PD Dr. Stefan Merker

Profilbild Stefan Merker

Head of Zoology department

Mammalogy

Contact

Tel.:
+49 (0) 711 / 8936-246
Fax:
+49 (0) 711 / 8936-100

Research interests

Mainly focussing on mammalian biogeography, I am especially interested in drivers and mechanisms of speciation. Why and how do animals disperse? Which physical structures are barriers to or corridors for dispersal, now and in the past? And for which organisms? If not by geographic settings, how is reproductive isolation achieved and maintained? And vice versa: What do dated phylogenies tell us about past habitats and the distribution of land and sea? My current studies focus on tarsiers (little Southeast Asian primates) and several native mammals (beavers, rabbits).

Researchgate   Homepage

Projects

Publications

2024

  • Kuderna LFK, Ullirsch JC, Rashid S, Ameen M, Sundaram L, Hickey G, Cox AJ, Gao H, Kumar A, Aguet F, Christmas MJ, Janiak M, Kuhlwilm M, Orkin JD, Bataillon T, Manu S, Valenzuela A, Bergman J, Rouselle M, Silva FE, Agueda L, Blanc J, Gut M, de Vries D, Goodhead I, Harris RA, Raveendran M, Jensen A, Chuma IS, Horvath J, Hvilsom C, Juan D, Frandsen P, Schraiber JG, de Melo FR, Bertuol F, Byrne H, Sampaio I, Farias I, Valsecchi do Amaral J, Messias M, da Silva MNF, Trivedi M, Rossi R, Hrbek T, Andriaholinirina N, Rabarivola CJ, Zaramody A, Jolly CJ, Phillips-Conroy J, Wilkerson G, Abee C, Simmons JH, Fernandez-Duque E, Kanthaswamy S, Shiferaw F, Wu D, Zhou Z, Shao Y, Zhang G, Keyyu JD, Knauf S, Le MD, Lizano E, Merker S, Navarro A, Nadler T, Khor CC, Lee J, Tan P, Lim WK, Kitchener AC, Zinner D, Gut I, Melin A, Guschanski K, Schierup MH, Beck RMD, Umapathy G, Roos C, Boubli JP, Siepel A, Kundaje A, Paten B, Lindblad-Toh K, Rogers J, Marques Bonet T & Farh K (2024) Identification of constrained sequence elements across 239 primate genomes. Nature 625: 735-742. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06798-8.

2023

  • Bohr YE-MB, Purbatrapsila A, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Ganzhorn JU & Merker S (2023) Strange tunes - Acoustic variation and character displacement in a tarsier hybrid zone. International Journal of Primatology 44: 581-612. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-023-00351-0.
  • Gao H, Hamp T, Ede J, Schraiber JG, McRae J, Singer-Berk M, Yang Y, Dietrich A, Fiziev P, Kuderna L, Sundaram L, Wu Y, Adhikari A, Field Y, Chen S, Batzoglou S, Aguet F, Lemire G, Reimers R, Balick D, Janiak MC, Kuhlwilm M, Orkin JD, Manu S, Valenzuela A, Bergman J, Rouselle M, Silva FE, Agueda L, Blanc J, Gut M, de Vries D, Goodhead I, Harris RA, Raveendran M, Jensen A, Chuma IS, Horvath J, Hvilsom C, Juan D, Frandsen P, de Melo FR, Bertuol F, Byrne H, Sampaio I, Farias I, Valsecchi do Amaral J, Messias M, da Silva MNF, Trivedi M, Rossi R, Hrbek T, Andriaholinirina N, Rabarivola CJ, Zaramody A, Jolly CJ, Phillips-Conroy J, Wilkerson G, Abee C, Simmons JH, Fernandez-Duque E, Kanthaswamy S, Shiferaw F, Wu D, Zhou Z, Shao Y, Zhang G, Keyyu JD, Knauf S, Le MD, Lizano E, Merker S, Navarro A, Batallion T, Nadler T, Khor CC, Lee J, Tan P, Lim WK, Kitchener AC, Zinner D, Gut I, Melin A, Guschanski K, Schierup MH, Beck RMD, Umapathy G, Roos C, Boubli JP, Lek M, Sunyaev S, O’Donnell-Luria A, Rehm H, Xu J, Rogers J, Marques-Bonet T & Farh KK-H (2023) The landscape of tolerated genetic variation in humans and primates. Science 380(6648): eabn8153. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn8197.
  • Grathwol F, Roos C, Zinner D, Hume D, Porcier SM, Berthet D, Cuisin J, Merker S, Ottoni C, Van Neer W, Dominy NJ & Kopp GH (2023) Adulis and the transshipment of baboons during classical antiquity. eLife 12: e87513. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.87513.
  • Kuderna LFK, Gao H, Janiak MC, Kuhlwilm M, Orkin JD, Bataillon T, Manu S, Valenzuela A, Bergman J, Rouselle M, Silva FE, Agueda L, Blanc J, Gut M, de Vries D, Goodhead I, Harris RA, Raveendran M, Jensen A, Chuma IS, Horvath J, Hvilsom C, Juan D, Frandsen P, Schraiber JG, de Melo FR, Bertuol F, Byrne H, Sampaio I, Farias I, Valsecchi do Amaral J, Messias M, da Silva MNF, Trivedi M, Rossi R, Hrbek T, Andriaholinirina N, Rabarivola CJ, Zaramody A, Jolly CJ, Phillips-Conroy J, Wilkerson G, Abee C, Simmons JH, Fernandez-Duque E, Kanthaswamy S, Shiferaw F, Wu D, Zhou Z, Shao Y, Zhang G, Keyyu JD, Knauf S, Le MD, Lizano E, Merker S, Navarro A, Nadler T, Khor CC, Lee J, Tan P, Lim WK, Kitchener AC, Zinner D, Gut I, Melin A, Guschanski K, Schierup MH, Beck RMD, Umapathy G, Roos C, Boubli JP, Rogers J, Farh KKH & Marques-Bonet T (2023) A global catalog of whole-genome diversity from 233 primate species. Science 380(6648): 906-913. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abn7829.
  • Mai S, Wittor C, Merker S & Woog F (2023) DRD4 allele frequencies in greylag geese vary between urban and rural sites. Ecology and Evolution 13: e9811. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9811.

