Institute of Ecology and Evolution

Prof. em. Dr. Heinz Richner

Professor Emeritus Evolutionary Ecology

E-Mail
heinz.richner@unibe.ch
Postal Address
University of Bern
Baltzerstrasse 6
3012 Bern

I am retired since summer 2015 and enjoy having time out in nature, for hiking, biking, to play music, go sailing, and see friends and family.

However, I currently also work as a scientific advisor, in an international team, on a research project on the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. We work on solutions for controlling a parasite that has brought several endemic bird species of the Galapagos Islands close to extinction over the past 15 years. The project is funded by the Austrian Research Fund from 2019 to 2022. Thus, during our winters when birds breed over there, I work for a few months every year on those islands, doing fieldwork and lab analyses, and interacting with the many scientists at the Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, Galapagos.

At the University of Bern, for almost 25 years as a professor, my research interests revolved around the causes of variation in the virulence of pathogens. Virulence, the degree of damage we observe in host-parasite interactions, is the sum of the direct effect of a parasite on its host plus the effects of the host responses to the parasite. Since observations alone of the outcome of host-parasite interactions cannot inform us about cause and consequence, we used an experimental system with great tits and some of its parasites. These were large-scale field studies in the forests around Bern, Lausanne, and Gotland (Sweden). The basic principle of the often complex experimental designs consisted of manipulating the factors of interest while randomizing all others.

Over the years this has led me and my students to discover many interesting facets and mechanisms of host-parasite interactions at the levels of physiology, behaviour, immunology, ecology, and genetics.

For a list of my publications please check with my Google Scholar ID. You can find most of my published work as pdfs on my page of ResearchGate

2019- 2022 Scientific advisor on a research project in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, finding solutions for controlling a parasite that kills endemic bird and leads to their extinction
since 2015- Professor emeritus, University of Bern
1992- 2015 Professor of Biology, University of Bern, Co-director of Institute of Ecology & Evolution IEE
2012   Visiting Professor at University of Firenze, Italia
2012   Visiting Professor at CNRS and University of Montpellier, France
2003- 2018 Member of the selection committee for SNF Research Professorships at the Swiss National Science Foundation
2008- 2017 Member of the selection committee for Ambizione Fellows at the Swiss National Science Foundation
2001- 2010 Member of the National Research Council of the Swiss National Science Foundation (Forschungsrat - Div. Biology and Medicine)
2006   Visiting Professor at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
2004- 2006 Acting Director of Zoology Institute, University of Bern
2000- 2001 Visiting Professor at the University of California in Santa Barbara, USA
1996- 1998 Head of Biology Department 1996-98, Bern University
1990- 1992 SNF-START Fellowship (now Science Foundation Research Professorships) University of Lausanne
1989- 1994 President of the Swiss Zoological Society, Founder of the Annual Satellite Symposium which later on became the annual biology symposium series
1984- 1989 Research & Teaching Assistant at the Ecology Department of the University of Lausanne
1980- 1984 Post-doctoral research at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and in the Sudan and in Kenya
1976- 1980 PhD-studies at the University of Zurich

 

Languages

English, French, German, Swiss German (all completely fluent, written and spoken)

Italian (level B2)

Spanish (level B2)

 

The publication list below is not updated any longer. Please check with my Google Scholar ID. Or check with  ResearchGate for finding the pdfs. 

Enjoy reading and send me a mail for any questions or comments you may have...

 

170

 

Dreiss AN, PG Chatelain, A Roulin, H Richner (2016): Prosody Predicts Contest Outcome in Non-Verbal Dialogs
PloS one 11 (12), e0166953

 

169

 

Fasel N J, C Wesseling, AA Fernandez, A Vallat, G Glauser, F Helfenstein,&H.Richner (2017): Alternative reproductive tactics, sperm mobility and oxidative stress in Carollia perspicillata (Seba’s short-tailed bat).
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 71 (1), 11

 

168

 

Richner H. (2016): Interval singing links to phenotypic quality in a songbird.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113 (45), 12763-12767

 

167

 

Fasel N, V Saladin, H Richner.(2016): Alternative reproductive tactics and reproductive success in male Carollia perspicillata (Seba's short‐tailed bat).
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 29: 2242-2255

 

166

 

M Vaugoyeau, F Adriaensen, A Artemyev, J Bańbura, E Barba, C Biard, Richner H.etc (2016): Interspecific variation in the relationship between clutch size, laying date and intensity of urbanization in four species of hole‐nesting birds.
Ecology and Evolution 6: 5907-5920

 

165

 

Abbate JL, CL Murall, H Richner, CL Althaus.(2016):  Potential impact of sexual transmission on Ebola virus epidemiology: Sierra Leone as a case study .
PLoS Negl Trop Dis 10 (5), e0004676

