Conservation Biogeography group

We are interested both in theoretical and applied questions of Conservation Biogeography. Conservation Biogeography is a new discipline focusing on the application of biogeographical principles, theories, and analyses to problems concerning the conservation of biodiversity.

Collaboration: Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), Surrey (UK), Natural History Museum Fribourg (NHMF, Switzerland), University of Bern (Switzerland), Conservatoire et jardins botanique de la ville de Genève (Switzerland), National Research Council, Institute of Plant Genetics, Palermo (Italy), Institute of Botany of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Botanic Garden and Botanic Museum of Berlin Dahlem (Germany), Institute of Dendrology, Kornik (Poland), University of Crete (Greece). (S. Bétrisey, C. Christe, Bachelor Thesis of L. Fazan).

Conservation biogeography and conservation biology of several chosen endemic plants growing on sand dunes (e.g. Hieracium eriophorum, Alyssum loiseleurii, Linaria thymifolia, etc.).

Collaboration: University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland), Natural History Museum Fribourg (NHMF), University of Bordeux (France), Conservatoire Botanique National Sud-Atlantique (France), ONF - Office National des Forêts Sud-Ouest. (Bachelor Thesis of D. Frey, co-supervision of Dr. Ch. Haag, Dept. Biology, Uni FR).

Collaboration: University of Marburg (Germany), Universities of Zürich and Neuchâtel (Switzerland), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (Portugal), Countryside Council for Wales (UK).

Historical and recent changes of aquatic plant diversity and their habitats in four chosen cities of Switzerland: Fribourg, Lausanne, Zürich and Basel (Master Thesis of L. Bondallaz, co-supervision by Prof. O. Graefe, Dept. of Geography, Uni FR).

Search for traits predisposing insular organisms to extinction. Case studies on avian extinctions in Indian and Pacific Oceans. (Master Theses of F. Huber and N. B. Imambocus, co-supervision by PD Dr. S. Bacher, Dept. of Biology, Uni FR).

Two case studies: (1) Mangroves and global change in Bombetoka on Madagascar; (2) Mangroves and zonation in Tamarindo (Costa Rica). Bachelor Thesis of A. Marmy.

Conservation biogeography of the pre-alpine Swiss endemic plant Arenaria bernensis (Caryophyllaceae).

Collaboration: Natural History Museum Fribourg, Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Lullier (GE), Nature Conservation Office of the Canton FR (Bachelor Theses of S. Maendly and M. Berthouzoz, co-supervision by Dr. P. Prunier, HES-SO Genève; Prof. Ch. Lexer, University of Fribourg).