Individualised niches and adjustment to human-induced rapid environmental change (A07#)

• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions ; Sensory and Behavioural Biology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316099922

This project will investigate behaviourally-mediated individualised niches, niche choice and niche conformance in yellow-necked mice along an urbanisation gradient. We will characterise individual behavioural profiles and niches along multiple dimensions (food resources, space use, temporal activity) in the field. In a common environment and choice experiment under semi-natural conditions, we will test whether higher behavioural flexibility of urban individuals is also reflected in wider individualised niches and higher potential for niche choice or niche conformity and investigate the underlying factors explaining this variation.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 212: A Novel Synthesis of Individualisation across Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution: Niche Choice, Niche Conformance, Niche Construction (NC3)
• Applicant Institution: Universität Bielefeld
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Melanie Dammhahn