(since 2021)
2026
Liermann, F., Baumgartner, K., Will, H., Von Fersen, L., Merle, R., Thöne-Reineke, C., & Simon, R. (2026). Assessing the impact of anthropogenic influence on nestling development: evidence from feather corticosterone in juvenile white storks. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 14, 1817960. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2026.1817960
Luff, C., von Fersen, L., & Stephan, C. (2026). Heterospecific social learning in Harpy Eagles (Harpia harpyja). Journal of Ornithology, 167(1), 181-188. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10336-025-02304-1
Sucunza, F., Barth, A., Danilewicz, D., Dolman, S., von Fersen, L., Larre, G. G., … & Berggren, P. (2026). Evidence of Dolphin Bycatch Reduction With Upcycled Plastic Bottles Acoustic Reflectors Attached to Bottom‐Set Gillnets. Marine Mammal Science, 42(3), e70189. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70189
Heckley, A., Bohodist, V., Calderon, C., Prylutska, A., Yerofeieva, M., Zemliana, K., … Simon, R. & Becker, D. J. (2026). A viral mimic increases body temperature but does not affect mass or inflammation in a wild frugivorous bat. https://doi.org/10.32942/X2PH34
Nagy M, Hochradel K, Haushalter C, Simon R, Weber N, Behr O, Knörnschild M (2026). Song flight and 3D thermal detection provide evidence for bat attraction to wind turbines in Central Europe. Communications Biology 9(1), Article 460. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-09882-7
2025
Liermann F, Baumgartner K, Simon R, Will H, von Fersen L, Merle R, et al. (2025). Effects of flight restraint and housing conditions on feather corticosterone in white storks under human care. Animals 15(13), 1878. DOI: 10.3390/ani15131878
Perry, L. R., Cipriano, F., Marchini, S., Danoff-Burg, J., & von Fersen, L. (2025). Case Study: The Human Dimensions of Lahille’s Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus gephyreus) Conservation. Aquatic Mammals, 51(6), 498-514. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.51.6.2025.498
Brehm I, Herzner S, Baumgartner K, Beckmann J, Simon R, von Fersen L (2025). Occurrence of ocular disorders in California sea lions under human care: comparing freshwater and saltwater housing conditions. Animals 15(5), 739. DOI: 10.3390/ani15050739
2024
Ides K, Aerts A, Baeyens R, Balemans N, Bosschaerts T, Cazaerck J,… Simon R,… & Steckel J (2024). CORELSA—remote stethoscope system for fast and standardized auscultations of large numbers of patients with respiratory syndromes. medRxiv 2024.09.10.24313299 [preprint]. DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.10.24313299
Kennedy E, Boot M, Bom C, Jerem P, Halfwerk W, Simon R, Shawkey M, et al. (2024). Target strength varies with a moth’s wing positioning, but is independent of acoustic camouflage provided by body scales. 30th International Congress on Sound and Vibration (ICSV 2024), 1–7.
Brehm I, Herzner S, Baumgartner K, Beckmann J, Simon R, von Fersen L (2024). Ocular disease prevalence in California sea lions in human care: freshwater versus saltwater housing. bioRxiv 2024.12.20.629697 [preprint; published as Brehm et al. 2025 Animals]. DOI: 10.1101/2024.12.20.629697
Zuerl, M., Stoll, P., Brehm, I., Sueskind, J., Raab, R., Petermann, J., Zanaca, D., Simon, R., Von Fersen, L., & Eskofier, B. (2024) Automated Long-Term Monitoring of Stereotypical Movement in Polar Bears Under Human Care Using Machine Learning. Ecological Informatics Volume 83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102840
Schneider, S., Von Fersen, L., & Dierkes, P. W. (2024). Acoustic estimation of the manatee population and classification of call categories using artificial intelligence. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 5, 1405243 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1405243
Baumgartner, K., Hüttner, T., Clegg, I. L., Hartmann, M. G., Garcia-Párraga, D., Manteca, X., … Von Fersen, L. …. & Delfour, F. (2024). Dolphin-WET—Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care. Animals, 14(5), 701. | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050701
2023
Hüttner, T., von Fersen, L., Miersch, L. & Dehnhardt, G. (2023). Passive electroreception in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): implication for micro-and large-scale orientation. Journal of Experimental Biology, 226(22), Article jeb245845. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.245845.
