Dr. Jork Meyer - postdoc - Tel.: 06421 - 2823490 jork.meyer [at] staff.uni-marburg.de muskoxen, population genetics, Nutria, SSR, weavers, kalahari, deserts ecosystems

Dr. Jork Meyer

 

Research

BIOTA-South Africa
An increasing intensity of land use in the arid and semi-arid areas worldwide raises the need for a basic understanding of processes within those ecosystems both for science as well as for nature conservation and sustainable management.

The current studies within the BIOTA-South Africa project focus on the availability and distribution of habitat structures in space and time, and the genetic consequences on selected model organisms of southern Africa. Recently, studies on small mammals, the sociable weaver bird ( Philetairus socius ) and the darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) of the Kalahari and the Namib are carried out. Additionally, a study on the spatial pattern in the hemi-parasitic mistle toe ( Tapinanthus oleifolius ) as well its genetic differentiation is ongoing. Within a collaboration with the university of Stellenbosch (South Africa) we investigate the gene flow of animal model organisms (small mammals, birds and insects) between fragments of different size and their importance for the agricultural used large areas of the fynbos ecosystem in the Cape region. Microsatellites, DNA-sequencing and AFLP are used for genetic analysis. Genetic data are connected and statisically analysed by GIS-applications to particular characters of the landscape. Furthermore, seed-predation experiments are conducted in different areas of southern Africa.

Urbanisation in mammals

The nutria (coypus, Myocastor coypus ) is a semi-aquatic rodent native to South America. It has been introduced into several countries all over the world as game and for their valuable fur and meat. Intentional releases and outbreaks from fur farms led to feral populations of nutrias. Especially in the eastern part of Germany nutrias have established colonies within cities and villages. Due to the special living conditions (e.g. high artificial food input be man) the situation can be used for studies on adaptations in the reproductive strategies and life-history traits and compare them with native and alien populations. This contributes to the understanding of adaptations and spread of alien species. Methods applied are radio-tracking, capture-mark-recapture and genetic analyses (microsatellites).

Young coypus in the nest.

 

Curriculum vitae

•  07. August 1971 born in Saalfeld / Saale (Thuringia)

•  1979 – 1988 school (Kamsdorf, Brüssel, Unterloquitz, Saalfeld)

•  1988 – 1991 apprenticeship as a mechanic and high-school (Torgau)

•  1991 – 1992 army (air force)

•  1992 – 1994 studies on engineering at the Technical University Magdeburg

•  1994 – 1999 studies on biology at the University Jena (ecology, zoology, biochemistry and geography)

•  1999 stay at the University Jyväskylä (Finland)

•  2000 – 2003 Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Dept. Community Ecology

•  since 2004 postdoc position at the University Marburg, Dept. Animal Ecology

 

Teaching

Seminars, courses and excursions

•  living in (semi-)arid areas: physiological and behavioural adaptations and strategies in plants and animals

•  the ecosystem “forest” (with S. Rösner and A. Marten)

•  journal club

•  phylogeography and phylogeny

Students excursion. Sunset at the Kuiseb.

•  field methods: vegetation surveys, radio tracking, capture-mark-recapture

•  lab-work: sample collection, genetic and statistical analyses, remote sensing and spatial pattern

•  courses: PCR, DNA-sequencing, molecular sex-determination, AFLP

 

•  excursion to Bialowieza National Park (Poland, 2005, organised by S. Rösner and A. Marten)

•  excursion to South Africa and Namibia (2006)

•  field practica and excursions to South Africa and Namibia since 2002

 

supervised master theses

•  Steinhauser, J. (2004): Strukturelle Diversität und Populationsdynamik: Modellierung und Freilanduntersuchung zur Baumratte Thallomys nigricauda in der südlichen Kalahari; universities Potsdam / Marburg. (supervision of field work and its analyses).

•  Zillmann, F. (2004): Untersuchungen zur Reproduktionsbiologie der Nutria ( Myocastor coypus , MOLINA) in einem urbanen Vorkommen in Saalfeld, Thüringen; universities Bielefeld / Marburg.

•  Kohnen, A. (2006): Phylogeography and genetic diversity of an arboreal rodent genus ( Thallomys ) in an African savannah; Marburg.

•  Gießelmann, U. (2006): Aspects of coloniality in the sociable weaver bird ( Philetairus socius ); Marburg.