 

164

 

Appelgren A., McCoy K.D., Richner H. & Doligez B.(2016): Relative fitness of a generalist parasite on two alternative hosts: a cross-infestation experiment to test host specialization of the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae (Schrank).
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 29: 1091-1101

 

163

 

Wesseling C., Nicolas Fasel N., Richner H., & Helfenstein F. (2016): Modification of sperm quality after sexual abstinence in the Seba's short tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata).
Journal of Experimental Biology 219:1363-1368

 

162

 

Lemoine et al (2016): Low but contrasting neutral genetic differentiation shaped by winter temperature in European great tits.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society (in press)

 

161

 

Basso A. & Richner, H. (2015): Effects of nest predation risk on female incubation behaviour and offspring growth in great tits.
Behavioural Ecology & Sociobiology 69, 977-989

 

link

160

 

Basso A. & Richner, H. (2015): Predator-specific effects on incubation behaviour and offspring growth in great tits
PlosOne 10(4): e0121088

 

link

159

 

Wegmann M., Voegeli B. & Richner H. (2015): Physiological responses to increased brood size and ectoparasite infestation: adult great tits favour self-maintenance.
Physiology & Behavior 141: 127-134

 

link

158

 

Wegmann M., Voegeli B. & Richner H. (2015): Oxidative status and reproductive effort of great tits in a handicapping experiment.
Behavioral Ecology 26: 747-757

 

 

157

 

Fasel N., Helfenstein F., Buff S. & Richner, H. (2015): Electroejaculation and semen buffer evaluation in the microbat Carollia perspicillata.
Theriogenology 83: 904-910

 

link

156

 

Maronde L. & Richner, H. (2015): Effects of increased begging and vitamin E supplements on oxidative stress and fledging probability.
Behavioral Ecology 26: 465-471

 

link

155

 

Marri V. & Richner, H. (2015): Immune response, oxidative stress and dietary antioxidants in great tit nestlings.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A 179: 192-196

 

link

154

 

Marri V. & Richner, H. (2014): Yolk carotenoids increase fledging success in great tit nestlings.
Oecologia 176: 371-377

 

link

153

 

Wegmann M., Voegeli B. & Richner H. (2015): Parasites suppress immune-enhancing effect of methionine in nestling great tits.
Oecologia 177: 213-221

 

link

152

 

Fernandez Ahana A., Fasel N., Knoernschild M. & Richner H. (2014): When bats are boxing: aggressive behaviour and communication in male Seba's short-tailed fruit bat
Animal Behaviour 98: 149-156

 

link

151

 

Basso A., Coslovsky M. & Richner, H. (2014): Parasite- and predator-induced maternal effects in the Great tit (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 25: 1105-1114

 

link

150

 

Marri V. & Richner, H. (2014): Differential effects of vitamins E and C and carotenoids on growth, resistance to oxidative stress, fledging success and plumage colouration in wild great tits.
Journal of Experimental Biology 217: 1478-1484

 

link

149

 

Losdat, S; Helfenstein, F; Blount, JD; Richner, H (2014): Resistance to oxidative stress shows low heritability and high common environmental variance in a wild bird.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 27: 1990-2000

 

link

148

 

Møller AP et al. (2014):Variation in clutch size in relation to nest size in birds
Ecology and Evolution 4: 3583-3595

 

link

147

 

Møller AP et al. (2014):Clutch size variation in Western Palearctic secondary hole nesting passerine birds in relation to nest box design
Methods in Ecology and Evolution 5: 353-362

 

link

146

 

Voegeli, B., Saladin V., Wegmann, M. & Richner, H. (2013): Heterozygosity is linked to the costs of immunity in nestling great tits (Parus major)
Ecology and Evolution 3: 4815-4827

 

link

145

 

Postma E., Giordano M., Siitari H., Schwabl H., Richner H. & Tschirren B. (2013): The multivariate egg: quantifying within- and among-clutch correlations between maternally derived yolk immunoglobulins and yolk androgens using multivariate mixed models
Oecologia 174: 631-638

 

link

144

 

Podlas K. & Richner H. (2013): The adaptive function of hatching asynchrony: an experimental study in great tits
Animal Behaviour 86: 567-576

 

link

143

 

Podlas K., Helfenstein F. & Richner H. (2013): Brood reduction via intra-clutch variation in testosterone - an experimental test in the great tit
PLOS ONE: e56672

 

link

142

 