2022

  • Hagemann L, Grow N, Bohr YE-MB, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Duma Y, Gursky SL & Merker S (2022) Small, odd and old: The mysterious Tarsius pumilus is the most basal Sulawesi tarsier. Biology Letters 18: 20210642. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Kunze J, Karakostis FA, Merker S, Peresani M, Hotz G, Tourloukis V & Harvati K (2022) Entheseal patterns suggest habitual tool use in early hominins. PaleoAnthropology 2022(2): 195-210. [pdf on journal homepage]

2020

  • Denys C, Lalis A, Aniskin V, Gerbault-Seureau M, Delapre A, Gilissen E, Merker S, Nicolas V (2020) Integrative taxonomy of Guinean Lemniscomys species (Rodentia, Mammalia). Journal of Vertebrate Biology 69: 20008. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Ziege M, Theodorou P, Juengling H, Merker S, Plath M, Streit B & Lerp H (2020) Population genetics of the European rabbit along a rural-to-urban gradient. Scientific Reports 10: 2448. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Ziege M, Hermann BT, Kriesten S, Merker S, Ullmann W, Streit B, Wenninger S & Plath M (2020) Ranging behavior of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in urban and suburban landscapes. Mammal Research 65: 607-614. [pdf on journal homepage]

2018

  • Frantz LAF, Rudzinski A, AMS Nugraha, Evin A, Burton J, Hulme-Beaman A, Linderholm A, Barnett R, Vega R, Irving-Pease EK, Haile J, Allen R, Leus K, Shephard J, Hillyer M, Gillemot S, van den Hurk J, Ogle S, Atofanei C, Thomas MG, Johansson F, Mustari AH, Williams J, Mohamad K, Damayanti CS, Wiryadi ID, Obbles D, Mona S, Day H, Yasin M, Merker S, McGuire JA, Evans BJ, von Rintelen T, Ho SYW, Searle JB, Kitchener AC, Macdonald AA, Shaw DJ, Hall R, Galbusera P & Larson G (2018) Synchronous diversification of Sulawesi’s iconic artiodactyls driven by recent geological events. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 285: 20172566. [pdf] [journal homepage]
  • Mai S, Weinhardt M, Allgöwer R & Merker S (2018) Recolonizing lost habitat - how European beavers (Castor fiber) return to south-western Germany. Mammal Research 63: 255-265. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Merker S & Staniczek AH (2018) The Zoological Collections of the Stuttgart State Museum of Natural History. In: Beck LA (ed): Zoological Collections of Germany, Natural History Collections. Springer, Heidelberg: 621-645. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-44321-8_53. [at Springer online]

2016

  • Heerschop S, Zischler H, Merker S, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Driller C (2016) The pioneering role of PRDM9 indel mutations in tarsier evolution. Scientific Reports 6: 34618. [pdf][journal homepage]
  • Ziege M, Bierbach D, Bischoff S, Brandt A-L, Brix M, Greshake B, Merker S, Wenninger S, Wronski T & Plath M (2016) Importance of latrine communication in European rabbits shifts along a rural-to-urban gradient. BMC Ecology 16: 29. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Ziegler S, Merker S, Streit B, Boner M & Jacob D (2016) Towards understanding isotope variability in elephant ivory to establish isotopic profiling and source-area determination. Biological Conservation 197: 154-163. [pdf on journal homepage]

