Adrian Giacomelli
Projekt „RELynx Sachsen“
In September 2022, the project “RELynx Saxony” started. The Senckenberg Museum for Natural History Görlitz is involved in the coordination of the project as well as the Chair of Forest Zoology of the TU Dresden in the monitoring. The aim is to translocate up to 20 Eurasian lynx of the subspecies Carpathian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus) into the forests of Saxony. The animals are wild-caught from Switzerland, Slovakia and Romania, as well as offspring from enclosures away from humans. Orphans that have lost their parents can also be released into the wild. The first lynx will be released in southwest Saxony in the Ore Mountains. Depending on the dispersal behavior of these animals, lynxes may then also be released in the area of Saxon Switzerland. The period for the releases extends from spring 2024 to 2027. The client of the project is the Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG). https://www.luchs.sachsen.de/ Contact us: relynx.sachsen@senckenberg.dePopulation genetics
The large samples of the collections facilitate the estimation of the degree of genetically relationship between mammal populations by the analysis of skull characters. This method permits to assess the risk of genetic isolation for rare species. Such population genetic research concerns different species like Eurasian otter, raccoon dog, badger, pine marten, polecat, mole, roe deer and wild ass.
Age determination and population ecology
Age determination from skull characters is of fundamental importance for different fields of biological research. By the use of a low speed precision saw thin cuts of the teeth or bones can be produced which show annual lines representing the age in years.
The age determination of large series of skulls is one of the requirements for current research in population ecology of different species from hedgehog to red deer. Thus a population model could be developed serving as a basis for the species conservation program of the otter.
Feeding ecology
The analyses of stomach contents, scat samples and owl pellets serve as a basis for investigations on the feeding ecology of carnivores and owls. Feeding analyses of the wolf or the raccoon dog are necessary for the evaluation of their importance in the ecosystem. Furthermore the prey animals found in the owl pellets provide information on the distribution of the small mammals.
Ongoing projects
Population genetics of palaearctic mammals by the use of non-metric skull characters (eg population genetics of the Wild horse Equus przewalskii).
Age determination from the mammalian skull as a basis of population ecological models (eg population analysis of the Asiatic wild ass Equus hemionus).
Feeding ecology of functional important, endangered and invasive carnivores (eg feeding ecology of free-living wolves Canis lupus in eastern Germany).
Biodiversity of the ecosystems of Mongolia – Mammalia.
