Institute of Ecology and Evolution

Prof. em. Dr. Heinz Richner

Professor Emeritus Evolutionary Ecology

E-Mail
heinz.richner@unibe.ch
Postal Address
University of Bern
Baltzerstrasse 6
3012 Bern

I am retired since 2016 and enjoy having time out in nature, for hiking, biking, to play music, sailing, sketching and see friends and family.

After retirement I started to work as a scientific advisor, in an international team, on a research project on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. We work on solutions for controlling a parasite that has brought several endemic bird species of the Galapagos Islands close to extinction over the past 15 years. The project is funded by the Austrian Research Fund. 

At the University of Bern, for almost 25 years as a professor, my research interests revolved around the causes of variation in the virulence of pathogens. Virulence, the degree of damage we observe in host-parasite interactions, is the sum of the direct effect of a parasite on its host plus the effects of the host responses to the parasite. Since observations alone of the outcome of host-parasite interactions cannot inform us about cause and consequence, we used an experimental system with great tits and some of its parasites. These were large-scale field studies in the forests around Bern, Lausanne, and Gotland (Sweden). The basic principle of the often complex experimental designs consisted of manipulating the factors of interest while randomizing all others.

Over the years this has led me and my students to discover many interesting facets and mechanisms of host-parasite interactions at the levels of physiology, behaviour, immunology, ecology, and genetics.

For a list of my publications please check with my Google Scholar ID.  Please write a mail to me if you can't find a pdf of a paper that interests you.

2019-   Scientific advisor on a research project in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, finding solutions for controlling a parasite that kills endemic birds and endangered species
since 2016- Professor emeritus, University of Bern
1992- 2015 Professor of Biology, University of Bern, Co-director of Institute of Ecology & Evolution IEE
2012   Visiting Professor at University of Firenze, Italia
2012   Visiting Professor at CNRS and University of Montpellier, France
2003- 2018 Member of the selection committee for SNF Research Professorships at the Swiss National Science Foundation
2008- 2017 Member of the selection committee for Ambizione Fellows at the Swiss National Science Foundation
2001- 2010 Member of the National Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation (Forschungsrat - Div. Biology and Medicine)
2006   Visiting Professor at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2004- 2006 Acting Director of Zoology Institute, University of Bern
2000- 2001 Visiting Professor at the University of California in Santa Barbara, USA
1996- 1998 Head of Biology Department 1996-98, Bern University
1990- 1992 SNF-START Fellowship (now Science Foundation Research Professorships) University of Lausanne
1989- 1994 President of the Swiss Zoological Society, Founder of the Annual Satellite Symposium which later on became the annual biology symposium series
1984- 1989 Research & Teaching Assistant at the Ecology Department of the University of Lausanne
1980- 1984 Post-doctoral research at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and in the Sudan and in Kenya
1976- 1980 PhD-studies at the University of Zurich

 

Languages

English, French, German, Swiss German (all completely fluent, written and spoken)

Italian (level B2)

Spanish (level B2)

 

Please check with my Google Scholar ID. Enjoy reading and send me a mail for any questions or comments you may have or if you can't find a PDF of any of my publications.

     
 

 

 

180

 

CL Pike, R Hood-Nowotny, B Kofler, H Richner, S Tebbich (2024)
Nest climate and blood quality of two host species of the ectoparasitic Philornis downsi in the Galapagos Islands as factors of larval development
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 12, 1398353

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179

 

LG Spurgin, M Bosse, F Adriaensen, T Albayrak, C Barboutis, E Belda, H Richner et al. (2024)
The great tit HapMap project: A continental‐scale analysis of genomic variation in a songbird
Molecular Ecology Resources 24 (5), e13969

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178

 

CL Pike, B Kofler, H Richner, S Tebbich (2024)
Parental food provisioning and nestling growth under Philornis downsi parasitism in the Galapagos Green Warbler-Finch, classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the IUCN
Journal of Ornithology 164 (3), 669-676

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177

 

AP Møller, J Balbontín, AA Dhondt, F Adriaensen, A Artemyev, J Bańbura, H Richner et al. (2023)
Interaction of climate change with effects of conspecific and heterospecific density on reproduction
Oikos 129 (12), 1807-1819

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176

 

C Leuba, S Tebbich, E Nemeth, D Anchundia, E Heyer, DA Mosquera, H Richner, et al. (2020)
Effect of an introduced parasite in natural and anthropogenic habitats on the breeding success of the endemic little vermilion flycatcher Pyrocephalus nanus in the Galápagos
Journal of Avian Biology 51 (8)

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175

 

H Richner, K Wilson (2020)
Reproductive behavior and parasites: vertebrates
Academic Press

 

174

 