2015

  • Shekelle M, Gursky S, Merker S & Ong P (2015) Philippine Tarsier Carlito syrichta (Linnaeus, 1758). In: Schwitzer C, Mittermeier RA, Rylands AB, Chiozza F, Williamson EA, Wallis J & Cotton A (eds), Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2014-2016: 43-44. IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), Conservation International (CI), and Bristol Zoological Society, Arlington, VA. [pdf][journal homepage]
  • Driller C, Merker S, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Sinaga W, Anggraeni N & Zischler H (2015) Stop and Go - Waves of tarsier dispersal mirror the genesis of Sulawesi Island. PLOS ONE 10(11): e0141212. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0141212. [pdf][journal homepage]

2014

  • Merker S, Thomas S, Voelker E, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Feldmeyer B, Streit B & Pfenninger M (2014) Control Region Length Dynamics Potentially Drives Amino Acid Evolution in Tarsier Mitochondrial Genomes. Journal of Molecular Evolution 79: 40-51. [pdf on journal homepage]

2012

  • Ziegler S, Boner M, Jacob D & Merker S (2012) Identifying the origin of elephant ivory with isotopes. TRAFFIC Bulletin 24(2): 56. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Merker S, Boucsein D, Feldmeyer B, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Streit B (2012) Novel tetra- and pentanucleotide microsatellite markers allow for multiplexed genotyping of Sulawesi tarsiers (Tarsius spp.). Conservation Genetics Resources 4: 343-345. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Wu PC, Chen J-B, Kawamura S, Roos C, Merker S, Shih C-C, Hsu B-D, Lim C & Chang TW (2012) The IgE gene in primates exhibits extraordinary evolutionary diversity. Immunogenetics 64(4): 279-287. [pdf on journal homepage]

2010

  • Merker S, Driller C, Dahruddin H, Wirdateti, Sinaga W, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Shekelle M (2010) Tarsius wallacei: A new tarsier species from Central Sulawesi occupies a discontinuous range. International Journal of Primatology 31(6): 1107-1122. [pdf on Journal homepage]
  • Merker S (2010) The population ecology of Dian's tarsier. In: Gursky S & Supriatna J (eds): Indonesian Primates, Developments in Primatology: Progress and Prospects. Springer, New York: 371-382. [at Springer online]

2009

  • Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Zischler H & Merker S (2009) The social system of Lariang tarsiers (Tarsius lariang) as revealed by genetic analyses. International Journal of Primatology 30(2): 267-281. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Merker S, Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Pamungkas J & Zischler H (2009) Elucidating geological and biological processes underlying the diversification of Sulawesi tarsiers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS) 106(21): 8459-8464. [pdf][Journal homepage]
  • Yustian I, Merker S & Muehlenberg M (2009) Luas daerah jelajah dan estimasi kepadatan populasi Tarsius bancanus saltator di Pulau Belitung. Jurnal Biologi Indonesia 5(4): 411-421. [pdf]

2008

  • Durden LA, Merker S & Beati L (2008) The tick fauna of Sulawesi, Indonesia (Acari: Ixodoidea: Argasidae and Ixodidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology. 45(1-2): 85-110. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Merker S & Yustian I (2008) Habitat use analysis of Dian's tarsier (Tarsius dianae) in a mixed-species plantation in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Primates 49(2): 161-164. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Merker S, Driller C, Neri-Arboleda I & Zischler H (2008) Polymorphic microsatellite markers for Philippine tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta). Conservation Genetics. 9(5): 1349-1351. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Shekelle M, Groves C, Merker S & Supriatna J (2008) Tarsius tumpara: A new tarsier species from Siau Island, North Sulawesi. Primate Conservation 23: 55-64. [pdf on journal homepage]
  • Yustian I, Merker S, Supriatna J & Andayani N (2008) Relative population density of Tarsius dianae in man-influenced habitats of Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Asian Primates Journal 1(1): 10-16. [pdf on ResearchGate]

2007

  • Merker S, Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Zahner R & Zischler H (2007) Isolation and characterization of 12 microsatellite loci for population studies of Sulawesi tarsiers (Tarsius spp.). Molecular Ecology Notes 7(6): 1216-1218. [pdf on journal homepage]