Podlas K. & Richner H. (2013): Partial incubation and its function in Great tits (Parus major) - an experimental test
Behavioral Ecology 24: 643-649

link

141

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Blount J.D., Marri V., Maronde L. & Richner H. (2013): Nestling erythrocyte resistance to oxidative stress predicts fledging success but not local recruitment in a wild bird
Biology Letters 9: 20120888

link

140

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2012): Preparing offspring for a dangerous world: potential costs of being wrong
PLOS ONE 7: e48840

 

link

139

 

Royle N.J., Pike T.W., Heeb P., Richner H. & Koelliker M. (2012): Offspring Social Network Structure Predicts Fitness in Families
Proceedings of the Royal Society B 279: 4914-4922

 

link

138

 

Rueesch S., Lemoine M. & Richner H. (2012): Ectoparasite reproductive performance when host condition varies
Parasitology Research 111: 1193-1203

 

link

137

 

Coslovsky M., Groothuis T., de Vries, B. & Richner H. (2012): Maternal steroids in egg yolk as a pathway to translate predation risk to offspring: Experiments with great tits
GENERAL AND COMPARATIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY 176: 211-214

 

link

136

 

A'Hara SW et.al (2012): Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database
Molecular Ecology Resources 12: 185-189

 

135

 

Voegeli B., Saladin V., Wegmann M. & Richner H. (2012): Parasites as mediators of heterozygosity-fitness correlations in the Great Tit (Parus major)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 25: 584-590

 

link

134

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2012): An experimental test of predator-parasite interaction in a Passerine bird
OIKOS 10: 1691-1701.

 

link

133

 

Lemoine M., Doligez B. & Richner H. (2012): On the equivalence of host local adaptation and parasite maladaptation: an experimental test
American Naturalist 179: 270-281.

 

link

132

 

Saladin V. & Richner H. (2012): A set of 48 microsatellite loci for the great tit Parus major including 15 novel markers
Molecular Ecology Resources (in press).

 

131

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Saladin V. & Richner H.(2011): Higher in vitro resistance to oxidative stress in extra-pair offspring
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 2525-2530

 

link

130

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Gaude B. & Richner H.(2011): Reproductive effort transiently reduces antioxidant capacity in a wild bird
Behavioral Ecology 22: 1218-1226

 

link

129

 

Losdat S. Richner H., Blount JD & Helfenstein F. (2011): Immune activation reduces sperm quality in the great tit
PLOS ONE  6: (7) e 22221.

 

link

128

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2011): Increased predation risk on mothers affects survival of parasites feeding on the offspring
Animal Behaviour 81: 1071-1075.

 

link

127

 

Coslovsky M. & Richner H. (2011): Predation risk affects offspring growth via maternal effects
Functional Ecology 25: 878-888.

 

link

126

 

Lemoine M., Doligez B., Passerault M. & Richner H. (2011): Influence of host profitability and microenvironmental conditions on parasite specialisation on a main and an alternative hosts
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24: 1212-1225.

 

link

125

 

Losdat S., Helfenstein F., Gaude B., Richner H. (2010): Effect of sibling competition and male carotenoid supply on offspring condition and oxidative stress
Behavioral Ecology 21: 1271-1277.

 

link

124

 

Jacot A., Romero-Diaz C., Tschirren B., Richner H. & Fitze P.S. (2010): Dissecting carotenoid from structural components of carotenoid-based coloration: a field experiment with great tits (Parus major)
American Naturalist 176: 55-62.

 

link

123 Richner H. (2010): Parasite-modified reproductive behavior - vertebrates.
Encyclopedia of Animal Behaviour; M Breed, J Moore (ed); Elsevier (incl. Pergamon ), Oxford, UK.

 

link

122 Helfenstein F., Losdat S., Moller A.P., Blount J. & Richner H. (2010): Sperm of colourful males are better protected against oxidative stress.
Ecology Letters 13: 213-222.

 

link

121

 

Lambrechts MM et al. (2010): The design of artificial nestboxes for the study of secondary hole-nesting birds: a review of methodological inconsistencies and potential biases
Acta Ornithologica 45: 1-26.

 

link

120 Helfenstein F., Podevin M. & Richner H. (2009): Sperm morphology, swimming velocity and longevity in the house sparrow Passer domesticus.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 64: 557-565.

 

link

119 Bischoff L., Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2009): Long-term effects of early parasite exposure on song duration and singing strategy in great tits.
Behavioral Ecology 20: 265-270.

 

link

118

 

Tschirren, B., Siitari, H., Saladin, V. & Richner, H. (2009):Transgenerational immunity in a bird-ectoparasite system: do maternally transferred antibodies affect parasite fecundity or the offspring's susceptibility to fleas?
IBIS, 151, 160-170.