ASC Appelgren, V Saladin, H Richner, B Doligez, KD McCoy (2019)
Gene flow and adaptive potential in a generalist ectoparasite
BMC Evolutionary Biology 18, 1-13

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173

 

S Losdat, JD Blount, V Marri, L Maronde, H Richner, F Helfenstein (2018)
Effects of an early‐life paraquat exposure on adult resistance to oxidative stress, plumage colour and sperm performance in a wild bird
Journal of Animal Ecology 87 (4), 1137-1148

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172

 

L Maronde, S Losdat, H Richner (2018)
Do parasites and antioxidant availability affect begging behaviour, growth rate and resistance to oxidative stress?
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 31 (6), 904-913

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171

 

VN Laine, TI Gossmann, KM Schachtschneider, CJ Garroway, O Madsen, H Richner et al. (2016)
Evolutionary signals of selection on cognition from the great tit genome and methylome
Nature Communications 7 (1), 10474

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170

 

Dreiss AN, PG Chatelain, A Roulin, H Richner (2016)
Prosody Predicts Contest Outcome in Non-Verbal Dialogs
PloS one 11 (12), e0166953

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169

 

Fasel N J, C Wesseling, AA Fernandez, A Vallat, G Glauser, F Helfenstein,&H.Richner (2017): Alternative reproductive tactics, sperm mobility and oxidative stress in Carollia perspicillata (Seba’s short-tailed bat).
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 71 (1), 11

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168

 

Richner H. (2016): Interval singing links to phenotypic quality in a songbird.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113 (45), 12763-12767

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167

 

Fasel N, V Saladin, H Richner.(2016): Alternative reproductive tactics and reproductive success in male Carollia perspicillata (Seba's short‐tailed bat).
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 29: 2242-2255

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166

 

M Vaugoyeau, F Adriaensen, A Artemyev, J Bańbura, E Barba, C Biard, Richner H.etc (2016): Interspecific variation in the relationship between clutch size, laying date and intensity of urbanization in four species of hole‐nesting birds.
Ecology and Evolution 6: 5907-5920

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165

 

Abbate JL, CL Murall, H Richner, CL Althaus.(2016):  Potential impact of sexual transmission on Ebola virus epidemiology: Sierra Leone as a case study .
PLoS Negl Trop Dis 10 (5), e0004676

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164

 

Appelgren A., McCoy K.D., Richner H. & Doligez B.(2016): Relative fitness of a generalist parasite on two alternative hosts: a cross-infestation experiment to test host specialization of the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank).
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 29: 1091-1101

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163

 

Wesseling C., Nicolas Fasel N., Richner H., & Helfenstein F. (2016): Modification of sperm quality after sexual abstinence in the Seba's short tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata).
Journal of Experimental Biology 219:1363-1368

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162

 

Lemoine et al (2016): Low but contrasting neutral genetic differentiation shaped by winter temperature in European great tits.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (in press)

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161

 

Basso A. & Richner, H. (2015): Effects of nest predation risk on female incubation behaviour and offspring growth in great tits.
Behavioural Ecology & Sociobiology 69, 977-989

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160

 

Basso A. & Richner, H. (2015): Predator-specific effects on incubation behaviour and offspring growth in great tits
PlosOne 10(4): e0121088

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159

 

Wegmann M., Voegeli B. & Richner H. (2015): Physiological responses to increased brood size and ectoparasite infestation: adult great tits favour self-maintenance.
Physiology & Behavior 141: 127-134

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158

 

Wegmann M., Voegeli B. & Richner H. (2015): Oxidative status and reproductive effort of great tits in a handicapping experiment.
Behavioral Ecology 26: 747-757

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157

 

Fasel N., Helfenstein F., Buff S. & Richner, H. (2015): Electroejaculation and semen buffer evaluation in the microbat Carollia perspicillata.
Theriogenology 83: 904-910

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156

 

Maronde L. & Richner, H. (2015): Effects of increased begging and vitamin E supplements on oxidative stress and fledging probability.
Behavioral Ecology 26: 465-471

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155

 

Marri V. & Richner, H. (2015): Immune response, oxidative stress and dietary antioxidants in great tit nestlings.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 179: 192-196

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154

 

Marri V. & Richner, H. (2014): Yolk carotenoids increase fledging success in great tit nestlings.
Oecologia 176: 371-377

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153

 

Wegmann M., Voegeli B. & Richner H. (2015): Parasites suppress immune-enhancing effect of methionine in nestling great tits.
Oecologia 177: 213-221

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152

 

Fernandez Ahana A., Fasel N., Knoernschild M. & Richner H. (2014): When bats are boxing: aggressive behaviour and communication in male Seba's short-tailed fruit bat
Animal Behaviour 98: 149-156

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151

 