•  Steckel, J. (start 11/2006): Phylogeny of the Zophosini -group (Tenebrionidae); Marburg.

•  Deharde, D. (start 02/2007): Infestation pattern of woody plants by the mistle toe Tapinanthus oleifolius in the Kalahari; Marburg.

•  Bogatz, K. (start 05/2007): Genetics of small-vertebrate populations.

supervised PhD

•  Hampl, S. (start 04 / 2006): Seed predation in arid areas.

 

Founds raised

•  2000: support (9535 DM, about 4865 €) for studies on the urbanisation of nutria ( Myocastor coypus ) by the Thuringian Ministry for Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Environment (85-J25).

•  2003: responsible for raising about 161000 € for a postdoc position including budget for lab work and travel (BIOTA-South Africa, BMBF), duration 2004-2006.

•  2006: own application and accquisition of 165000 € (BIOTA-South Africa, BMBF), for a postdoc postion including budget for lab work and travel, duration 2007-2009.

 

Publications

Theses

Meyer, J. (1999): Untersuchungen an einer Stadtpopulation des Nutrias ( Myocastor coypus , MOLINA 1782) an der ‚Oberen Saale' / Thüringen. Diplomarbeit, Universität Jena.

Meyer, J. (2004): The impact of habitat structures on some small rodents in the Kalahari Thornveld, South Africa. Dissertation, Universität Marburg, UFZ-Berichte 16 / 2004.

Journals (chronological)

published / in press

(reprints on request)

Eccard, J. A.; Meyer, J.; Sundell, J. (2004): Mating system, space use, and circadian activity pattern of nocturnal tree rat Thallomys nigricauda . Journal of Mammalogy 85: 440-445.

Meyer, J.; Brandl, R. (2005): Nesting sites, nest densities of the namaqua rock mouse ( Aethomys namaquensis ) in the Thornveld savannah, South Africa. Mammalian Biology 69: 126-129.

Meyer, J.; Klemann, N.; Halle, S. (2005): Diurnal activity patterns in coypus in an urban habitat. Acta Theriologica 50: 207-211.

Meyer, J. (2006): Field methods for studying nutrias. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34: 850-852.

Meyer, J.; Kohnen, A.; Harf, R.; Froeschke, G.; Brandl, R. (2006): Useful molecular markers for some southern African mammals. Folia Zoologica 55: 444-447.

Meyer, J.; Steinhauser, J.; Jeltsch, F.; Brandl, R. (2007): Large trees, acacia shrubs, and the density of Thallomys nigricauda in the Thornveld savannah of South Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 68: 363-370.

Meyer, J.; Raudnitschka, D.; Steinhauser, J.; Jeltsch, F.; Brandl, R. (in press): Biology and ecology of Thallomys nigricauda (Rodentia, Muridae) in the Thornveld savannah of South Africa. Mammalian Biology.

 

submitted

Giesselmann, U.; Meyer, J.; Brandl, R.: Variability of colony size in the sociable weaver ( Philetairus socius ). Journal of Ornithology.

Giesselmann, U.; Wiegand, T.; Meyer, J.; Vogel, M.; Brandl, R.: Spatial distribution of colonies in the sociable weaver Philetairus socius . Austral Ecology.

Kohnen, A.; Meyer, J.; Brandl, R. (under revision): The genus Thallomys (Rodentia, Muridae): phylogeography and divergence times. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.

Meyer, J.; Kohnen, A.; Durka, W.; Brandl, R.: STR-primer for the hairy footed gerbil ( Gerbillurus paeba ). Molecular Ecology Notes.

 

Not peer-reviewed

Meyer, J. (2001): Die Nutria ( Myocastor coypus , MOLINA 1780) – eine anpassungsfähige Wildart. Beiträge zur Jagd- und Wildforschung 26: 339-347.

Meyer, J. (2004a): Flexible primäre Geschlechterverhältnisse – Bedeutung, Beispiele und Mechanismen – ein Überblick. Beiträge zur Jagd- und Wildforschung 29: 125-130.

Meyer, J. (2004b): Skull measurements as a field tool for sex discrimination in muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus ) from East Greenland. Beiträge zur Jagd- und Wildforschung 29: 187-191.

 

Links

•  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde

•  Gesellschaft für Ökologie