Animal Communication and Urban Ecology

Bird song is one of the most widely used models to study communication and vocal learning in animals. Our group investigates the mechanisms and behavioural ecology of bird song following a problem-guided approach. We are interested, for instance, in how birds produce their songs, how they use them to exchange information, and how their signals are adjusted in response to changes in the environment.

Another focus of our research is on the urban ecology of birds, especially in connection with anthropogenic noise. Here, we investigate the impact on avian physiology and behaviour, with the long-term goal to better understand the resulting eco-evolutionary processes.