Basso A., Coslovsky M. & Richner, H. (2014): Parasite- and predator-induced maternal effects in the Great tit (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 25: 1105-1114

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150

 

Marri V. & Richner, H. (2014): Differential effects of vitamins E and C and carotenoids on growth, resistance to oxidative stress, fledging success and plumage colouration in wild great tits.
Journal of Experimental Biology 217: 1478-1484

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149

 

Losdat, S; Helfenstein, F; Blount, JD; Richner, H (2014): Resistance to oxidative stress shows low heritability and high common environmental variance in a wild bird.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 27: 1990-2000

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148

 

Møller AP et al. (2014):Variation in clutch size in relation to nest size in birds
Ecology and Evolution 4: 3583-3595

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147

 

Møller AP et al. (2014):Clutch size variation in Western Palearctic secondary hole nesting passerine birds in relation to nest box design
Methods in Ecology and Evolution 5: 353-362

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146

 

Voegeli, B., Saladin V., Wegmann, M. & Richner, H. (2013): Heterozygosity is linked to the costs of immunity in nestling great tits (Parus major)
Ecology and Evolution 3: 4815-4827

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145

 

Postma E., Giordano M., Siitari H., Schwabl H., Richner H. & Tschirren B. (2013): The multivariate egg: quantifying within- and among-clutch correlations between maternally derived yolk immunoglobulins and yolk androgens using multivariate mixed models
Oecologia 174: 631-638

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144

 

Podlas K. & Richner H. (2013): The adaptive function of hatching asynchrony: an experimental study in great tits
Animal Behaviour 86: 567-576

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143

 

Podlas K., Helfenstein F. & Richner H. (2013): Brood reduction via intra-clutch variation in testosterone - an experimental test in the great tit
PLOS ONE: e56672

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142

 

Podlas K. & Richner H. (2013): Partial incubation and its function in Great tits (Parus major) - an experimental test
Behavioral Ecology 24: 643-649

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141

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Blount J.D., Marri V., Maronde L. & Richner H. (2013): Nestling erythrocyte resistance to oxidative stress predicts fledging success but not local recruitment in a wild bird
Biology Letters 9: 20120888

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140

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2012): Preparing offspring for a dangerous world: potential costs of being wrong
PLOS ONE 7: e48840

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139

 

Royle N.J., Pike T.W., Heeb P., Richner H. & Koelliker M. (2012): Offspring Social Network Structure Predicts Fitness in Families
Proceedings of the Royal Society B 279: 4914-4922

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138

 

Rueesch S., Lemoine M. & Richner H. (2012): Ectoparasite reproductive performance when host condition varies
Parasitology Research 111: 1193-1203

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137

 

Coslovsky M., Groothuis T., de Vries, B. & Richner H. (2012): Maternal steroids in egg yolk as a pathway to translate predation risk to offspring: Experiments with great tits
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY 176: 211-214

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136

 

A'Hara SW et.al (2012): Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database
Molecular Ecology Resources 12: 185-189
135

 

Voegeli B., Saladin V., Wegmann M. & Richner H. (2012): Parasites as mediators of heterozygosity-fitness correlations in the Great Tit (Parus major)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 25: 584-590

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134

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2012): An experimental test of predator-parasite interaction in a Passerine bird
OIKOS 10: 1691-1701.

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133

 

Lemoine M., Doligez B. & Richner H. (2012): On the equivalence of host local adaptation and parasite maladaptation: an experimental test
American Naturalist 179: 270-281.

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132

 

Saladin V. & Richner H. (2012): A set of 48 microsatellite loci for the great tit Parus major including 15 novel markers
Molecular Ecology Resources (in press).
131

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Saladin V. & Richner H.(2011): Higher in vitro resistance to oxidative stress in extra-pair offspring
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 2525-2530

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130

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Gaude B. & Richner H.(2011): Reproductive effort transiently reduces antioxidant capacity in a wild bird
Behavioral Ecology 22: 1218-1226

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129

 

Losdat S. Richner H., Blount JD & Helfenstein F. (2011): Immune activation reduces sperm quality in the great tit
PLOS ONE  6: (7) e 22221.

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128

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2011): Increased predation risk on mothers affects survival of parasites feeding on the offspring
Animal Behaviour 81: 1071-1075.

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127

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2011): Predation risk affects offspring growth via maternal effects
Functional Ecology 25: 878-888.

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126

 

Lemoine M., Doligez B., Passerault M. & Richner H. (2011): Influence of host profitability and microenvironmental conditions on parasite specialisation on a main and an alternative hosts
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 1212-1225.

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125

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Gaude B., Richner H. (2010): Effect of sibling competition and male carotenoid supply on offspring condition and oxidative stress
Behavioral Ecology 21: 1271-1277.