 

link

117

 

Gallizzi K., Alloitteau O.,Harrang E. & Richner H. (2008): Fleas, parental care and transgenerational effects on tick load in the great tit.
Behavioral Ecology 19: 1225-1234.

 

link

116

 

White J., Wagner R.H., Helfenstein, F., Hatch, S.A., Mulard, H., Naves, L.C. and Danchin, E. 2008. Multiple deleterious effects of experimentally aged sperm in a monogamous bird.
PNAS, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 105: 13947-13952.

 

pdf

115

 

Helfenstein, F., Szép T., Nagy, Z., Kempenaers, B. and Wagner, R.H. (2008). Between-male variation in sperm size, velocity and longevity in sand martins Riparia riparia.
Journal of Avian Biology 39: 647-652.

 

link

114

 

Helfenstein F., Losdat S.,Saladin V. & Richner H. (2008): Females of carotenoid-supplemented males are more faithful and produce higher quality offspring.
Behavioral Ecology 19: 1165-1172.

 

link

113

 

Gallizzi, K., Bischoff L., Gern L. & Richner H. (2008): An experimental study on the influence of tick infestations on nestling performance in the great tit.
The AUK 125: 915-922.

 

link

112

 

Berthouly A., Cassier A. & Richner H. (2008): Carotenoid-induced maternal effects interact with environmental stressors to shape the trade-off between growth and immunity in nestling great tits.
Functional Ecology 22: 854-863.

 

link

111

 

Gallizzi, K. & Richner H. (2008): A parasite-induced maternal effect can reduce survival times of fleas feeding on great tit nestlings.
OIKOS 117: 1209-1217.

 

link

110

 

Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2008): Differential effects of yolk hormones on maternal and paternal contribution to parental care.
Animal Behaviour 75: 1989-1994.

 

link

109

 

Tanner M. & Richner H. (2008): Ultraviolet reflectance of plumage for parent-offspring communication in the great tit (Parus major).
Behavioural Ecology 19: 369-373.

 

link

108

 

Tanner M., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2008): Differential food allocation by male and female great tit (Parus major) parents: are parents or offspring in control?
Animal Behaviour 75: 1563-1569.

 

link

107

 

Gallizzi, K., Guenon B. & Richner H. (2008): Maternally transmitted parasite defence can be beneficial in the absence of parasites.
OIKOS: 117, 223-230.

 

link

106

 

Helfenstein F., Berthouly A., Tanner M., Karadas F. & Richner H. (2008): Nestling begging intensity and parental effort in relation to prelaying carotenoid availability.
Behavioral Ecology 19: 108-115.

 

link

105

 

Roulin A., Gasparini J., Bize P., Ritschard M. & Richner H. (2008): Melanin-based colorations signal strategies to cope with poor and rich environments.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62: 507-519.

 

link

104

 

Berthouly A., Helfenstein F., Tanner M. & Richner H. (2008): Sex-related effects of maternal egg investment on offspring in relation to carotenoid availability in the great tit.
Journal of Animal Ecology 77: 74-82.

 

link

103

 

Gallizzi, K., Gern, L. & Richner H. (2008): A flea-induced pre-hatching maternal effect modulatestick feeding behaviour on Great Tit nestlings.
Functional Ecology 22: 94-99.

 

link

102

 

Doligez B., Berthouly A., Doligez D., Tanner M., Saladin V., Bonfils D. & Richner H. (2008): Local breeding habitat quality and offspring sex ratio adjustment in a wild tit population.
Ecology 89: 1436-1444.

 

link

101

 

Tanner M., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2007): Parental influence on sibling rivalry in great tit (Parus major) nests.
Animal Behaviour 74: 977-983.

 

link

100

 

Berthouly A., Helfenstein F. & Richner H. (2007): Cellular immune response, stress resistance and competitiveness in nestling great tits in relation to maternally transmitted carotenoids.
Functional Ecology 21: 335-343.

 

link

99

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S. & Richner H. (2007): Maternal modulation of natal dispersal in a passerine bird: an adaptive strategy to cope with parasitism?
American Naturalist 169: 87-93

 

pdf

98

 

Tschirren B., Bischoff L.,Saladin V. & Richner H. (2007): Host condition and host immunity affect parasite fitness in a bird-ectoparasite system.
Functional Ecology 21: 372-378.

 

link

97

 

Fitze P.S., Tschirren B., Gasparini J. & Richner H. (2007): Carotenoid-based plumage colors and immune function: Is there a trade-off for rare carotenoids?
American Naturalist 169, S137-S144.

 

pdf

96

 

Saladin V., Ritschard M., Roulin A., Pierre Bize P. & Richner H.(2007): Analysis of genetic parentage in the tawny owl (Strix aluco) reveals extra-pair paternity is low.
Journal of Ornithology 147: 113-116.