Baumgartner, K., Hüttner, T., & Ternes, K. (2023). Development of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Management at the Nuremberg and Duisburg Zoo over the past 50-plus years. Der Zoologische Garten (N.F.). 91(2). 135-153. https://doi.org/10.53188/zg0018
Secchi, E. & Fruet, P. & Genoves, R. & von Fersen, L. (2023). A stepwise approach for science-based conservation of Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops gephyreus) with emphasis on the Patos Lagoon population . Der Zoologische Garten (N.F.). 91(2). 175-189. https://doi.org/10.53188/zg0022
Taylor, B. & Abel, G. & Bader, D. & Barlow, J. & Braulik, G. & Cipriano, F. & Collins, T. & Demaster, D. & von Fersen, L. & Gomez, F. & Hao, Y. & Miller, P. & Minton, G. & Reeves, R. & Rojas-Bracho, L. & Secchi, E. & Smith, C. & Suydam, R. & Wang, D. & Zerbini, A.. (2023). Integrated Conservation Planning for Cetaceans Planung integrierten Artenschutzes für Cetaceen. Der Zoologische Garten (N.F.), 91(2). 101-112. https://doi.org/10.53188/zg0017
von Fersen, L. & Miller, P. S. (2023). Integrated Conservation Action for Small Cetaceans: A new Role for Modern Dolphinaria. Der Zoologische Garten (N.F.), 91(2). 83-100. https://doi.org/10.53188/zg0019
Zürl, M., Dirauf, R., Koeferl, F., Steinlein, N., Sueskind, J., Zanca, D., Brehm, I., von Fersen, L., & Eskofier, B. (2023). PolarBearVidID: A Video-Based Re-Identification Benchmark Dataset for Polar Bears. Animals, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050801
Caicoya, A. L., Schaffer, A., Holland, R., von Fersen, L., Colell, M., & Amici, F. (2023). Innovation across 13 ungulate species: Problem solvers are less integrated in the social group and less neophobic. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 290(1996), 20222384. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.2384
Simon, R., Dreissen, A., Leroy, H., Berg, M. P., & Halfwerk, W. (2023). Acoustic camouflage increases with body size and changes with bat (echolocation frequency range in a community of nocturnally active Lepidoptera. Journal of Animal Ecology, 92(12), 2363-2372. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.14016
Tidière, M., Colchero, F., Staerk, J., Adkesson, M. J., Andersen, D. H., Bland, L., Böye, M., Brando, S., Clegg, I., Cubaynes, S., Cutting, A., Man, D. de, Derocher, A. E., Dorsey, C., Elgar, W., Gaglione, E., Anderson Hansen, K., Jungheim, A., Kok, J., . . . von Fersen, L., . . . Conde, D. A. (2023). Survival improvements of marine mammals in zoological institutions mirror historical advances in human longevity. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 290(2009), Article 20231895. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1895
Meegan, J., Gomez, F., Barratclough, A., Smith, C., Sweeney, J., Ruoppolo, V., Kolesnikovas, C., Pinho da Silva Filho, R., Lima Canabarro, P., Laporta, P., Loureiro, J. P., Alvarez, K., Rodriguez Heredia, S. A., Cabrera, A., Faiella, A., Saubidet, A. & von Fersen, L. (2022), Rescue and Rehabilitation of Neonatal Franciscana Dolphins, Care and Hand-rearing Protocol, AFCR3 – Publication Nr. 01 – 2022
Segura-Göthlin, S., Fernández, A., Arbelo, M., Almunia, J., von Fersen, L., Baumgartner, K., Garcés, J. G., Llanos, A. G., Felipe-Jiménez, I., Colom-Rivero, A., & Sierra, E. (2023). Towards understanding host–pathogen dynamics of cetacean poxvirus: Attainable approach through the application of a repetitive non-invasive skin sampling in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under human care. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, Article 1125629. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1125629
Simon, R., Varkevisser, J., Mendoza, E., Hochradel, K., Elsinga, R., Wiersma, P. G., … & Halfwerk, W. (2023). RoboFinch: A versatile audio‐visual synchronised robotic bird model for laboratory and field research on songbirds. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14(4), 1092-1103. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14063
Simon, R., Matt, F., Santillan, V., Tschapka, M., Tuttle, M. and Halfwerk, W. (2023). An ultrasound absorbing inflorescence zone enhances echo-acoustic contrast of bat-pollinated cactus flowers. Journal of Experimental Biology, 226(5), Article jeb245263. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.245263