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124

 

Jacot A., Romero-Diaz C., Tschirren B., Richner H. & Fitze P.S. (2010): Dissecting carotenoid from structural components of carotenoid-based coloration: a field experiment with great tits (Parus major)
American Naturalist 176: 55-62.

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123 Richner H. (2010): Parasite-modified reproductive behavior - vertebrates.
Encyclopedia of Animal Behaviour; M Breed, J Moore (ed); Elsevier (incl. Pergamon ), Oxford, UK.

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122 Helfenstein F., Losdat S., Moller A.P., Blount J. & Richner H. (2010): Sperm of colourful males are better protected against oxidative stress.
Ecology Letters 13: 213-222.

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121

 

Lambrechts MM et al. (2010): The design of artificial nestboxes for the study of secondary hole-nesting birds: a review of methodological inconsistencies and potential biases
Acta Ornithologica 45: 1-26.

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120 Helfenstein F., Podevin M. & Richner H. (2009): Sperm morphology, swimming velocity and longevity in the house sparrow Passer domesticus.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64: 557-565.

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119 Bischoff L., Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2009): Long-term effects of early parasite exposure on song duration and singing strategy in great tits.
Behavioral Ecology 20: 265-270.

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118

 

Tschirren, B., Siitari, H., Saladin, V. & Richner, H. (2009):Transgenerational immunity in a bird-ectoparasite system: do maternally transferred antibodies affect parasite fecundity or the offspring's susceptibility to fleas?
IBIS, 151, 160-170.

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117

 

Gallizzi K., Alloitteau O.,Harrang E. & Richner H. (2008): Fleas, parental care and transgenerational effects on tick load in the great tit.
Behavioral Ecology 19: 1225-1234.

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116

 

White J., Wagner R.H., Helfenstein, F., Hatch, S.A., Mulard, H., Naves, L.C. and Danchin, E. 2008. Multiple deleterious effects of experimentally aged sperm in a monogamous bird.
PNAS, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 105: 13947-13952.

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115

 

Helfenstein, F., Szép T., Nagy, Z., Kempenaers, B. and Wagner, R.H. (2008). Between-male variation in sperm size, velocity and longevity in sand martins Riparia riparia.
Journal of Avian Biology 39: 647-652.

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114

 

Helfenstein F., Losdat S.,Saladin V. & Richner H. (2008): Females of carotenoid-supplemented males are more faithful and produce higher quality offspring.
Behavioral Ecology 19: 1165-1172.

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113

 

Gallizzi, K., Bischoff L., Gern L. & Richner H. (2008): An experimental study on the influence of tick infestations on nestling performance in the great tit.
The AUK 125: 915-922.

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112

 

Berthouly A., Cassier A. & Richner H. (2008): Carotenoid-induced maternal effects interact with environmental stressors to shape the trade-off between growth and immunity in nestling great tits.
Functional Ecology 22: 854-863.

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111

 

Gallizzi, K. & Richner H. (2008): A parasite-induced maternal effect can reduce survival times of fleas feeding on great tit nestlings.
OIKOS 117: 1209-1217.

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110

 

Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2008): Differential effects of yolk hormones on maternal and paternal contribution to parental care.
Animal Behaviour 75: 1989-1994.

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109

 

Tanner M. & Richner H. (2008): Ultraviolet reflectance of plumage for parent-offspring communication in the great tit (Parus major).
Behavioural Ecology 19: 369-373.

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108

 

Tanner M., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2008): Differential food allocation by male and female great tit (Parus major) parents: are parents or offspring in control?
Animal Behaviour 75: 1563-1569.

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107

 

Gallizzi, K., Guenon B. & Richner H. (2008): Maternally transmitted parasite defence can be beneficial in the absence of parasites.
OIKOS: 117, 223-230.

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106

 

Helfenstein F., Berthouly A., Tanner M., Karadas F. & Richner H. (2008): Nestling begging intensity and parental effort in relation to prelaying carotenoid availability.
Behavioral Ecology 19: 108-115.

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105

 

Roulin A., Gasparini J., Bize P., Ritschard M. & Richner H. (2008): Melanin-based colorations signal strategies to cope with poor and rich environments.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62: 507-519.

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104

 

Berthouly A., Helfenstein F., Tanner M. & Richner H. (2008): Sex-related effects of maternal egg investment on offspring in relation to carotenoid availability in the great tit.
Journal of Animal Ecology 77: 74-82.

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103

 

Gallizzi, K., Gern, L. & Richner H. (2008): A flea-induced pre-hatching maternal effect modulatestick feeding behaviour on Great Tit nestlings.
Functional Ecology 22: 94-99.

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102

 

Doligez B., Berthouly A., Doligez D., Tanner M., Saladin V., Bonfils D. & Richner H. (2008): Local breeding habitat quality and offspring sex ratio adjustment in a wild tit population.
Ecology 89: 1436-1444.