 

 
95

 

Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2006): Parasites shape the optimal investment in immunity.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 273: 1773-1777.

 

pdf

94

 

Richner H. & Schmid-Hempel P. (2006): Wirt-Parasit-Koevolution.
Grundzüge der Allgemeinen Parasitologie, T. Hiepe, R. Lucius and B. Gottstein (eds.), Stuttgart Parey-Blackwell: pp.69-79.

 
93

 

Fitze P.S. & Tschirren B.(2006): No evidence for survival selection on carotenoid-based nestling coloration in great tits (Parus major)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 19: 618-624.

 

pdf

92

 

Bize P., Roulin A.,Tella J. & Richner H. (2005): Female-biased mortality in experimentally parasitized Alpine swift (Apus melba) nestlings.
Functional Ecology 19: 405-413.

 

pdf

91

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S.,Richner H. (2005): Carotenoid-based nestling coloration and parental favouritism in the great tit (Parus major).
Oecologia 143: 477-482.

 

pdf

90

 

Tschirren B., Saladin V., Fitze P.S.,Schwabl H. & Richner H. (2005): Maternal yolk testosterone does not modulate parasite susceptibility or immune function in great tit nestlings.
Journal of Animal Ecology 74: 675-682.

 

pdf

89

 

Roulin A., Bize P., Tzaud N., Bianchi M., Ravussin P.A. & Christe P. (2005): Oxygen consumption in offspring tawny owls Strix aluco is associated with colour morph of foster mother.
Journ.Ornithol. 146: 390-394.

 

 
88

 

Jacot, A.et al. (2005) Juvenile immune status affects the expression of a sexually selected trait in field crickets.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 18, 1060-1068.

 

link

87

 

Jacot, A., Scheuber H., Kurtz J. & Brinkhof MWG (2005) Juvenile immune system activation induces a costly upregulation of adult immunity in field crickets Gryllus campestris.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 272, 63-69.

 

pdf

86

 

Bize P., Roulin A., Tella J., BersierL.-F.& Richner H. (2004): Additive effects of ectoparasites over reproductive attempts in the long-lived Alpine swift.
Journal of Animal Ecology 73: 1080-1088.

 

pdf

85

 

Tschirren B., Richner H. & Schwabl H. (2004): Ectoparasite-modulated deposition of maternal androgens in great tit eggs.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 271, 1371-1375.

 

pdf

84

 

Fitze, P.S., Clobert J. & Richner H. (2004): Long-term life-history consequences of ectoparasite-modulated growth and development.
Ecology 85: 2018-2026.

 

pdf

83

 

Kölliker, M. & Richner H. (2004) Navigation in a cup: chick positioning in great tit (Parus major) nests.
Animal Behaviour 68:1005-1012.

pdf

82

 

Bize P., Roulin A. & Richner H. (2004): Parasitism, developmental plasticity and bilateral asymmetry of wing feathers in Alpine swift (Apus melba) nestlings.
Oikos 106: 317-323.

 

pdf

81

 

Roulin A.,Bize P., Ravussin P.A. & Broch L. (2004): Genetic and environmental effects on the covariation between colour polymorphism and a life-history trait.
Evolutionary Ecology Research 6: 1253-1260.

 

pdf

80

 

Fitze, P.S., Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2004):Life-history- and fitness consequences of ectoparasites.
Journal of Animal Ecology 73, 216-226.

 

pdf

79

 

Jacot, A.et al. (2004) Costs of an induced immune response on sexual display and longevity in field crickets.
Evolution 271, 2453-2457.

 

pdf

78

 

Scheuber, H.et al. (2004) Female preference for multiple condition-dependent components of a sexually selected signal.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 271, 2453-2457.

 

pdf

77

 

Fitze P.S., Tschirren B. & Richner H. (2003): Carotenoid-based colour expression is determined early in nestlinglife
Oecologia 137: 148-152.

 

pdf

76

 

Bize P., Roulin A. & Richner H. (2003): Adoption as an offspring strategy to reduce ectoparasite exposure
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 270, S114-116. (Suppl.)

pdf

75

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S.& Richner H. (2003): Sexual dimorphism in susceptibility to parasites and cell-mediated immunity in Great tit nestlings (Parus major).
Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 839-845.

pdf

74

 

Saladin V., Bonfils D., Binz T., & Richner H. (2003): Isolation and characterization of 16 microsatellite loci in the Great Tit Parus major.
Molecular Ecology 3, 520-522.

 

pdf

73

 

Bize P., Roulin A., Bersier LF, Pfluger D. & Richner H. (2003): Parasitism and developmental plasticity in Alpine swiftnestlings
Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 633-639.

