Overview of research projects

Project Details:
In avian medicine, there are only a few methods available to assess peripheral blood flow. This study aims to evaluate passive IR thermography and µCT to assess blood flow in the skin in the area of ​​the feet of birds of prey.

Results:

http://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12369

Funding: DAAD-fellowship, external through collaborations

Project Details:
The increasing fragmentation of tropical rain forests, due to anthropogenic landscape changes, is an increasing problem for the biodiversity in this ecosystem. Changes of natural habitats affect individuals of different species in a variety of ways. Therefore, the knowledge of the ecological plasticity and sensitivity of a wide range of species is essential for empirically supported conservation efforts and management. Compared to large mammals, our knowledge about how small mammals are affected by habitat fragmentation is in its infancy. The aim of this study is to assess to what extent forest fragmentation influences the genetic diversity and gene flow among populations of small mammals by means of new methods in conservation genetics. Several small mammal communities from forest fragments of different size will be assessed in composition as well as diversity, and the species-specific abundance as well as the genetic structure of various model species will be studied in detail. The thereby acquired knowledge will help to get a better understanding of specific threats posed to small mammal communities due to forest fragmentation.

Results:

Brunke, J.; Russo, I.-R.M.; Orozco-terWengel, P.; Zimmermann, E.; Bruford, M.W.; Goossens, B.; Radespiel, U. (2020): Dispersal and genetic structure of a tropical small mammal, the Bornean tree shrew (Tupaia longipes), in a fragmented landscape along the Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Malaysia. BMC Genetics, 21, 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-020-00849-z

 

Brunke, J.; Radespiel, U.; Russo, I.-R.; Bruford, M.W.; Goossens, B. (2019): Messing about on the river: The role of geographic barriers in shaping the genetic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape. Cons. Gen., 20, 691-704, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01159-3.

Cooperation Partners:

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

Prof. Mike Bruford, Cardiff University, GB

Dr. Pablo Orozco-terWengel, Cardiff University, GB

Funding: Volkswagen Stiftung, external funding through cooperation, 148.400 EUR

Project Details:
Die Sensitivität und Spezifität der Pheromonwahrnehmung hängt von den Rezeptoren im Epithelium des VNOs ab. Es wurden bisher zwei Familien von VNO Rezeptoren identifiziert, V1R und V2R. Die Diversität von VNO Rezeptoren ist in den verschiedenen Primatenfamilien wenig untersucht. Das Verständnis der Evolution des VNO ist entscheidend, um die adaptiven Veränderungen der relativen Relevanz verschiedener Sinnessysteme während der Evolution der Primaten zu verstehen. Aufgrund der zunehmenden Degeneration des VNOs und der Pseudogenisierung der V1R Gene bei höheren Affen ereignete sich die adaptive Evolution dieser Gene vermutlich sehr früh innerhalb der Stammesgeschichte der Primaten. Innerhalb dieses Forschungsprojekts werden die funktionellen VNO-Rezeptorgene von basalen Primaten, den Mausmakis (Microcebus spp.), isoliert und hinsichtlich ihrer Variabilität, Selektion und phylogenetischen Bedeutung chrakterisiert. Zudem werden die olfaktorischen Markiersubstanzen hinsichtlich ihrer potentiell signalgebenden Komponenten untersucht und Bioessays zur olfaktorischen Wahrnehmungsleistung von Mausmakis entwickelt.

Results:

e.g.

 

Kollikowski, A.; Jeschke, S.; Radespiel, U. (2020): Experimental evaluation of spontaneous olfactory discrimination in two nocturnal primates (Microcebus murinus and M. lehilahytsara). Chemical Senses, 45, 581-592. bjaa051. https://doi.org/10.1093/chemse/bjaa051

 

Caspers, J.; Radespiel, U.; Zimmermann, E. Schulz, S. (2020): Volatile urinary signals of two nocturnal primates, Microcebus murinus and M. lehilahytsara. Frontiers Ecology and Evolution, 8, 158. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2020.00158

 

Kollikowski, A.; Zimmermann, E.; Radespiel, U. (2019): First experimental evidence for olfactory species discrimination in two nocturnal primate species (Microcebus lehilahytsara and M. murinus). Sci. Rep., 9, 20386. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56893-y.

 

Unsworth, J.; Loxley, G.; Davidson, A.; Hurst, J.L.; Gomez-Baena, G.; Mundy, N.I.; Beynon, R.; Zimmermann, E. and Radespiel, U. (2017): Characterisation of urinary WFDC12 in small nocturnal basal primates, mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.). Scientific Reports, 7, 42940. doi:10.1038/srep42940.

 

Hohenbrink, P.; Mundy, N.I.; Radespiel, U. (2017): Population genetics of mouse lemur vomeronasal receptors: current versus past selection and demographic inferences. BMC Evol.Biol., DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0874-6.