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101

 

Tanner M., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2007): Parental influence on sibling rivalry in great tit (Parus major) nests.
Animal Behaviour 74: 977-983.

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100

 

Berthouly A., Helfenstein F. & Richner H. (2007): Cellular immune response, stress resistance and competitiveness in nestling great tits in relation to maternally transmitted carotenoids.
Functional Ecology 21: 335-343.

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99

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S. & Richner H. (2007): Maternal modulation of natal dispersal in a passerine bird: an adaptive strategy to cope with parasitism?
American Naturalist 169: 87-93

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98

 

Tschirren B., Bischoff L.,Saladin V. & Richner H. (2007): Host condition and host immunity affect parasite fitness in a bird-ectoparasite system.
Functional Ecology 21: 372-378.

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97

 

Fitze P.S., Tschirren B., Gasparini J. & Richner H. (2007): Carotenoid-based plumage colors and immune function: Is there a trade-off for rare carotenoids?
American Naturalist 169, S137-S144.

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96

 

Saladin V., Ritschard M., Roulin A., Pierre Bize P. & Richner H.(2007): Analysis of genetic parentage in the tawny owl (Strix aluco) reveals extra-pair paternity is low.
Journal of Ornithology 147: 113-116.
 
95

 

Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2006): Parasites shape the optimal investment in immunity.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 273: 1773-1777.

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94

 

Richner H. & Schmid-Hempel P. (2006): Wirt-Parasit-Koevolution.
Grundzüge der Allgemeinen Parasitologie, T. Hiepe, R. Lucius and B. Gottstein (eds.), Stuttgart Parey-Blackwell: pp.69-79.

 
93

 

Fitze P.S. & Tschirren B.(2006): No evidence for survival selection on carotenoid-based nestling coloration in great tits (Parus major)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 19: 618-624.

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92

 

Bize P., Roulin A.,Tella J. & Richner H. (2005): Female-biased mortality in experimentally parasitized Alpine swift (Apus melba) nestlings.
Functional Ecology 19: 405-413.

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91

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S.,Richner H. (2005): Carotenoid-based nestling coloration and parental favouritism in the great tit (Parus major).
Oecologia 143: 477-482.

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90

 

Tschirren B., Saladin V., Fitze P.S.,Schwabl H. & Richner H. (2005): Maternal yolk testosterone does not modulate parasite susceptibility or immune function in great tit nestlings.
Journal of Animal Ecology 74: 675-682.

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89

 

Roulin A., Bize P., Tzaud N., Bianchi M., Ravussin P.A. & Christe P. (2005): Oxygen consumption in offspring tawny owls Strix aluco is associated with colour morph of foster mother.
Journ.Ornithol. 146: 390-394.
 
88

 

Jacot, A.et al. (2005) Juvenile immune status affects the expression of a sexually selected trait in field crickets.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 18, 1060-1068.

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87

 

Jacot, A., Scheuber H., Kurtz J. & Brinkhof MWG (2005) Juvenile immune system activation induces a costly upregulation of adult immunity in field crickets Gryllus campestris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 272, 63-69.

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86

 

Bize P., Roulin A., Tella J., BersierL.-F.& Richner H. (2004): Additive effects of ectoparasites over reproductive attempts in the long-lived Alpine swift.
Journal of Animal Ecology 73: 1080-1088.

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85

 

Tschirren B., Richner H. & Schwabl H. (2004): Ectoparasite-modulated deposition of maternal androgens in great tit eggs.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 271, 1371-1375.

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84

 

Fitze, P.S., Clobert J. & Richner H. (2004): Long-term life-history consequences of ectoparasite-modulated growth and development.
Ecology 85: 2018-2026.

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83

 

Kölliker, M. & Richner H. (2004) Navigation in a cup: chick positioning in great tit (Parus major) nests.
Animal Behaviour 68:1005-1012.

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82

 

Bize P., Roulin A. & Richner H. (2004): Parasitism, developmental plasticity and bilateral asymmetry of wing feathers in Alpine swift (Apus melba) nestlings.
Oikos 106: 317-323.

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81

 

Roulin A.,Bize P., Ravussin P.A. & Broch L. (2004): Genetic and environmental effects on the covariation between colour polymorphism and a life-history trait.
Evolutionary Ecology Research 6: 1253-1260.

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80

 

Fitze, P.S., Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2004):Life-history- and fitness consequences of ectoparasites.
Journal of Animal Ecology 73, 216-226.

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79

 

Jacot, A.et al. (2004) Costs of an induced immune response on sexual display and longevity in field crickets.
Evolution 271, 2453-2457.