 

pdf

72

 

Fitze P.S., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2003): Effects of common origin and common environment on nestling plumage coloration in the Great tit (Parus major)
Evolution 57: 144-150.

 

pdf

71

 

Binz T., Bonfils D., Balloux F. & Richner H. (2003): Isolation and characterization of 23 microsatellite loci in the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae.
Molecular Ecology Notes 3: 215-217.

 

pdf

70

 

Walker M., Steiner S., Brinkhof MWG & H. Richner (2003). Induced responses of nestling great tits reduce hen flea reproduction.
Oikos 102: 67-74.

pdf

69

 

Neuenschwander S., Brinkhof MWG, Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2003): Brood size, sibling competition, and the cost of begging in Great Tits (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 14: 457-462.

pdf

68

 

Roulin A., Brinkhof MWG, Bize P., Richner H, Jungi TW, Bavoux C., Boileau N. & Burneleau G (2003). Which chick is tasty to parasites? The importance of host immunology versus parasite life-history.
Journal of Animal Ecology 72: 75-81.

pdf

67

 

Tschirren B., Fitze P.S., & Richner H. (2003): Proximate mechanisms of variation in the carotenoid-based plumage coloration of nestling great tits (Parus major L)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 16: 91-100.

 

pdf

66

 

Scheuber, H., Jacot, A. & Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2003) The effect of past condition on a multicomponent sexual signal.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 270, 1779-1784.

 

pdf

65

 

Holzer, B., Jacot, A. & Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2003) Condition-dependent signaling affects male sexual attractiveness in field crickets Gryllus campestris.
Behavioral Ecology 14: 353-359.

 

pdf

64

 

Scheuber, H., Jacot, A. & Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2003) Condition-dependence of a multi-component sexual signal in the field cricket Gryllus campestris.
Animal Behaviour 65: 721-727.

 

pdf

63

 

Buechler K., Fitze P.S., Gottstein B.,Jacot A. & Richner H. (2002): Parasite-induced maternal response in a natural bird population.
Journal of Animal Ecology, 71: 247-252.

pdf

62

 

Tripet, F., Jacot, A. & Richner H.(2002): Larval competition affects the life histories and dispersal behavior of an avian ectoparasite.
Ecology 83: 935-945.

pdf

61

 

Fitze P.S. & Richner H. (2002): Differential effects of a parasite on ornamental structures based on melanins and carotenoids.
Behavioral Ecology 13: 401-407.

pdf

60

 

Tripet, F., Glaser, M. and H. Richner (2002): Behavioural responses to ectoparasites: Time-budget adjustments and what matters in blue tits Parus caeruleus infested by fleas
Ibis 144: 461-469

pdf

59

 

Bize P, Roulin A. & Richner H. (2002): Covariation between egg size and rearing condition determines offspring quality: an experiment in the Alpine Swift
Oecologia 132: 231-234.

pdf

58

 

Kölliker, M. & Richner H. (2001) Parent-offspring conflict and the genetics of offspring solicitation and parental response.
Animal Behaviour 62: 395-407.

pdf

57

 

Danchin E. & Richner H. (2001): Viable and unviable hypotheses for the evolution of raven roosts.
Animal Behaviour 61: F7-11.

pdf

56

 

Richner H. & Danchin E. (2001): On the importance of slight nuances in evolutionary scenario.
Animal Behaviour 61: F17-18

pdf

55

 

Roulin A., Dijkstra, C., Riols, C. & Ducrest, A.-L. 2001. Female- and male-specific signals of quality in the barn owl.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology 14, 255-266.

 

 
54

 

Roulin, A., C. Riols, Dijkstra C. & Ducrest A. (2001). Female plumage spottiness signals parasite resistance in the barn owl (Tyto alba).
Behavioral Ecology 12: 103-110

pdf

53

 

Richner H. & Milinski M. (2000): On the functional significance of masking behaviour in sea urchins - an experiment with Paracentrotus lividus.
Marine Ecology Progress Series 205, 307-308

pdf

52

 

Kölliker M., Brinkhof M.W.G., Heeb P., Fitze P.S., Richner H.(2000): The quantitative genetic basis of offspring solicitation and parental response in a passerine bird with biparental care.
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 267, 2127-2132.

pdf

51

 

Roulin A., Kölliker M. & Richner H. (2000): Barn owl (Tyto alba) siblings vocally negociate resources
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 267, 459-464.

pdf

50

 

Heeb P., Koelliker M. & Richner H. (2000): Bird-ectoparasite interactions, nest humidity, and ectoparasite community structure.
Ecology 81, 958-968.

pdf

49

 

Roulin, A., T. W. Jungi, Pfister H. & Dijkstra C. (2000). Female barn owls (Tyto alba) advertise good genes.
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London,B 267, 937-941.

pdf

48

 

Roulin, A. (1999). Natural and experimentalnest-switching in Barn Owl Tyto alba fledglings.
Ardea 87: 237-246.