2006

  • Merker S (2006) Habitat-specific ranging patterns of Dian's tarsiers (Tarsius dianae) as revealed by radiotracking. American Journal of Primatology 68(2): 111-125. [pdf][Journal homepage]
  • Merker S & Groves CP (2006) Tarsius lariang: A new primate species from Western Central Sulawesi. International Journal of Primatology 27(2): 465-485. [pdf][Journal homepage]

2000-2005

  • Merker S, Yustian I & Muehlenberg M (2005) Responding to forest degradation: Altered habitat use by Dian's tarsier Tarsius dianae in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Oryx 39(2): 189-195. [pdf][Journal homepage]
  • Merker S, Yustian I & Muehlenberg M (2004) Losing ground but still doing well - Tarsius dianae in human-altered rainforests of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. In: Gerold G, Fremerey M & Guhardja E (eds): Land use, nature conservation and the stability of rainforest margins in Southeast Asia. Springer, Heidelberg: 299-311. [pdf][at Springer online]
  • Merker S & Muehlenberg M (2000) Traditional land-use and tarsiers - Human influences on population densities of Tarsius dianae. Folia Primatologica 71(6): 426-428. [pdf on journal homepage]

non-peer reviewed

  • Hutterer  R & Merker S (2018) Fritz Dieterlen (1929-2017). Jahreshefte der Gesellschaft für Naturkunde in Württemberg 174: 235-250. [pdf on ResearchGate]
  • Merker S (2016) Lariang tarsier (Tarsius lariang). In: Rowe N & Myers M (eds): All The World's Primates. Pogonias Press, Charlestown, USA: 164.
  • Merker S (2016) Wallace's tarsier (Tarsius wallacei). In: Rowe N & Myers M (eds): All The World's Primates. Pogonias Press, Charlestown, USA: 169.
  • Merker S & Grow N (2016) Sulawesi mountain tarsier (Tarsius pumilus). In: Rowe N & Myers M (eds): All The World's Primates. Pogonias Press, Charlestown, USA: 165-166.
  • Merker S & Gursky-Doyen S (2016) Dian's tarsier (Tarsius dentatus). In: Rowe N & Myers M (eds): All The World's Primates. Pogonias Press, Charlestown, USA: 162-163.
  • Merker S (2011) Tarsius wallacei. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>.
  • Shekelle M, Merker S & Salim A (2008) Tarsius lariang. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>.
  • Shekelle M & Merker S (2008) Tarsius dentatus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>.

