Dr. Victoria Reuber

Research interests

Conservation ecology, population genetics, species-environment interactions

My main interest lies in the interactions between species and their environment, particularly how environmental conditions and human interventions shape the occurrence and dynamics of species and species communities.
In my current research project, I am investigating the impact and effectiveness of conservation measures on bird diversity in Germany. In order to counteract the decline in biodiversity, it is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of such measures in relation to their objectives and to standardize effectiveness analyses.

As part of my doctoral thesis, I used statistical and population genetic analyses to investigate the influence of the environment on an underground rodent species. One focus was on understanding how environmental conditions and human land use influence the occurrence of the species and its population structure, as well as the influence the species has on its environment. In addition, analyses of fossil bone finds provided insights into the demographic trends of the species during the late Pleistocene and Holocene, and into prehistoric human resource use in high mountain ranges.
In another study, I investigated subterranean mammals and how their burrowing behavior enabled adaptations to harsh, fluctuating climatic conditions and drove diversification.