Dr. Birgit Kleinschmidt
phone: +49 (0)641-99 35776
e-mail: Birgit.Kleinschmidt@bio.uni-giessen.de
room: M003
Fields of interest / focus of work
My research interests focus on how animal populations interact with their environment and the function of individual animal groups within the ecosystem. In this context, I am interested in how disturbances and altered habitat conditions in marine and terrestrial habitats can affect the behaviour and ecology of wild animals.
The techniques I use in the field and laboratory include molecular methods (e.g. NGS), satellite telemetry, stable isotopes and address questions on dietary ecology, parasitology, migration and movement ecology, breeding biology and ecosystem function.
My current research focuses on the function of insectivorous birds within the food chain in forest ecosystems. Here, in terms of ecosystem services their function as natural pest controll will be investigated and how this can affect the productivity and resilience of native deciduous tree species. The abundance, vitality and resilience of the individual components themselves, but also in interaction with each other, will be investigated.