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78

 

Scheuber, H.et al. (2004) Female preference for multiple condition-dependent components of a sexually selected signal.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 271, 2453-2457.

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77

 

Fitze P.S., Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2003): Carotenoid-based colour expression is determined early in nestlinglife
Oecologia 137: 148-152.

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76

 

Bize P., Roulin A. & Richner H. (2003): Adoption as an offspring strategy to reduce ectoparasite exposure
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 270, S114-116. (Suppl.)

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75

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S.& Richner H. (2003): Sexual dimorphism in susceptibility to parasites and cell-mediated immunity in Great tit nestlings (Parus major).
Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 839-845.

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74

 

Saladin V., Bonfils D., Binz T., & Richner H. (2003): Isolation and characterization of 16 microsatellite loci in the Great Tit Parus major.
Molecular Ecology 3, 520-522.

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73

 

Bize P., Roulin A., Bersier LF, Pfluger D. & Richner H. (2003): Parasitism and developmental plasticity in Alpine swiftnestlings
Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 633-639.

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72

 

Fitze P.S., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2003): Effects of common origin and common environment on nestling plumage coloration in the Great tit (Parus major)
Evolution 57: 144-150.

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71

 

Binz T., Bonfils D., Balloux F. & Richner H. (2003): Isolation and characterization of 23 microsatellite loci in the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae.
Molecular Ecology Notes 3: 215-217.

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70

 

Walker M., Steiner S., Brinkhof MWG & H. Richner (2003). Induced responses of nestling great tits reduce hen flea reproduction.
Oikos 102: 67-74.

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69

 

Neuenschwander S., Brinkhof MWG, Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2003): Brood size, sibling competition, and the cost of begging in Great Tits (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 14: 457-462.

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68

 

Roulin A., Brinkhof MWG, Bize P., Richner H, Jungi TW, Bavoux C., Boileau N. & Burneleau G (2003). Which chick is tasty to parasites? The importance of host immunology versus parasite life-history.
Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 75-81.

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67

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S., & Richner H. (2003): Proximate mechanisms of variation in the carotenoid-based plumage coloration of nestling great tits (Parus major L)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 16: 91-100.

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66

 

Scheuber, H., Jacot, A. & Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2003) The effect of past condition on a multicomponent sexual signal.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 270, 1779-1784.

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65

 

Holzer, B., Jacot, A. & Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2003) Condition-dependent signaling affects male sexual attractiveness in field crickets Gryllus campestris.
Behavioral Ecology 14: 353-359.

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64

 

Scheuber, H., Jacot, A. & Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2003) Condition-dependence of a multi-component sexual signal in the field cricket Gryllus campestris.
Animal Behaviour 65: 721-727.

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63

 

Buechler K., Fitze P.S., Gottstein B.,Jacot A. & Richner H. (2002): Parasite-induced maternal response in a natural bird population.
Journal of Animal Ecology, 71: 247-252.

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62

 

Tripet, F., Jacot, A. & Richner H.(2002): Larval competition affects the life histories and dispersal behavior of an avian ectoparasite.
Ecology 83: 935-945.

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61

 

Fitze P.S. & Richner H. (2002): Differential effects of a parasite on ornamental structures based on melanins and carotenoids.
Behavioral Ecology 13: 401-407.

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60

 

Tripet, F., Glaser, M. and H. Richner (2002): Behavioural responses to ectoparasites: Time-budget adjustments and what matters in blue tits Parus caeruleus infested by fleas
Ibis 144: 461-469

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59

 

Bize P, Roulin A. & Richner H. (2002): Covariation between egg size and rearing condition determines offspring quality: an experiment in the Alpine Swift
Oecologia 132: 231-234.

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58

 

Kölliker, M. & Richner H. (2001) Parent-offspring conflict and the genetics of offspring solicitation and parental response.
Animal Behaviour 62: 395-407.

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57

 

Danchin E. & Richner H. (2001): Viable and unviable hypotheses for the evolution of raven roosts.
Animal Behaviour 61: F7-11.

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56

 

Richner H. & Danchin E. (2001): On the importance of slight nuances in evolutionary scenario.
Animal Behaviour 61: F17-18

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55

 

Roulin A., Dijkstra, C., Riols, C. & Ducrest, A.-L. 2001. Female- and male-specific signals of quality in the barn owl.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 14, 255-266.
 
54

 

Roulin, A., C. Riols, Dijkstra C. & Ducrest A. (2001). Female plumage spottiness signals parasite resistance in the barn owl (Tyto alba).
Behavioral Ecology 12: 103-110

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53

 

Richner H. & Milinski M. (2000): On the functional significance of masking behaviour in sea urchins - an experiment with Paracentrotus lividus.
Marine Ecology Progress Series 205, 307-308

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52

 

Kölliker M., Brinkhof M.W.G., Heeb P., Fitze P.S., Richner H.(2000): The quantitative genetic basis of offspring solicitation and parental response in a passerine bird with biparental care.
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 267, 2127-2132.