2022
Simon, R., Varkevisser, J. M., E. Mendoza, M., Hochradel, K., Elsinga, R., Wiersma, P., Middelburg, E. Zoeter, E., Scharff, C., Riebel, K. and Halfwerk, W.H. (2022). RoboFinch: an audio-visually synchronised singing robot to study vocal imitation and multimodal communication in songbirds. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 14(4), 1092-1103. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14063
Loth, A., Güntürkün, O., von Fersen, L., & Janik, V. M. (2022). Through the looking glass: how do marked dolphins use mirrors and what does it mean? Animal Cognition, 25(5), 1151-1160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-022-01680-y
Pavese, S.; Centeno, C.; von Fersen, L.; Eguizábal, G.V.; Donet, L.; Asencio, C.J.; Villarreal, D.P.; Busso, J.M. (2022). Video Validation of Tri-Axial Accelerometer for Monitoring Zoo-Housed Tamandua tetradactyla: Activity Patterns in Response to Changes in Husbandry Conditions. Animals, 12(19), Article 2516. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12192516
Simon, R., Dreissen, A., Leroy, H., Berg, M., & Halfwerk, W. (2022). Stealth coating enables for larger body size in a predator-prey arms race. Authorea Preprints. https://10.22541/au.166151721.10645561/v1
Dietrich, A., von Fersen, L. & Hammerschmidt, K. (2022). Signature Calls in West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus)? Aquatic Mammals, 48(4), 349-354. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.4.2022.349
Gimmel, A., Baumgartner, K., Bäckert, S., Tschudin, A., Lang, B., Hein, A., Marcordes, S., Wyss, F., Wenker, C., Liesegang, A. (2022): Effects of Storage Time and Thawing Method on Selected Nutrients in Whole Fish for Zoo Animal Nutrition. Animals, 12, Article 2847. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202847
Meegan, J., Gomez, F., Barratclough, A., Smith, C., Sweeney, J., Ruoppolo, V., Kolesnikovas, C., Pinho da Silva Filho, R., Lima Canabarro, P., Laporta, P., Loureiro, J. P., Alvarez, K., Rodriguez Heredia, S. A., Cabrera, A., Faiella, A., Saubidet, A. & von Fersen, L. (2022), Rescue and Rehabilitation Protocol for juvenile/Adult Franciscana dolphins Pontoporia blainvillei (AFCR3 – Publication Nr. 02 – 2023). Alliance of Franciscana-Dolphin Conservation, Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation (AFCR3).
Fischer, D., Oliveira, M. J. de, Baumgartner, K., Will, H., Wu, S., Bosso, P., Ferreira Teles, P. H., Cubas, Z. S., Lierz, M., & von Fersen, L. (2022). A pilot study about assisted reproduction in harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja) in the course of species conservation including collection, storage, and analysis of semen. Theriogenology, 181, 190–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.01.012
Hüttner, T., von Fersen, L., Miersch, L., Czech, N. U., & Dehnhardt, G. (2022). Behavioral and anatomical evidence for electroreception in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). The Anatomical Record, 305(3), 592–608. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24773
Zuerl, M., Stoll, P., Brehm, I., Raab, R., Zanca, D., Kabri, S., Happold, J., Nille, H., Prechtel, K., Wuensch, S., Krause, M., Seegerer, S., von Fersen, L., & Eskofier, B. (2022). Automated video-based analysis framework for behavior monitoring of individual animals in zoos using deep learning—A study on polar bears. Animals, 12(6), Article 692. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani12060692
Varkevisser, J. M., E. Mendoza, M., Simon, R., Manet, M., W. H. Halfwerk, C. Scharff and Riebel, K. (2022). Multimodality during live tutoring is relevant for vocal learning in zebra finches. Animal Behaviour |https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.03.013
Rickert, D., Simon, R., von Fersen, L., Baumgartner, K., Bertsch, T., Kirschbaum, C., & Erhard, M. (2022). Saliva and Blood Cortisol Measurement in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Methodology, Application, and Limitations. Animals, 12(1), 22. | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/1/22
Mynett, N., Mossman, H. L., Huettner, T., & Grant, R. A. (2022). Diversity of vibrissal follicle anatomy in cetaceans. The Anatomical Record, 305(3), 609-621. | https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.24714