Short Communications and Congress Presentations

  • Merker S (2018) Tarsiers 2.0 - An updated phylogeography of Sulawesi's tiny primates. 92nd Annual Meeting of the German Society for Mammalian Biology, Sep 17-20, 2018, Bonn, Germany. Oral presentation.
  • Merker S, Bohr Y, Driller C & Perwitasari-Farajallah D (2016) Tarsier tales - How the evolution of tiny primates portrays Sulawesi's turbulent past. Island Biology 2016: II International Conference on Island Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation, Jul 18-22, 2016, University of the Azores at Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal. Oral presentation.
  • Bohr Y, Purbatrapsila A, Pamungkas J, Streit B & Merker S (2016) Conflicting genetic patterns in a tarsier hybrid zone. ATBC 2016: 53rd Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Jun 19-23, 2016, Montpellier, France. Oral presentation (Bohr).
  • Driller C, Merker S, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Zischler H (2015) Fission and fusion: The population history of a nocturnal primate. SMBE 2015: Annual meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Jul 12-16, 2015, Vienna, Austria. Poster presentation.
  • Heerschop S, Zischler H, Merker S, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Driller C (2015) How the speciation gene PRDM9 evolved in speciose tarsiers. SMBE 2015: Annual meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, Jul 12-16, 2015, Vienna, Austria. Poster presentation.
  • Merker S (2015) Tarsiers - The phylogeography of tiny primates as legacy of Sulawesi's turbulent past. Evolution 2015: Joint annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE), the Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB) and the American Society of Naturalists (ASN), Jun 26-30, 2015, Guarujá, Brazil. Oral presentation.
  • Shekelle M, Gursky-Doyen S & Merker S (2015) Testing the undersampled tarsier hypothesis. AAPA 2015: 84th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Mar 25-28, 2015, St. Louis, USA. Oral presentation (Shekelle).
  • Merker S (2014) Tarsiers - The phylogeography of tiny primates as legacy of Sulawesi’s turbulent past. DGS 2014: 88th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Mammalian Biology, Sep 01-04, 2014, Giessen, Germany. Oral presentation.
  • Bohr Y, Purbatrapsila A, Streit B & Merker S (2014) Dating the wrong guy - Asymmetry in a tarsier hybrid tension zone. 25th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS), Hanoi, Vietnam, Aug 11-16, 2014. Abstract #445, oral presentation (Bohr).
  • Driller C, Merker S, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Zischler H (2014) Tracing the phylogeographic history of Eastern tarsiers. 25th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS), Hanoi, Vietnam, Aug 11-16, 2014. Abstract #161, oral presentation (Driller).
  • Merker S, Thomas S, Voelker E, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Feldmeyer B, Streit B & Pfenninger M (2014) Beware of the mitochondrion! Pros and Cons of the tarsier organellar genome. 25th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS), Hanoi, Vietnam, Aug 11-16, 2014. Abstract #507, oral presentation.
  • Bohr Y, Purbatrapsila A, Streit B & Merker S (2013) Sexy strangers?! - Acoustic mate recognition in a tarsier hybrid zone. 5th International Prosimian Congress, Ranomafana, Madagascar, Aug 04-09, 2013. Oral presentation (Bohr).
  • Merker S (2013) The diversification of tarsiers in light of Sulawesi's past. 2nd Southeast Asian Gateway Evolution (SAGE) Meeting, Berlin, Germany, Mar 11-15, 2013. Oral presentation.
  • Ziegler S, Merker S & Wehrmeister U (2013) Auf den Zahn gefuehlt - mit forensischen Methoden auf der Spur des Elfenbeins. 15th Annual Symposium on Gemmology (FEEG), Linz, Austria, Jan 18-20, 2013. Oral presentation (Ziegler).
  • Ziegler S, Merker S & Jacob D (2012) Geographic variation of stable isotopes in recent elephant ivory. 9. Tagung der Gesellschaft fuer Archaeozoologie und Praehistorische Anthropologie (GAPA), Vienna, Austria, Sep 18-20, 2012. Oral presentation (Ziegler).
  • Ziegler S, Merker S & Jacob D (2012) Geographic variation of stable isotopes in African elephant ivory. Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 14. EGU General Assembly 2012, Vienna, Austria, Apr 22-27, 2012. Abstract EGU2012-1884, oral presentation (Ziegler).
  • Merker S, Driller C, Dahruddin H, Wirdateti, Sinaga W, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Shekelle M (2011) Welcome Wallace's tarsier - but why on earth have you split? 12th Congress of the German Primatological Society, Utrecht, the Netherlands, Mar 30-Apr 01, 2011. Poster presentation.
  • Merker S & Klaus S (2011) Hotspot Wallacea: Understanding the past to save the future. (Symposium at) Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology (Gesellschaft fuer Tropenoekologie) "Status and Future of Tropical Biodiversity", Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Feb 21-24, 2011. Symposium abstract, oral presentation.
  • Merker S, Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Pamungkas J, Wirdateti, Streit B (2011) Hotspot Sulawesi: Tarsier diversity mirrors Wallacea's troubled past. Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology (Gesellschaft fuer Tropenoekologie) "Status and Future of Tropical Biodiversity", Frankfurt/Main, Germany, Feb 21-24, 2011. Oral presentation.
  • Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Pamungkas J, Zischler H & Merker S (2010) Beyond social monogamy: DNA-fingerprinting reveals variable mating behaviour in Lariang tarsiers. 23rd Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS), Kyoto, Japan, Sep 12-18, 2010. Abstract no. IPS10-0889_P1, oral presentation (Driller).
  • Merker S, Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Pamungkas J, Wirdateti, Zischler H & Streit B (2010) Understanding tarsier diversity: The intriguing phylogeography of Tarsius in Central Sulawesi. 23rd Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS), Kyoto, Japan, Sep 12-18, 2010. Abstract no. IPS10-0477_P1, oral presentation.
  • Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Zischler H & Merker S (2009) Monogamy rules in Lariang tarsiers. Or not? 11th Congress of the German Primatological Society, Hannover, Germany, Feb 24-26, 2009. Proceedings Volume: 63, poster presentation.
  • Merker S, Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D, Pamungkas J & Zischler H (2009) Introgressive hybridization in Sulawesi tarsiers. 11th Congress of the German Primatological Society, Hannover, Germany, Feb 24-26, 2009. Proceedings Volume: 43, oral presentation.
  • Merker S, Driller C, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Zischler H (2008) Hybridisation in tarsiers. International Workshop "Natural Selection and Speciation", Mainz, Germany. Proceedings Volume: 26, poster presentation.
  • Merker S, Driller C Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Zischler H (2007) Hybridisation in tarsiers. International Congress Prosimians 2007, Ithala, South Africa. Proceedings Volume: #99, oral presentation.
  • Merker S, Perwitasari-Farajallah D & Zischler H (2006) Species boundary in focus: Morphological, acoustic and genetic variation in Central Sulawesi tarsiers. 21th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS), Entebbe, Uganda. International Journal of Primatology 27(S1): #98, oral presentation.
  • Merker S (2002) Endangered or Adaptable? - Tarsius dianae in modified rainforests of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. 15th Congress of the German Society for Tropical Ecology, Goettingen. Proceedings Volume: 147, poster and oral presentation.
  • Merker S & Muehlenberg M (2002) Endangered or adaptable? - Tarsius dianae in man-altered rainforests of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. 19th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS), Beijing, China. Proceedings Volume: 21, oral presentation.
  • Merker S, Yustian I & Muehlenberg M (2002) Losing ground but yet doing well - Tarsius dianae in man-altered rainforests of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. International Symposium "Land use, nature conservation and the stability of rainforest margins in Southeast Asia", Bogor, Indonesia. Proceedings Volume: 111-113, oral presentation.
  • Merker S (2000) Der Einfluss traditioneller Landnutzungsformen auf die Populationsdichten des Koboldmakis Tarsius dianae im Regenwald Sulawesis. Newsletter of the German Primatological Society 25: 31.
  • Merker S (2000) Tarsiers. In: Lonely Planet Indonesia. 6th edn., Lonely Planet Publication, Hawthorn: 942.
  • Merker S & Muehlenberg M (1999): The influence of traditional land-use on population densities of Tarsius dianae. 6th Congress of the German Primatological Society, Folia Primatologica 71(4): 201-202, oral presentation.