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51

 

Roulin A., Kölliker M. & Richner H. (2000): Barn owl (Tyto alba) siblings vocally negociate resources
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 267, 459-464.

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50

 

Heeb P., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2000): Bird-ectoparasite interactions, nest humidity, and ectoparasite community structure.
Ecology 81, 958-968.

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49

 

Roulin, A., T. W. Jungi, Pfister H. & Dijkstra C. (2000). Female barn owls (Tyto alba) advertise good genes.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 267, 937-941.

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48

 

Roulin, A. (1999). Natural and experimentalnest-switching in Barn Owl Tyto alba fledglings.
Ardea 87: 237-246.

 
47

 

Roulin, A. (1999). Nonrandom pairing by male barn owls (Tyto alba) with respect to a female plumage trait.
Behavioral Ecology 10: 688-695.

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46

 

Roulin, A., A. L. Ducrest & Dijkstra C. (1999). Effect of brood size manipulations on parents and offspring in the barn owl Tyto alba.
Ardea 87: 91-100.

 
45

 

Roulin, A. (1999). Delayed maturation of plumage coloration and plumage spottedness in the barn owl (Tyto alba).
Journal fur Ornithologie 140: 193-197.

 
44

 

Kölliker, M., Heeb P., Werner I., Matemann C,Lessells C. & Richner H. (1999): Offspring sex ratio is related to male body size in the great tit (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 10: 68-72.

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43

 

Richner H. & Tripet F. (1999): Ectoparasitism and the trade-off between current and future reproduction.
Oikos 86: 535-538.

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42

 

Tripet F. & Richner H. (1999): Demography of hen flea (Ceratophyllus gallinae) subpopulations.
Journal of Insect Behaviour 12: 159-174.

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41

 

Tripet F. & Richner H. (1999): Density-dependent processes in the population dynamics of a bird ectoparasite Ceratophyllus gallinae.
Ecology 80: 1267-1277.8

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40

 

Heeb P., Werner I., Mateman A.C., Kölliker M., Brinkhof M.W.G., Lessells C.M. & Richner H.(1999): Ectoparasite infestation and sex-biased local recruitment of hosts.
Nature 400: 63-65.

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39

 

Brinkhof M.W.G., Heeb P., Kölliker M. & Richner H. (1999): Immunocompetence of nestling great tits in relation to rearing environment and parentage.
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 266, 2315-2322.

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38

 

Roulin, A. & P. Heeb (1999). The immunological function of allosuckling.
Ecology Letters 2: 319-324.

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37

 

Gebhardt S. & H. Richner (1998): Consequences of growth variation for fitness. In: Ricklefs R. and Starck M.: Avian Growth and Development. pp.324-339.
Oxford University Press, Oxford.

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36

 

Heeb P., I. Werner,M. Kölliker & H. Richner (1998): Benefits of induced host responses against an ectoparasite.
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 265: 51-56.

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35

 

Kölliker, M., H. Richner, I. Werner, P. Heeb P. (1998): Begging signals and biparental care: nestling choice between parental feeding locations.
Animal Behaviour 55: 215-222.

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34

 

Gebhardt S.G., Heeb, P., Richner H. & Tripet. F. (1998). Does loss of mass during breeding correlate with reproductive success? A study on Blue Tits Parus caeruleus.
Ibis 140: 210-213.

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33

 

Roulin A., Richner H. & Ducrest A.L. (1998): Genetic, environmental and condition-dependent effects on female and male plumage ornamentation in the barn owl Tyto alba.
Evolution 52: 1451-1460.

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32

 

Gosgen R., Dunbar R., Haig D., Heyer E., Mace R., Milinski M., Pison G., Richner H., Strassmann B., Thaler D., Wedekind C. & Stearns S. (1998): Evolutionary interpretation of the diversity of reproductive health and disease. In: Evolution of Health & Disease, (S.Stearns ed.).
Oxford University Press, Oxford.

 
31

 

Richner H. (1998): Host-Parasite Evolution: General Principles and Avian Models (D.H.Clayton & J.Moore, eds.).
Animal Behaviour 55:1401-1402 (book review).

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30

 

Richner H. (1998): Host-parasite interactions and life-history evolution.
ZACS: Zoology - Analysis of Complex Systems 101: 333-344.

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29

 

Oppliger A., P. Christe & H. Richner (1997): Clutch size and malarial parasites in female great tits.
Behavioral Ecology 8: 148-152.

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28

 

Tripet F. & H. Richner (1997). Host responses to ectoparasites: food compensation by parent blue tits.
Oikos 78: 557-561.