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. Nick Mundy, Cambridge University, UK

Prof. Jane Hurst, University of Liverpool, UK

Prof. Rob Beynon, University of Liverpool, UK

Prof. Dr. S. Schulz, TU Braunschweig

Prof. Dr. Markus Rothermel, Universität Magdeburg

Funding: ALZCHEM, 19.529 EUR

Project Details:
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Funding: MEKUN, 49.996 EUR

Project Details:
The occurrence of harbor seals in the waters of Schleswig-Holstein has increased in recent years. At the same time, the seals are exposed to an increasing amount of human activity. These include chemical pollution, offshore wind turbine constructions, the Fehmarnbelt crossing, shipping, military and civilian detonations (munitions disposal), fishing, litter, habitat loss and other disturbances such as tourism. The increasing grey seal population in the North Sea has also led to the predation and rape of seals by grey seals in recent years.
As part of this research project, a total of 30 dead seals from the Schleswig-Holstein North Sea and Baltic Sea are to be examined in-depth for their state of health. These 30 individuals will be examined in addition to the 30 seals that will be necropsied as part of the project, which is funded by the Supreme Hunting Authority in the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Areas, Europe and Consumer Protection of Schleswig-Holstein (MLLEV), bringing the total number of necropsied seals from Schleswig-Holstein to 60. Histological, microbiological and parasitological examinations will be carried out. The parasite fauna and its prevalence provide important information about its influence on the health of the seals. Furthermore, samples that were taken and not examined as part of the necropsies financed by the supreme hunting authority will be taken as part of this research project. This includes, for example, age determination and histological examinations. Furthermore, samples collected during the post-mortem examinations will also be taken for investigations into pollutants, litter, reproductive biology and nutritional ecology and preserved for later projects.
These investigations are to be used in future research projects for development of evaluation parameters of the GES (Good Environmental Status) in the North and Baltic Sea and applied for OSPAR, HELCOM and the Marine Protection Framework Directive.
Overall, the systematic studies of seals are very important in order to fulfill Schleswig-Holstein's obligations under the Trilateral Wadden Sea Agreement, HELCOM and OSPAR.

Funding: Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Ländliche Räume, Europa und Verbraucherschutz (MLLEV), 37.245 EUR

Project Details:
Seals are the most common marine mammal species in Schleswig-Holstein and therefore cause the majority of calls for seal hunters. In addition, in the past the seal population has been frequently affected by infectious diseases such as phocine distemper, influenza, brucellosis, and erysipelas, some of which have led to mass mortalities among the seal population or are of zoonotic relevance. To support the work of seal hunters with current research results, the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) of University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) Foundation plans to continue the long-established investigation and monitoring of zoonotic and infectious diseases in the seal population of Schleswig-Holstein, their influence on the health status and the possible causes of death of the animals. Furthermore, other diseases and changes, especially those caused by anthropogenic influence, are recorded.
The research project investigates pathologic changes associated with infectious agents, with a special focus on zoonotic diseases. Given the ongoing avian influenza epidemic on the coasts of Schleswig-Holstein, the detection of serotype H5N8 in acutely deceased seals in 2021, as well as the interactions with other animals, the virologicinvestigations will be continued and also the importance of bacterial and parasitic pathogens will be evaluated. In addition, a possible increase in infectious diseases in harbor seals will also be evaluated in regard to increasing human activities.
The scientific knowledge gained is directly incorporated into the work of the seal hunters, who are trained in detection of infectious diseases and handling of marine mammals. The development and review of hygienic measures, theoretic knowledge about infectious diseases and documentation materials play an important role. A regionally representative number of seals will be selected from those recovered by the seal hunters and forwarded to the ITAW. Furthermore, any abnormalities reported by the seal hunters will be acted upon immediately. Scientific exchange with the seal hunters will take place throughout duration of the research project. The investigations include complete postmortem examinations of seals shot by seal hunters and further microbiologic examinations to reveal infectious agents.

Funding: University Aarhus, 81.682 EUR

Project Details:
The Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research supports the University of Aarhus in the implementation and planning of an aerial surveys to estimate abundance of harbour porpoises in the Danish North Sea in the summer of 2023. In June-July 2023, ITAW supports with the selection of survey blocks and the transect design of the surveys to achieve the most complete coverage of the Danish North Sea. ITAW will collect data in five of the seven survey strata in the Danish North Sea in August 2023, and ITAW will analyzing the data to obtain abundance estimates of harbour porpoises. A Partenavia 68 twin-engine aircraft is used as the observation platform. Flight speed during data collection will be 90-100 kn (167-186 km/h) at an altitude of 600 feet (183 m). The study areas are to be covered on one flight day each under predominantly good sighting conditions.

Results:

Jens Würgler Hansen, Christian Lønborg & Signe Høgslund (red.) Videnskabelig rapport fra DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi. MARINE OMRÅDER 2023, NOVANA

https://dce.au.dk/fileadmin/dce.au.dk/Udgivelser/Videnskabelige_rapporter_600-699/SR632.pdf

Funding: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 50.127 EUR

Project Details:
Co-infection study of viral or bacterial infectious agents
infectious agents with SARS-CoV-2 infection in a mouse model

Funding: HZI, 17.149 EUR

Project Details:
SARS-CoV-2 infection in 20-month-old mice

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur , 50.000 EUR

Project Details:
Within a blended learning event, content on interprofessionalism and teamwork is delivered across professional groups via self-study units in TiHoMoodle, in video conferences and in live events in the communication room in the Clinical Skills Lab. With the help of actors, relevant aspects of communication between veterinarians and veterinary assistants as well as animal owners are simulated and practiced so that the foundation can be laid for effective and harmonious collaboration in veterinary practice.

Results:

OER-Beitrag: https://www.twillo.de/edu-sharing/components/collections?id=784dd823-e75e-48ed-a8c3-6de63136b02b

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020229