 
47

 

Roulin, A. (1999). Nonrandom pairing by male barn owls (Tyto alba) with respect to a female plumage trait.
Behavioral Ecology 10: 688-695.

pdf

46

 

Roulin, A., A. L. Ducrest & Dijkstra C. (1999). Effect of brood size manipulations on parents and offspring in the barn owl Tyto alba.
Ardea 87: 91-100.

 
45

 

Roulin, A. (1999). Delayed maturation of plumage coloration and plumage spottedness in the barn owl (Tyto alba).
Journal fur Ornithologie 140: 193-197.

 
44

 

Kölliker, M., Heeb P., Werner I., Matemann C,Lessells C. & Richner H. (1999): Offspring sex ratio is related to male body size in the great tit (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 10: 68-72.

pdf

43

 

Richner H. & Tripet F. (1999): Ectoparasitism and the trade-off between current and future reproduction.
Oikos 86: 535-538.

pdf

42

 

Tripet F. & Richner H. (1999): Demography of hen flea (Ceratophyllus gallinae) subpopulations.
Journal of Insect Behaviour 12: 159-174.

pdf

41

 

Tripet F. & Richner H. (1999): Density-dependent processes in the population dynamics of a bird ectoparasite Ceratophyllus gallinae.
Ecology 80: 1267-1277.8

pdf

40

 

Heeb P., Werner I., Mateman A.C., Kölliker M., Brinkhof M.W.G., Lessells C.M. & Richner H.(1999): Ectoparasite infestation and sex-biased local recruitment of hosts.
Nature 400: 63-65.

pdf

39

 

Brinkhof M.W.G., Heeb P., Kölliker M. & Richner H. (1999): Immunocompetence of nestling great tits in relation to rearing environment and parentage.
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 266, 2315-2322.

pdf

38

 

Roulin, A. & P. Heeb (1999). The immunological function of allosuckling.
Ecology Letters 2: 319-324.

pdf

37

 

Gebhardt S. & H. Richner (1998): Consequences of growth variation for fitness. In: Ricklefs R. and Starck M.: Avian Growth and Development. pp.324-339.
Oxford University Press, Oxford.

pdf

36

 

Heeb P., I. Werner,M. Kölliker & H. Richner (1998): Benefits of induced host responses against an ectoparasite.
Proc.Royal Society, Lond. B. 265: 51-56.

pdf

35

 

Kölliker, M., H. Richner, I. Werner, P. Heeb P. (1998): Begging signals and biparental care: nestling choice between parental feeding locations.
Animal Behaviour 55: 215-222.

pdf

34

 

Gebhardt S.G., Heeb, P., Richner H. & Tripet. F. (1998). Does loss of mass during breeding correlate with reproductive success? A study on Blue Tits Parus caeruleus.
Ibis 140: 210-213.

pdf

33

 

Roulin A., Richner H. & Ducrest A.L. (1998): Genetic, environmental and condition-dependent effects on female and male plumage ornamentation in the barn owl Tyto alba.
Evolution 52: 1451-1460.

pdf

32

 

Gosgen R., Dunbar R., Haig D., Heyer E., Mace R., Milinski M., Pison G., Richner H., Strassmann B., Thaler D., Wedekind C. & Stearns S. (1998): Evolutionary interpretation of the diversity of reproductive health and disease. In: Evolution of Health & Disease, (S.Stearns ed.).
Oxford University Press, Oxford.

 
31

 

Richner H. (1998): Host-Parasite Evolution: General Principles and Avian Models (D.H.Clayton & J.Moore, eds.).
Animal Behaviour 55:1401-1402 (book review).

pdf

30

 

Richner H. (1998): Host-parasite interactions and life-history evolution.
ZACS: Zoology - Analysis of Complex Systems 101: 333-344.

pdf

29

 

Oppliger A., P. Christe & H. Richner (1997): Clutch size and malarial parasites in female great tits.
Behavioral Ecology 8: 148-152.

pdf

28

 

Tripet F. & H. Richner (1997). Host responses to ectoparasites: food compensation by parent blue tits.
Oikos 78: 557-561.

pdf

27

 

Tripet F. & H. Richner (1997). The coevolutionary potential of a 'generalist' parasite, the hen flea Ceratophyllus gallinae
Parasitology 115: 419-427.

pdf

26

 

Christe P., H. Richner & A. Oppliger (1996): Begging, food provisioning, and nestling competition in great tit broods infested with ectoparasites.
Behavioral Ecology 7: 127-131.

