Outdoorf Enclosures
The research facilities include a behavioural laboratory, as well as spacious outdoor facilities to study ecological questions on population biology, species community, movement ecology and behavioural ecology. We work with native small mammals (mice and voles) as study systems, since they fulfil important ecological functions: they influence vegetation, but are influenced by predation risk themselves as most mammalian predators and birds of prey hunt for small mammals.
The 3 ha site comprises of large and small enclosures, which are divided by fences. The site is dominated by meadow vegetation, which provides an almost natural habitat for small mammals. Large enclosures (0.25 ha each) are used to study experimental populations or species communities, while small enclosures (0.02 ha), covered with bird proof netting, are primarily used to observe the behaviour of single individuals. Ground predators are kept out by a wildlife fence around the entire site. The enclosures can be equipped with live traps to allow easy capture of individuals and monitoring of the experimental populations. Furthermore, automated VHF telemetry, transponder reading stations and wildlife cameras can be employed in each enclosure to monitor movement patterns, spatial interactions of individuals, reproduction or foraging behaviour.
