Research Focus
We study how rapid human-driven environmental change reshapes species interactions and the ways wildlife persists alongside people in shared spaces. Focusing on predator-prey and predator-scavenger dynamics, our research explores the behavioural, physiological, and demographic mechanisms underlying human-wildlife coexistence. We combine advanced movement ecology with behavioural and physiological measurements and demographic modelling to link individual decisions to population-level outcomes. Using machine-learning and AI-based classification of accelerometer-informed signals, we reveal hidden aspects of animal behaviour - inclduing hunting and scavenging - to understand the ecological and energetic consequences of living in changing landscapes and to support innovative solutions for wildlife conservation in human-dominated environments.
Current Research Themes:
Galápagos predator dynamics
Before-after-control-impact analyses of short-eared owl movement and temporal niche partitioning after invasive rodent eradication and the return of competitors like Galápagos hawks.
Urban apex predators
High-resolution multi-sensor tracking of crowned eagles to reveal hunting strategies and pair coordination in complex urban landscapes.
Weekend effect & human activity pulses
Quantifying behavioral and energetic responses to fluctuating human presence – from recreational peaks in the Alps to weekly pulses in cities – to identify disturbance thresholds and coexistence opportunities.
Continental kestrel demography
Europe-wide analyses of migration, survival, and recruitment using long-term ICARUS tracking to identify demographic drivers across human-impact gradients.
Sensory ecology via on-board accoustics
Developing integrated tracking–acoustic devices to quantify soundscapes and how raptors perceive and navigate human-modified habitats.