pdf

25

 

Christe P., H. Richner & A. Oppliger (1996): Of great tits and fleas: Sleep baby sleep...
Animal Behaviour 52: 1087-1092.

pdf

24

 

Heeb P., I. Werner,H. Richner & M. Kölliker (1996): Horizontal transmission and reproductive rates of hen fleas in great tit nests.
Journal of Animal Ecology, 65, 474-484.

pdf

23

 

Perrin N., P. Christe & H. Richner (1996): On host life-history responses to parasitism.
Oikos 75: 317-321.

pdf

22

 

Oppliger A., Christe P. & Richner H. (1996): Trade-off between clutch size and parasite resistance.
Nature 381: 565.

pdf

21

 

Richner H. & P. Heeb (1996): Communal life: Honest signalling and the recruitment centre hypothesis.
Behavioral Ecology 7: 115-118.

pdf

20

 

Richner H. (1995). Wintering cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo carbo in the Ythan estuary: Numerical and behavioural responses to fluctuating food availability.
Ardea, 83: 193-197.

pdf

19

 

Richner H. & P. Heeb (1995): Are clutch and brood size patterns in birds shaped by ectoparasites?
Oikos 73: 435-441.

pdf

18

 

Richner H., P. Christe P. & A. Oppliger (1995): Paternal investment affects prevalence of malaria.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 92: 1192-1194.

pdf

17

 

Richner H. & P. Heeb (1995): Is the information centre hypothesis a flop?
Advances in the Study of Behaviour 24: 1-46.

pdf

16

 

Oppliger A., H. Richner & P. Christe (1994): Effect of an ectoparasite on lay date, nest site choice and desertion, and hatching success in the great tit (Parus major).
Behavioral Ecology 5: 130-134.

pdf

15

 

Keller L., Milinski M., Frischknecht M., Perrin N., H. Richner H. & Tripet F. (1994): Spiteful animals still to be discovered.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution 9: 103.

 
14

 

Christe P., A. Oppliger & H. Richner (1994): Ectoparasite affects choice and use of roost sites in the great tit (Parus major).
Animal Behaviour 47: 895-898.

pdf

13

 

Richner H., A. Oppliger & P. Christe (1993): Effect of an ectoparasite on reproduction in great tits.
Journal of Animal Ecology 62: 703-710.

pdf

12

 

Richner H. 1993. Assessment of expected performance and Zahavi's notion of signal.
Animal Behaviour, 45, 399-401.

pdf

11

 

Richner H. 1992. The effect of extra-food on fitness in breeding Carrion Crows.
Ecology, 73, 330-335.

pdf

10

 

Richner H. & Marclay C. 1991. Evolution of avian roosting behaviour: a test of the information center hypothesis and of a critical assumption.
Animal Behaviour, 41, 433-438.

pdf

9

 

Richner H. 1991. The growth dynamics of sexually dimorphic birds and Fisher's sex ratio theory: does sex-specific growth contribute to balanced sex ratios?
Functional Ecology, 5, 19-28.

pdf

8

 

Raffaeli D., Richner H., Summers R & Northcott S 1990. Tidal migrations in the flounder Platychthis flesus.
Marine Behaviour and Physiology 16, 249-260.

pdf

7

 

Richner H. 1990. Helpers-at-the-nest in Carrion Crows Corvus corone corone L.
Ibis, 132, 105-108

pdf

6

 

Richner H 1989. Avian laparoscopy as a field technique for sexing birds and an assessment of its effects on wild birds.
Journal of Field Ornithology 60, 137-142.

pdf

5

 

Richner H., Schneiter P. & Stirnimann H. 1989. Life history consequences of growth rate depression: an experiment with Carrion Crows.
Functional Ecology, 3, 617-625.

pdf

4

 

Richner H. 1989. Phenotypic correlates of dominance in Carrion Crows and their effects on access to food.
Animal Behaviour, 38, 606-612.

pdf

3

 

Richner H. 1989. Habitat-specific growth and fitness in Carrion Crows (Corvus corone corone L).
Journal of Animal Ecology, 58, 427-440

pdf

2

 

Richner H. 1988. Temporal and spatial patterns in the abundance of wintering Red-breasted Mergansers Mergus serrator in an estuary.
Ibis, 130, 73-78.

pdf

1

 

Richner H. 1986. Winter feeding strategies of individually marked herons.
Animal Behaviour, 34, 881-886.

pdf

I like to play modern jazz, studied music at the general section of the Swiss Jazz School in Bern for three years, and perform as a trumpeter in bands.
 

. . . my other passions are sailing and traveling . . .