While Jennifer was studying biology her main field of interest was in Zoology. During her Bachelor (Leibniz University, Hanover, Germany), as well as during her Master’s degrees (University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover), she mainly focused on behavioural ecology and conservation biology. In studying the acoustic behavior of tree shrews at the Institute of Zoology (University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover), she got the opportunity to get first insights in behavioural observation techniques. With the objective to extend this knowledge in applied observation techniques on wild animals, Jenny studied the social and spatial behavior of tree shrews on Borneo. It was the first study conducted on Bornean tree shrews in the environment around DGFC, providing behavioural data of tree shrews in the area. Fascinated form the environment and the biota along the Kinabatangan the desire awoke to learn more about this place. She got this opportunity with her PhD, which she is doing at the Institute of Zoology (University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover) in collaboration with Danau Girang Field Centre.
In her PhD study Jenny aims to investigate the influence of various extrinsic and intrinsic factors on the responses of non-volant small mammals to increasing habitat fragmentation. She will investigate to what extent various ecological factors and life history traits influence species diversity and community composition, species abundance, as well as the genetic structure of selected small non-volant mammals along the Kinabatangan River. By acquiring comprehensive knowledge about species-specific vulnerabilities towards habitat fragmentation and habitat disturbance Jenny wants to contribute to the protection of the biota and landscape along the Kinabatangan.
List of publications:
Brunke J., Konerding W., Zimmermann E. (2009): Like or unlike: Spontaneous discrimination of communication calls in tree shrews. [Abstract] 31st International Ethological Conference, Rennes, France
Brunke J., Schehka S., Zimmermann E. (2010): Acustic cues in communication calls of tree shrews. [Abstract] International Symposium on the Evolution of Emotional Communication, Günzburg, Germany
Konerding W., Brunke J., Schehka, S., Zimmermann E. (2011): Is acoustic evaluation in a non-primate mammal, the tree shrew, affected by context? Animal Cognition 14: 787 – 795.
Brunke J., Radespiel U., Bruford M.W., Goossens B. (2015): Down by the river – Phylogeographic structure of Bornean small mammals in a fragmented landscape. [Abstract] 10th International Conference on Behaviour, Physiology and Genetics of Wildlife, Berlin, Germany