selected invited talks

  • University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo), Institute of Zoology (invited by Prof. U. Radespiel): Tarsier tales - How the evolution of tiny primates portrays Sulawesi's turbulent past. May 02, 2016. Hannover, Germany.
  • Gesellschaft fuer Naturkunde in Wuerttemberg e.V. (invited by Prof. T. Simon): Koboldmakis - Auf den Spuren kleiner Primaten mit grosser Vergangenheit. Mar 17, 2016. Stuttgart, Germany.
  • University of Hohenheim, Institute of Zoology (invited by Prof. M. Blum & Prof. J. Steidle): Tarsiers – The phylogeography of tiny primates as legacy of Sulawesi’s turbulent past. May 15, 2014. Stuttgart, Germany.
  • Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (Evolutionsbiologisches Kolloquium, invited by Dr. F. Herder): Tarsiers: tiny primates as witnesses of Sulawesi's turbulent history. Jul 07, 2011. Bonn, Germany.
  • NABU Deutschland, Workshop "Biologische Vielfalt in staedtischen Ballungsraeumen - Von der Nationalen Strategie zur konkreten Umsetzung" (invited by K. Kloeckner & M. Wessel): Umsetzungsbeispiel Frankfurt a.M.: Oekologie und Populationsgenetik von Saeugerpopulationen innerhalb der Stadt Frankfurt. Dec 01, 2010. Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
  • Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity (invited by Prof. B. Streit): Evolutionsforschung an Koboldmakis - Sulawesis kleine Primaten als Zeugen einer bewegten Vergangenheit. Nov 13, 2008. Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
  • Primate Research Center, Bogor Agricultural University (invited by Dr. J. Pamungkas): The Evolution of Central Sulawesi Tarsiers (Tarsius spp.). Apr 29, 2008. Bogor, Indonesia.
  • Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Institute of Zoology (invited by Prof. A. Seitz): Tarsiers - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation of Sulawesi's Tiny Primates. Nov 29, 2006. Mainz, Germany.
  • Oxford Brookes University, Dept. of Anthropology and Geography (invited by Prof. S. Bearder & Dr. K.A.I. Nekaris): Tarsiers - Ecology, Evolution and Conservation of Sulawesi's Tiny Primates. Oct 09, 2006. Oxford, UK.
  • Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia, Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA, invited by KKH): Biogeography and Microevolution of Sulawesi Tarsiers. Nov 28, 2005, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Primate Research Center, Bogor Agricultural University (invited by Dr. J. Pamungkas): Responding to Forest Degradation – Altered Habitat Use of the Dian‘s Tarsier, Tarsius dianae, in the Rainforest of Central Sulawesi. Feb 06, 2004. Bogor, Indonesia.
  • German Primate Center, Dept. of Ethology and Ecology (invited by Dr. E. Heymann & Dr. H. Zischler): Vom Aussterben bedroht oder anpassungsfaehig? - Der Koboldmaki Tarsius dianae in den Regenwaeldern Sulawesis. Jun 03, 2002. Goettingen, Germany.
  • Forum Kemitraan Taman Nasional Lore Lindu (invited by The Nature Conservancy Palu): Endangered or Adaptable? - Tarsius dianae in Modified Rainforests of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. May 09, 2001. Palu, Indonesia.
  • Free University Berlin, Human Biology and Anthropology, Institute of Biology (invited by Prof. C. Niemitz): Vom Aussterben bedroht oder anpassungsfaehig? - Der Koboldmaki Tarsius dianae in den Regenwaeldern Sulawesis. Feb 03, 2000. Berlin, Germany.

