Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology
Ornithology
Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
Savoyenstr. 1a
A-1160 Vienna

 

T +43 (1) 25077 7414
F +43 (1) 25077 94 7414
E-Mail to Katharina Mahr

Research Interests

My primary research focus is on the evolution of ornamental traits, reproductive behaviours and nest defence strategies. More recently, I also discovered my deep interest in the mechanisms that shape these traits and behaviours. To gain further experience in physiology and behavioural endocrinology, I started a collaboration with the Department of Human Biology and Evolutionary Ecology of the University of Debrecen. We launched two projects, which aim to gain insight into the role of the Insulin-like growth factor 1 and its important role in shaping life history traits and decisions. My current project “The Role of IGF-1 in Reproductive Life-history” allows me to combine behavioural ecology with physiological approaches and focus on the mechanisms determining the timing of reproduction in a charismatic passerine species, the bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus). In a second project, funded by the Scientific & Technological Cooperation program of the OEAD, we aim to shed light on the relationship between the behavioural, endocrine and immunological axis of the individual stress response in songbirds.  

Curriculum Vitae

Studies

2012-2016	Doctoral thesis: “The Evolution of Female Song in the Superb Fairy Wren (Malurus cyaneus)” at the University of Vienna in collaboration with the KLIVV  and the Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
2009-2010	Graduate study: “Do Ornaments Affect Parental Investment?” In collaboration with the KLIVV
06/2003	Matura (Sacré Coeur, Pressbaum, Lower Austria)

Academic employment

11/2018-present	FWF Erwin-Schrödinger post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology of the University of Debrecen, and the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology (KLIVV, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
2017	Post-doctoral position: Fast life-histories and underlying physiological mechanisms in birds. Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology of the University of Debrecen, Hungary
2012-2016	Doctoral thesis research: “The Evolution of Female Song in the Superb Fairy Wren (Malurus cyaneus)” at the University of Vienna in collaboration with the KLIVV  and the Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia

Projects

04/2020- present	“The behavioural and physiological underpinnings of stress coping capacity in a passerine”, Scientific & Technological Cooperation program of the OEAD (Austria - Hungary)
11/2018-present	"The role of IGF-1 in reproductive life-history" (Erwin-Schrödinger fellowship by the FWF, der Wissenschaftsfonds)
2014-2015	Project: “Does Light Pollution affect the Breeding Performance of wild Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) in the Viennese Forest?” (Hochschuljubiläumsstiftung, City of Vienna)

 

 Publications

Publications