@article{ZiegeHermannKriestenetal.2020,
  author    = {Ziege, Madlen and Hermann, Bernd Timo and Kriesten, Stefanie and Merker, Stefan and Ullmann, Wiebke and Streit, Bruno and Wenninger, Sandra and Plath, Martin},
  title     = {Ranging behavior of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in urban and suburban landscapes},
  series = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences},
  volume    = {65},
  journal   = {Mammal research / Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Springer},
  address   = {Heidelberg},
  issn      = {2199-2401},
  doi       = {10.1007/s13364-020-00490-2},
  pages     = {607 -- 614},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Various mammals, particularly carnivores, reportedly establish smaller home ranges in urban compared with rural areas. This may be because urban environments provide optimal resources within a small area, negating the requirement to range further, or because habitat fragmentation constrains ranging behavior. Comparable information on urban populations of herbivorous mammalian species (such as European rabbits) is scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, we radio-tracked 13 individuals (seven females and six males) equipped with radio collars in a suburban and an urban study site in the city of Frankfurt am Main in Germany during the reproductive season (March to September) of 2012. The study sites differed in levels of habitat fragmentation. We report the smallest home ranges ever described for this species, with mean 95\% minimum convex polygons (MCPs) covering 0.50 ha, while no consistent differences between sites were uncovered. We occasionally tracked individuals crossing streets underground (in burrows), suggesting that streets may restrict the ranging behavior of rabbits-and possibly other burrowing species-to a much lesser extent than previously thought. We conclude that heterogeneous landscape structures, made up of a diverse mosaic of buildings, parks, and gardens, provide sufficient food and shelter in close proximity to burrows at both study sites. Therefore, our data support the hypothesis that optimal resources constrain ranges in this case rather than habitat fragmentation.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ZiegeTheodorouJuenglingetal.2020,
  author    = {Ziege, Madlen and Theodorou, Panagiotis and J{\"u}ngling, Hannah and Merker, Stefan and Plath, Martin and Streit, Bruno and Lerp, Hannes},
  title     = {Population genetics of the European rabbit along a rural-to-urban gradient},
  series = {Scientific Reports},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Scientific Reports},
  publisher = {Nature Publ. Group},
  address   = {London},
  issn      = {2045-2322},
  doi       = {10.1038/s41598-020-57962-3},
  pages     = {12},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is declining in large parts of Europe but populations in some German cities remained so far unaffected by this decline. The question arises of how urbanization affects patterns of population genetic variation and differentiation in German rabbit populations, as urban habitat fragmentation may result in altered meta-population dynamics. To address this question, we used microsatellite markers to genotype rabbit populations occurring along a rural-to-urban gradient in and around the city of Frankfurt, Germany. We found no effect of urbanization on allelic richness. However, the observed heterozygosity was significantly higher in urban than rural populations and also the inbreeding coefficients were lower, most likely reflecting the small population sizes and possibly on-going loss of genetic diversity in structurally impoverished rural areas. Global FST and G'ST-values suggest moderate but significant differentiation between populations. Multiple matrix regression with randomization ascribed this differentiation to isolation-by-environment rather than isolation-by-distance. Analyses of migration rates revealed asymmetrical gene flow, which was higher from rural into urban populations than vice versa and may again reflect intensified agricultural land-use practices in rural areas. We discuss that populations inhabiting urban areas will likely play an important role in the future distribution of European rabbits.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{PadurWedekindOeztuerketal.2009,
  author    = {Padur, Lisa and Wedekind, Juliane and {\"O}zt{\"u}rk, {\"O}znur and Streit, Bruno and Tiedemann, Ralph and Plath, Martin},
  title     = {Do audience effects lead to relaxed male sexual harassment?},
  issn      = {0005-7959},
  doi       = {10.1163/000579509x12483520922124},
  year      = {2009},
  abstract  = {Several recent studies reported on so-called audience effects in male Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana), in which the visual presence of a potential rival affects male sexual activity. We asked whether and how audience effects interact with male sexual harassment. Poecilia mexicana almost constantly attempt to mate, while females are mostly non- responsive to male approaches. Females flee from this sexual harassment and, thus, are more vigilant in the presence of males, so females may have hampered feeding opportunities. Do audience effects lead to altered male sexual harassment? Focal females were given an opportunity to feed in the presence of a male or a female partner and the difference in feeding times was interpreted as an effect caused by male harassment. Tests were conducted without an audience (1), or an audience male was visually presented either directly inside the test tank (2), or further away (in an adjoining compartment (3)). We found that levels of pre-mating behaviour did not vary significantly among treatments, but males exhibited more copulation attempts (thrusting) in treatment (3), suggesting that males respond to increased risk of sperm competition with higher sperm expenditure. Females fed less (and started feeding later) when a harassing partner male was around, and this effect was not dependent on the audience treatment, but, overall, females spent more time feeding (and started feeding earlier) when an audience was presented. Hence, feeding time reductions appear to be independent of audience effects, but perceived 'safety in numbers' may lead to increased foraging in larger groups.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ZiegeHennigeSchulzMueckschetal.2012,
  author    = {Ziege, Madlen and Hennige-Schulz, Carmen and Muecksch, Frauke and Bierbach, David and Tiedemann, Ralph and Streit, Bruno and Plath, Martin},
  title     = {A comparison of two methods to assess audience-induced changes in male mate choice},
  series = {Current zoology},
  volume    = {58},
  journal   = {Current zoology},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Current Zoology},
  address   = {Beijing},
  issn      = {1674-5507},
  pages     = {84 -- 94},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Multidirectional communicative interactions in social networks can have a profound effect on mate choice behavior. Male Atlantic molly Poecilia mexicana exhibit weaker mating preferences when an audience male is presented. This could be a male strategy to reduce sperm competition risk: interacting more equally with different females may be advantageous because rivals might copy mate choice decisions. In line with this hypothesis, a previous study found males to show a strong audience effect when being observed while exercising mate choice, but not when the rival was presented only before the choice tests. Audience effects on mate choice decisions have been quantified in poeciliid fishes using association preference designs, but it remains unknown if patterns found from measuring association times translate into actual mating behavior. Thus, we created five audience treatments simulating different forms of perceived sperm competition risk and determined focal males' mating preferences by scoring pre-mating (nipping) and mating behavior (gonopodial thrusting). Nipping did not reflect the pattern that was found when association preferences were measured, while a very similar pattern was uncovered in thrusting behavior. The strongest response was observed when the audience could eavesdrop on the focal male's behavior. A reduction in the strength of focal males' preferences was also seen after the rival male had an opportunity to mate with the focal male's preferred mate. In comparison, the reduction of mating preferences in response to an audience was greater when measuring association times than actual mating behavior. While measuring direct sexual interactions between the focal male and both stimulus females not only the male's motivational state is reflected but also females' behavior such as avoidance of male sexual harassment.},
  language  = {en}
}