Exhibitions

2019-2020

The sea itself is GIGANTIC: the oceans occupy two thirds of the earth’s surface and turn our planet – seen from space – to the blue planet. In the third dimension, the sea is no less GIGANTIC: the highest mountains of the earth could easily be completely submerged in the deepest trenches of the Pacific Ocean. GIGANTIC are also many of the organisms living in this apparently infinite space.

The big portico in the Schloss Rosenstein becomes an ocean. Get into the submarine and go on a journey diving down in this mystical world under water!

Sei whale and sperm whale, whale shark and big white shark – the central ocean hall, for the special exhibition entirely redesigned, is an area of superlatives. Record holders among these giants of the seas are, without any doubts, the whales. Walking around the 13-meter-long sei whale, one of the highlights of the exhibition, you can admire its taintless, streamlined elegance on the one hand and gain insights into its complex inner life on the other. On the other, you can have a close look on his complex insides. Also on the move in the open water are two big sharks: the huge whale shark, the biggest fish on earth, which lives from plankton just as the sei whale, while the rare big white shark preys on large animals such as marine mammals.

Even as impressive then sei whale and whale shark is the skeleton of a sperm whale, shown for the first time in our museum. He is the biggest of the toothed whales. On the bottom of the deep-sea sources of life are formed on such sunken sea giants.

Deep-sea – the largest habitat of the earth and one of the most extreme. Strange creatures are moving around in the eternal darkness, legendary above all the myth-inspiring giant squid. Once your eyes are adapted to the twilight, you will discover bizarre species such as the oarfish, giant crabs and giant isopods!

GIGANTIC can also consist of very small: krill or fish can unite to huge swarms or schools. Tiny coral polyps form extensive reefs, the most divers and species-rich habitats under water.  Not so colorful, but not even less complex are the kelp forests build by the giant kelp. You can range these woods in the showroom “GIGANTIC complex”. But there civilization catches up – enormous garbage patches compromise the marine ecosystems in a massive way.

Far away from such modern problems, you can travel back in time in GIGANTIC in the sea. There, amongst others, you can meet a 190 million years old, large ichthyosaur in an impressive three-dimensional preservation. And last, but not least the tremendous set of teeth of Megalodon, the unchallenged terror of the prehistoric oceans.

2014

  • Museum special – Antlers

July 03 - October 05, 2014; for content see German language version

CV

since 2013

2003-2008

2003

  • Ph.D. in Biology; Thesis: "Endangered or adaptable? - Dian's tarsier Tarsius dianae in Sulawesi's rain forests"; Centre for Nature Conservation, Georg-August University Goettingen; Doctoral advisor: Prof. Dr. Michael Muehlenberg

2000-2003

1999

  • Diploma (~M.Sc.) in Biology; Thesis: "The influence of traditional land-use forms on population densities of Dian's tarsier Tarsius dianae in the rain forest of Sulawesi"; Centre for Nature Conservation, Georg-August University Goettingen; Advisor: Prof. Dr. Michael Muehlenberg

1998

1993-1998

Teaching (in German, to be translated soon)

Lehre an der Universität Hohenheim (seit 2014)

seit 2016 (jährlich)

  • BSc-Modul „Einführung in die Evolutions- und Entwicklungsbiologie“, Vorlesungen „Arten und Artbildung“ und „Biogeographie“

seit 2015 (jährlich)

  • MSc-Modul „Biologie von Wirbeltieren“ (Projektleiter „Biber“) inkl. Vorlesungen „Freilandökologische Methoden“ und „Populationsgenetik“

seit 2014 (jährlich)

  • BSc-Modul „Übungen zur Systematischen Zoologie, Modul Organismenkunde II, Teil „Säugetiere“
  • BSc-Modul „Systematik, Taxonomie, Evolution - Biologie an einem naturkundlichen Forschungsmuseum“, Teil „Evolution und Diversität der Primaten“

kontinuierlich

  • Einführung in die wissenschaftliche Arbeitstechnik; Praktika

Lehre an der Goethe Universität Frankfurt, Institut für Ökologie, Evolution und Diversität (2009-2013)

2010-2013

  • BSc-Vorlesungsreihe „Evolutionsbiologie”: Vorlesung „Arten und Artbildung” (2010 zusätzlich „Die Evolution der Biodiversität“ und „Die Entstehung der genetischen Variabilität“)
  • BSc-Praktikum „Evolution und Diversität der Tiere“; Teil: „Genetik und Variabilität des Menschen“

