Wirbeltierforschung in der Kulturlandschaft

Vertebrates in man-made landscapes - basic research and application Dedicated to Dr. Hans-Joachim Pelz The symposium on vertebrate research in man-made landscapes was conducted on 3-4 June 2007 at the Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants – Julius Kuehn-Institute, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests. It was organized by the vertebrate research group in Münster. The symposium provided a platform for scientists with diverse backgrounds (e. g., conservation, plant protection, health protection, wildlife research) to exchange ideas and to establish cooperation. The symposium aimed to foster a network at the interface of basic and applied research. Detailed knowledge of ecological issues, agronomy, environmental awareness and socio-cultural aspects is a vital prerequisite to make informed decisions in vertebrate management that meet the requirements of plant protection, conservation and other stakeholders. In the proceedings of the symposium contributions about amphibians, birds, rodents and other mammals are presented that demonstrate the diversity of vertebrate research and the potential for mutual stimulation of basic and applied vertebrate research. The symposium was dedicated to Dr. Hans-Joachim Pelz, a colleague of many years who retired in June 2008. Dr. Pelz had worked as founding member in the vertebrate research group since 1978 and he shaped the field of applied vertebrate research in plant protection in Germany and internationally. His scientific achievements are reflected in a large number of publications. Especially his internationally outstanding studies of rodenticide resistance of commensal rodents have created a solid foundation for many years of prolific research and helped to establish the vertebrate research group in Münster as a well known centre of applied rodent research. Sincere thanks are given to him for his highly appreciated contributions to applied rodent research.