| Project leader: | Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert |
|---|---|
| Scientific work: | Abbo van Neer |
| Project term: | since 2013 |
| Sponsorship: | Ministry of Energy, Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Areas of Schleswig-Holstein (Ministerium für Energiewende, Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und ländliche Räume Schleswig-Holstein, MELUR) |
Project description
The decline of Ring-necked Pheasant- (Phasianus colchicus) and Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) populations in Germany constitutes a nationwide problem. This study shall determine, if infectious diseases have to be considered as primary or secondary causes of the birds´ population decline. Investigation areas are to be identified together with hunters, who are able to reflect the current situation for Schleswig-Holstein representatively and whose hunting district owners are willing to cooperate. In addition to animals from the hunting bag of participating hunting districts, also game found dead are to be examined pathologically during this project. Furthermore young birds will be sampled to investigate a connection with an increased mortality in the juvenile age groups.
