Prof. Patrick S. Fitze

My broad research interests range from individual behaviour to population and metapopulation dynamics. The methodology employed includes experimental, phylogenetic and phylogeographic approaches, as well as biogeographic analyses. My studies focus primarily on lizards and birds, though I am also interested in insects and other classes/families.
For further details, please see my group homepage

Interested students are very welcome, and are urged to contact me by email. Please send a letter of interest including a CV written in English, French, Spanish, or German accompanied by recommendation letters. Postdoctoral fellows should attach their three most relevant scientific publications.

2010-
SNF Research Professor, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

2004-2010
Senior Research Fellow; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN), Madrid, Spain
(Ramón y Cajal Research position, founded by MICINN)

2004
Course on multistate capture-recapture models, IMEDEA, Mallorca, Spain

2004
Research fellow; laboratory of Prof. N. B. Davies, Cambridge University, UK
(founded by the Swiss National Science Foundation)

2001-2004
Research fellow; laboratory of Dr. Jean Clobert, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
(founded by the Bundesamt für Bildung und Wissenschaft, BBW)

2001
Postdoctoral fellow; laboratory of Prof. H. Richner, University of Bern, Switzerland

2000-2001
Teaching assistant; “Design and Analyses of Experiments in Ecology and Evolution”, University of Bern, Switzerland

2000-2001
Postgraduate course, applied statistics, University of Bern, Switzerland (Prof. J. Hüsler, PD Dr. R. Aebi)

2001
PhD, University of Bern, Switzerland (supervised by Prof. H. Richner)

Studied topics

2009 -

• evolution of growth, Berberomeloe majalis (Red-striped Oil Beetle)

2004 -

• population dynamics and sexual selection in Lacerta vivipara (Common Lizard)
• determination of sexual selection
• phylogeography of Psammodromus hispanicus (Spanish Sand Racer), Lacerta vivipara (Common Lizard)
• drivers of diversity in Psammodromus hispanicus (Spanish Sand Racer), Lacerta vivipara (Common Lizard), Glyphorynchus spirurus (Wedge-billed Woodcreeper)
• colour signalling and colour determination in Lacerta vivipara (Common Lizard), Parus major (Great tit)

2001 -

• population dynamics and sexual selection in Lacerta vivipara
• colour determination in Lacerta vivipara

2001

• Trade-offs between the immune system and coloration with carotenoids in Parus major

1996-2001

• Effects of ectoparasites on the population dynamics of great tits (Parus major)
• Proximate basis of the plumage coloration in the great tit (Parus major)