Dr. Katharina Reusch
phone: +49 (0)641-99 35772
e-mail: Katharina.Reusch@bio.uni-giessen.de
room: B421
Fields of interest / focus of work
My PhD thesis focused on the foraging ecology of Kelp Gulls in South Africa. I was specifically interested in the foraging movements, diet and health status of gulls breeding in different environments, ranging from more natural to anthropogenically modified.
My current project is focusing on Southern Rockhopper Penguins as sentinels of ecosystem change in the subantarctic Southern Ocean and is funded by the German Research Foundation. Rockhopper penguins are curently listed as vulnerable and are sensitive to changes in marine ecosystems. Previous studies have shown reduced survival probabilities and lighter eggs under warmer environmental conditions. However, the underlying causes are still poorly understood. In this project I am using GPS-acceleration data to identify key foraging areas, estimate energy use for foranging movements, and determine time budgets. In addition, stable isotope analysis of blood and feathers, as well as metabarcoding of fecal samples will be used to study the diet during different stages of the breeding cycle. Finally, an antenna system will be installed to monitor survival rates of chipped penguins between years. Fielwork will be conducted on New Island (Falkland Islands).
Scientific career
- Current: PostDoc in DFG Project“ Rockhopper penguins as sentinels of ecosystem change in the subantarctic Southern Ocean“. Behavioural Ecology & Ecophysiology group, Justus-Liebig-University Gießen: Prof. Dr. P. Quillfeldt.
- 2017 – 2021: Doctorate at the Nelson Mandela University (South Africa). Topic: “Foraging ecology of Kelp Gulls in natural and anthropogenically modified environments”. Supervisor: Dr. Lorien Pichegru, Prof. Dr. Peter Ryan.
- 2007 - 2013: BSc Biology and MSc International Studies in Aquatic Tropical Ecology at the University of Bremen (Germany). Topic: “Distribution, relative abundance and habitat use of Delphinus delphis, Stenella attenuata and Tursiops truncatus off the Central Coast off Oaxaca, Mexico”.