2011-2013

  • MSc-Praktikum „Experimentelle Ökologie“ (Kurs- und Projektleiter)

2010-2012

  • MSc-Praktikum „Evolution aquatischer Organismen“ (Projektleiter)

2010

  • BSc-Praktikum „Diversität der Organismen und Lebensräume“ (mit M. Plath)

2009

  • Dipl-Biol-Vorlesungsreihe „Biodiversität und Evolutionsökologie": Vorlesungen „Evolution und Diversität der Primaten" und „Biogeographie“

kontinuierlich

  • Einführung in die wissenschaftliche Arbeitstechnik; Praktika

Lehre an der Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Institut für Anthropologie (2004-2008)

2005-2008

  • FII-Übung für Fortgeschrittene „Analyse von Genen des Menschen und nicht-humaner Primaten mit molekularbiologischen und bioinformatischen Methoden" (mit H. Zischler, A. Hapke, H. Herlyn)

2004/2005

  • Seminar „Biologie rezenter Primaten" (mit H. Herlyn)

Lehre an der Georg-August Universität Göttingen, Institut fürZoology und Anthropologie (bis 2003)

1997-2000

  • Wissenschaftl. Hilfskraft: Laborkurse und Seminare in Genetik, Entwicklungsbiologie, Parasitologie und Säugetieranatomie

(Co-)Supervised PhD

  • Bohr, Yvonne (ongoing): (hybridization in Sulawesi tarsiers). Universitaet Hamburg.
  • Driller, Christine (2013): The eventful history of a ”living fossil“ - Phylogeny and phylogeography of Sulawesi tarsiers. PhD dissertation, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz.
  • Yustian, Indra (2007): Ecology and conservation status of Tarsius bancanus saltator on Belitung Island, Indonesia. PhD dissertation, Georg-August University Goettingen.

(Co-)Supervised MSc

  • Seitz, Samantha (2019): Time-referenced dispersal dynamics of Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) in northern Baden-Württemberg. Master's thesis, University of Hohenheim.
  • Brucher, Hannah (2018): Ausbreitung über Land – Die Überquerung der Rhein-Donau-Wasserscheide durch Biber(Castor fiber). Master's thesis, University of Hohenheim.
  • Stricker, Verena (2018): The provenience and migration of the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) in Baden-Württemberg. Master's thesis, University of Hohenheim.
  • Mai, Sabrina (2016): Population genetic analyses of European beavers (Castor fiber) recolonising Baden-Württemberg. Master's thesis, University of Hohenheim.
  • Sirait, Evelyn (2012): Mikrosatellitenanalyse zur genetischen Diversität und Vernetzung der Wildkaninchen-Populationen des Frankfurter Stadtgebiets. Diploma thesis, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.
  • Gass, Sandy (2012): Das Raumnutzungsverhalten des Europäischen Eichhörnchens (Sciurus vulgaris) im Frankfurter Stadtgebiet. Diploma thesis, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.
  • Driller, Christine (2007): Mikrosatellitenanalyse zur Untersuchung des Sozialsystems des sulawesischen Koboldmakis Tarsius lariang. Diploma thesis, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz.
  • Yustian, Indra (2002): Pohon tempat tidur dan kepadatan relatif populasi Tarsius dianae Niemitz et al.1991 pada habitat yang terpengaruh aktivitas manusia di Taman Nasional Lore Lindu, Sulawesi Tengah. Transl.: Sleeping tree choice and population densities of Dian's tarsiers in human-altered habitats in Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi. Master's thesis, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.

(Co-)Supervised BSc

  • Boßert, Pauline (2021): Non-invasive genetic analysis of relatedness in Bulgarian brown bears (Ursus arctos). Bachelor's thesis, University of Hohenheim.
  • Krummeich, Jennifer (2013): Genetische Diversität, Populationsstrukturen und Genfluss innerhalb der gefährdeten Mekong-Population des Irawadi-Delfins. Bachelor's thesis, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.
  • Ickelsheimer, Tanja (2012): Genetische Studien zur Phylogeografie westafrikanischer Elefanten anhand aus Elfenbein extrahierter DNA. Bachelor's thesis, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.
  • Boucsein, Désirée (2011): Characterization of polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellites for population studies of Sulawesi tarsiers. Bachelor's thesis, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.
  • Felka, Nicola (2011): Rekonstruktion der Phylogenie sulawesischer Koboldmakis mittels neu charakterisierter autosomaler Genmarker. Bachelor's thesis, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.
  • Thomas, Sarah (2011): Charakterisierung und Vergleich mitochondrialer Genome sulawesischer Koboldmakis. Bachelor's thesis, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.