About me
As a conservation biologist my research aims at understanding how wild mammals and humans can co-exist in increasingly human-dominated landscapes. I’m approaching this goal from complementary and interdisciplinary angles.
(1) Much of my work investigates how wildlife populations are affected by environmental and human factors. Particularly, I’m interested in the effectiveness of different conservation schemes and in identifying drivers of species distribution and population dynamics. The backbone of this project is a long-term population monitoring scheme in six protected areas of Northern Tanzania that I have established since 2011.
(2) Closely linked to the previous project, we assess threats to wildlife populations. Threats range from unsustainable and often illegal hunting, habitat loss and degredation, effects of roads, to human-wildlife conflicts. Beyond assessing the severity of these threats and associated correlates through field surveys, interviews and modelling, we implement practical solutions to reduce these threats (particularly aiming at reducing human-wildlife conflicts) and assess the effectiveness of these prevention measures.
(3) Where humans, livestock and wildlife co-exist, disease agents and parasites can be transmitted among individuals of these three groups. I’m particularly interested in the ecology of zoonotic diseases (mainly fleas, ticks and tick-borne diseases) and in knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of local people towards zoonotic diseases.
(1) Much of my work investigates how wildlife populations are affected by environmental and human factors. Particularly, I’m interested in the effectiveness of different conservation schemes and in identifying drivers of species distribution and population dynamics. The backbone of this project is a long-term population monitoring scheme in six protected areas of Northern Tanzania that I have established since 2011.
(2) Closely linked to the previous project, we assess threats to wildlife populations. Threats range from unsustainable and often illegal hunting, habitat loss and degredation, effects of roads, to human-wildlife conflicts. Beyond assessing the severity of these threats and associated correlates through field surveys, interviews and modelling, we implement practical solutions to reduce these threats (particularly aiming at reducing human-wildlife conflicts) and assess the effectiveness of these prevention measures.
(3) Where humans, livestock and wildlife co-exist, disease agents and parasites can be transmitted among individuals of these three groups. I’m particularly interested in the ecology of zoonotic diseases (mainly fleas, ticks and tick-borne diseases) and in knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of local people towards zoonotic diseases.
I usually combine observational field studies (behavioral observations, line transects, camera trap surveys), behavioral experiments (e.g. playback calls, flight initiation experiments), structured interviews and modelling in R. I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with fun and enthusiastic people from across the globe.
In my free time I enjoy sports (field hockey, soccer, skiing), being outdoors (nature photography, hiking), travelling and meeting friends.
