Research interests

• Habitat fragmentation 
• Edible dormice
• Population genetics
• Conservation biology

 

 

 

Scientific projects

Habitat fragmentation is the process of dividing large, continuous habitats into smaller, isolated patches. As a result, the genetic diversity of affected species can be significantly reduced, finally leading to a higher risk of extinction. Therefore, fragmentation is currently one of the most severe threats to biodiversity and has become a central issue in conservation biology. In particular, species with a high degree of habitat specialisation and low mobility suffer from habitat fragmentation. The aim of my PhD project is to assess and quantify the effects of habitat fragmentation and landscape-scale context effects on edible dormice Glis glis (L.). Dormice are small, hibernating rodents with a strictly arboreal lifestyle. For my study, I integrate field-based demographic and population genetic data, which are recorded in different sized fragments.

Publications

Weis-Dootz T (2007) Freilanduntersuchungen zur Reproduktionsbiologie von zwei Schläferarten. MAUS 14:8-12

Conference contributions

Weis-Dootz T (2007) Reproduktionsbiologie von zwei Schläferarten. Talk presented as part of the Vortragsreihe Wissenschaft LIFE at the Nature Conservation Center Ruhestein, Seebach, Germany