Biodiversity Monitoring - Plant Adadptation - Environmental Policy

From Genes to Landscapes: Understanding and Conserving Biodiversity

Plant Science Center Symposium 2026
December 3rd, 2026
ETH Zürich more

International Society for Behavioral Ecology

ISBE congress Turin, 20 - 24 July 2026

The biennial congress of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology (ISBE) was held in Turin, Italy. Three researchers connected to our group presented their exciting work and delivered fantastic talks.
PhD student Anne-Cathérine Gutzwiller presented her research on the social networks of snowfinches.
Maude Vernet, a former visiting PhD student from the University of Bern, presented her research on the movement ecology of the sihek.
Our postdoc Marina Garrido-Priego presented her latest results on the movement patterns of Egyptian vultures.
A fantastic representation of women in science!
more

Radio SRF 1, 8 June 2026

Insektenvielfalt in der Schweiz

A research team has investigated trends in insect diversity in Switzerland over the past 90 years. The study focused on beetles that feed on dead wood and butterflies. How has species diversity developed, particularly among butterflies?
Co-author Franziska Korner-Nievergelt, Ecosy
Felix Neff, lead author of the study from Agroscope, explains. more

Monday, 23 March 2026, 09.15 h, Vesalianum, Seminarraum O2.02

Ecosy Colloquium, Dr. Telma Laurentino, University of Lisbon, Portugal

Talk: “Abandoning inescapable trilemmas towards socio-ecological belonging: 50 years of growth narratives and alternative future pathways”
For decades, global socio-economic and sustainability discourses have been trapped in what presents itself as an inescapable trilemma: the belief that we must choose among economic growth, social equity, and ecological integrity. “Pick two, never all!”

Zoom-Link: https://unibas.zoom.us/j/64339705625?pwd=VZFNai2rDmAb0n8F33CmD3JPbhdPaT.1 more

Spatial planning for conservation

Colloquium, 3 March 2026, 12 - 13 h

by Prof. Alejandra Morán Ordóñez more

Marina Garrido Priego, PostDoc, invited speaker at the symposium

XIII Latin American Herpetology Congress, San José, Costa Rica

Symposium: 'Following hidden tracks: advances and challenges in spatial ecology of the tropical herpetofauna'
Talk: "Movement patterns and magnetic orientation in a glassfrog with parental care"
Individual movement is shaped by reproductive and foraging strategies, which can lead to different patterns of space use both, between as well as within species. Species with extensive care have been hypothesized to be constrained to their nest site, resulting in comparatively small home ranges. We tested these questions in a natural glassfrog population with paternal care, Hyalinobatrachium valerioi. Males with smaller home ranges showed a higher mating success and strong inter-seasonal site fidelity to the areas where they previously had mating success. Using an artificial magnetic field setup, we found that males are able to orient towards their home area by using the magnetic compass. more

February 2026

Fieldwork in Allschwil

Project: population control of the southern crested newt (Kammmolch)
Our two helpers for a bachelor project of the University of Bern more

Symposium Vogelwarte Sempach, 28 November 2025

At the 2nd International Snowfinch Meeting at the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, the exchange among researchers on high-elevation bird species clearly indicated that the widespread population decline and future perspectives of the White-winged Snowfinch deserves an increase in the IUCN red list categorisation. At the meeting, we started that process by planning concrete analyses, publications and applications.
Senior scientist PD Dr. Franziska Korner-Nievergelt
www.vogelwarte.ch more

DUW-Kolloquium, 6. Mai 2025

Antrittsvorlesung Prof. Dr. Alejandra Morán Ordóñez

Conservation of ecosystems and landscapes in a
changing world