular-genetische Studie durchzuführen, in der Arten genetisch eindeutig zugeordnet werden können. Sobald dieses erfolgt ist, folgen weitere Untersuchungen, um herauszufinden in wie weit die Arten sich in ihren ökologischen Ansprüchen und ihrem Verhalten unterscheiden. Das Ziel des Projektes ist es Artbildungsmechamismen besser zu verstehen.

Results:

Galindo Uribe D, Sunyer J, Hauswaldt S, Amezquita A, Pröhl H, Vences M (2014) Color and pattern variation and Pleistocene phylogeographic origin of the strawberry poison frog, Oophaga pumilio, in Nicaragua. Salamandra, 50: 225-235

Brusa O, Bellati A, Meuche I, Mundy NI, Pröhl H (2013) Divergent evolution in the polymorphic granular poison-dart frog, Oophaga granulifera: genetics, colouration, advertisement calls and morphology. J Biogeogr 40:394-408

Hauswaldt JS, Ludewig A-K, Vences M, Pröhl H (2011) Widespread co-occurrence of divergent mitochondrial haplotype lineages in a Central American species of poison frog (Oophaga pumilio). J Biogeog 38: 711-726

Hagemann S, Pröhl H (2007) Mitochondrial paraphyly in a polymorphic poison frog species (Dendrobatidae; D. pumilio). Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution 45: 740-747

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Adolfo Amezquita, Universidad de los Andes

Dr. Diana Galindo, Universidad de los Andes

Prof. Dr. Miguel Vences, TU Braunschweig

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Examinations on epilepsy in the dog

Untersuchungen zur Epilepsie des Hundes

Project Investigators: Prof. Dr. Andrea Tipold; Marisa Wesolowski; Lea Monneret; Anna Knebel; Enrice Hünerfauth

Duration: Beginning 2002 until End 2022

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Dietary analysis of Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) from Lower Saxony

Durchführung von Nahrungsanalysen von Fischottern (Lutra lutra) aus Niedersachsen

Project Investigators: Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert; Simon Rohner

Duration: August 2021 until Novemer 2021

Funding: Bundesamt für Gewässerkunde, Koblenz, 29.583 EUR

Project Details:
Dietary analysis of otters found dead are the subject of this study. Relevant otters where dissected as part of a previous project that aimed at investigating anticoagulant rodenticides (rat poison) in predators. During necropsies, all stomachs and the intestinal content of otters was sampled, if available. Continuing, all remains found in the gastrointestinal tracts of the otters were specially prepared to allow identification of prey species. Two methods will be used therein: hard part analysis, which targets visible bones, scales etc., and metabarcoding, which identifies prey species genetically. In combination, both methods together will create a realistic overview of the prey spectrum of otters from Lower Saxony. All results will be presented as a short report.

Results:

The results of the hard component analysis confirm fish as the most frequently eaten prey class of otters in Lower Saxony. Furthermore, components of amphibians, plants, arthropods, and very sporadically of birds, mammals and molluscs were detected in the stomachs. The Cyprinidae family was the most frequently identified fish family. That otters are opportunistic predators that feed on a variety of fish species depending on availability in their range (Kruuk, 2006; Buglione et al., 2020) was confirmed by the metabarcoding results. The study was able to show that the combination of hard component analysis and metabarcoding is suitable to break down and describe the feeding ecology of otters in Lower Saxony. While metabarcoding could identify fish species that would otherwise have been overlooked, hard component analysis could provide estimates of the number of prey eaten.

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Coordination and preparation of the QSR 2022 Thematic Report "Marine Mammals" (K164)

Project Investigators: Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert; Dr. Bianca Unger

Duration: March 2021 until October 2021

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