2021
Simon, R., Bakunowski, K., Reyes-Vasques, A. E., Tschapka, M., Knörnschild, M., Steckel, J., & Stowell, D. (2021). Acoustic traits of bat-pollinated flowers compared to flowers of other pollination syndromes and their echo-based classification using convolutional neural networks. PLoS Computational Biology, 17(12), e1009706. | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009706
Verreycken, E., Simon, R., Quirk-Royal, B., Daems, W., Barber, J., & Steckel, J. (2021). Bio-acoustic tracking and localization using heterogeneous, scalable microphone arrays. Communications Biology, 4(1), 1-11. | https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-021-02746-2
Taylor, B., Abel, G., Bader, D., Barlow, J., Braulik, G., Cipriano, F., Collins, T., DeMaster, D., von Fersen, L., Gomez, F., Hao, Y., Miller, P. S., Minton, G., Reeves, R. R., Rojas-Bracho, L. Secchi, E., Smith, C. R., Suydam, R., Wang, D., Wells, R. S., Zerbini, A., (2021) An introduction to Integrated Conservation Planning for Cetaceans, including areas of potential collaboration with IWC to ad- vance small cetacean conservation. Report International Whaling Commission-Scientific Committee SC/68C/SM/03
Hüttner, T.; Dollhäupl, S.; Simon, R.; Baumgartner, K.; von Fersen, L. (2021). Activity Budget Comparisons Using Long-Term Observations of a Group of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care: Implications for Animal Welfare. Animals, 11, 2107. | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11072107 
Varkevisser, J. M., R. Simon, E. Mendoza, M. How, I. van Hijlkema, R. Jin, Q. Liang, C. Scharff, W. H. Halfwerk, and K. Riebel. (2021) Adding colour-realistic video images to audio playbacks increases stimulus engagement but does not enhance vocal learning in zebra finches. Animal Cognition:1-26. | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01547-8
Haase, G., Baumgartner, K., von Fersen, L., Merle, R., Wiegard, M., Will, H., … & Thöne-Reineke, C. (2021). Feather Corticosterone Measurements and Behavioral Observations in the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) Living under Different Flight Restraint Conditions in German Zoos. Animals, 11(9), 2522. | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092522
Leineweber, C., Beckmann, J., Westerhüs, U., Müller, E., & Fischer, D. (2021). Clinical chemistry, vitamin, electrophoresis, and hematologic analytes of black-headed ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 51(4), 948-957. | https://doi.org/10.1638/2020-0030
Schaffer, A., Caicoya, A. L., Colell, M., Holland, R., von Fersen, L., Widdig, A., & Amici, F. (2021). Neophobia in 10 ungulate species—a comparative approach. Behavioral ecology and sociobiology, 75(7), 1-12. | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-021-03041-0
Voit, M., Baumgartner, K., von Fersen, L., Merle, R., Reese, L., Wiegard, M., … & Thöne-Reineke, C. (2021). Comparison of Two Different Feather Sampling Methods to Measure Corticosterone in Wild Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) and Wild Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Animals, 11(10), 2796. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102796
Briceño, Y., Sánchez, L., Trujillo, F., von Fersen, L., & Ramírez, S. (2021). Aquatic Wildmeat Consumption of Guiana Dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Lake Maracaibo System, Venezuela. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, Article 625801. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.625801
Walb, R., von Fersen, L., Meijer, T., & Hammerschmidt, K. (2021). Individual Differences in the Vocal Communication of Malayan Tapirs (Tapirus indicus) Considering Familiarity and Relatedness. Animals, 11(4), Article 1026. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041026
Hein, A., Baumgartner, K., von Fersen, L., Bechshoft, T., Woelfing, B., Kirschbaum, C., … & Siebert, U. (2021). Analysis of hair steroid hormones in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) via liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: comparison with two immunoassays and application for longitudinal monitoring in zoos. General and comparative endocrinology, 310, Article 113837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113837