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27

 

Tripet F. & H. Richner (1997). The coevolutionary potential of a 'generalist' parasite, the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae
Parasitology 115: 419-427.

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26

 

Christe P., H. Richner & A. Oppliger (1996): Begging, food provisioning, and nestling competition in great tit broods infested with ectoparasites.
Behavioral Ecology 7: 127-131.

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25

 

Christe P., H. Richner & A. Oppliger (1996): Of great tits and fleas: Sleep baby sleep...
Animal Behaviour 52: 1087-1092.

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24

 

Heeb P., I. Werner,H. Richner & M. Kölliker (1996): Horizontal transmission and reproductive rates of hen fleas in great tit nests.
Journal of Animal Ecology, 65, 474-484.

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23

 

Perrin N., P. Christe & H. Richner (1996): On host life-history responses to parasitism.
Oikos 75: 317-321.

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22

 

Oppliger A., Christe P. & Richner H. (1996): Trade-off between clutch size and parasite resistance.
Nature 381: 565.

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21

 

Richner H. & P. Heeb (1996): Communal life: Honest signalling and the recruitment centre hypothesis.
Behavioral Ecology 7: 115-118.

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20

 

Richner H. (1995). Wintering cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo carbo in the Ythan estuary: Numerical and behavioural responses to fluctuating food availability.
Ardea, 83: 193-197.

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19

 

Richner H. & P. Heeb (1995): Are clutch and brood size patterns in birds shaped by ectoparasites?
Oikos 73: 435-441.

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18

 

Richner H., P. Christe P. & A. Oppliger (1995): Paternal investment affects prevalence of malaria.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 92: 1192-1194.

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17

 

Richner H. & P. Heeb (1995): Is the information centre hypothesis a flop?
Advances in the Study of Behaviour 24: 1-46.

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16

 

Oppliger A., H. Richner & P. Christe (1994): Effect of an ectoparasite on lay date, nest site choice and desertion, and hatching success in the great tit (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 5: 130-134.

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15

 

Keller L., Milinski M., Frischknecht M., Perrin N., H. Richner H. & Tripet F. (1994): Spiteful animals still to be discovered.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution 9: 103.

 
14

 

Christe P., A. Oppliger & H. Richner (1994): Ectoparasite affects choice and use of roost sites in the great tit (Parus major).
Animal Behaviour 47: 895-898.

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13

 

Richner H., A. Oppliger & P. Christe (1993): Effect of an ectoparasite on reproduction in great tits.
Journal of Animal Ecology 62: 703-710.

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12

 

Richner H. 1993. Assessment of expected performance and Zahavi's notion of signal.
Animal Behaviour, 45, 399-401.

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11

 

Richner H. 1992. The effect of extra-food on fitness in breeding Carrion Crows.
Ecology, 73, 330-335.

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10

 

Richner H. & Marclay C. 1991. Evolution of avian roosting behaviour: a test of the information center hypothesis and of a critical assumption.
Animal Behaviour, 41, 433-438.

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9

 

Richner H. 1991. The growth dynamics of sexually dimorphic birds and Fisher's sex ratio theory: does sex-specific growth contribute to balanced sex ratios?
Functional Ecology, 5, 19-28.

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8

 

Raffaeli D., Richner H., Summers R & Northcott S 1990. Tidal migrations in the flounder Platychthis flesus.
Marine Behaviour and Physiology 16, 249-260.

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7

 

Richner H. 1990. Helpers-at-the-nest in Carrion Crows Corvus corone corone L.
Ibis, 132, 105-108

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6

 

Richner H 1989. Avian laparoscopy as a field technique for sexing birds and an assessment of its effects on wild birds.
Journal of Field Ornithology 60, 137-142.

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5

 

Richner H., Schneiter P. & Stirnimann H. 1989. Life history consequences of growth rate depression: an experiment with Carrion Crows.
Functional Ecology, 3, 617-625.

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4

 

Richner H. 1989. Phenotypic correlates of dominance in Carrion Crows and their effects on access to food.
Animal Behaviour, 38, 606-612.

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3

 

Richner H. 1989. Habitat-specific growth and fitness in Carrion Crows (Corvus corone corone L).
Journal of Animal Ecology, 58, 427-440

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2

 

Richner H. 1988. Temporal and spatial patterns in the abundance of wintering Red-breasted Mergansers Mergus serrator in an estuary.
Ibis, 130, 73-78.

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1

 

Richner H. 1986. Winter feeding strategies of individually marked herons.
Animal Behaviour, 34, 881-886.

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I like to play modern jazz, studied music at the general section of the Swiss Jazz School in Bern for three years, and perform as a trumpeter in bands, for example the DGM in Fribourg. Also like to sketch . . .