Urban Ecologist & University Educator

As a researcher, my aim is to shed light on the impact of our societies on the evolution of life. With ten years of experience in urban evolutionary ecology, I have explored the effects of urban metal pollution on bird biology, including reproduction, immunity, maternal transfers, telomeres, and plumage microbiota, and I have investigated the evolution of melanin-based plumage coloration. For the past six years, I have focused on how the availability of natural and supplementary food (voluntarily provided by humans) varies within urban landscapes and how this variation shapes bird foraging behavior, movements, and behavioral, morphological, and physiological evolution. Building on this work, my two newest projects specifically address how supplementary bird feeding affects bird health, from nestling development and welfare to pathogen prevalence and disease transmission in urban populations.

In addition to my research, I enjoy teaching and sharing my knowledge with students. I currently teach modules on biodiversity in urban planning and have taught courses in ecology, evolutionary biology, and statistics for biology. My teaching approach is highly participative, incorporating diverse exercises that encourage students to reflect on what they have learned. I invite professionals from outside academia to provide students with insights into various career paths. I design assessments to be rewarding and to develop transferable skills, such as communication with the broader public. 

Key words: urban ecology, evolutionary biology, movement ecology, ecophysiology, ecotoxicology.

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New project

Pathogens: From Feeders to Flocks
Feeding wild birds is widespread, yet its effects on bird health remain poorly understood. This new project investigates how supplementary feeding influences disease and overall health in great tits and blue tits across urban habitats. By combining pathogen screening with ecological and physiological data, we aim to clarify when and how bird feeding supports—or threatens—urban wildlife. 

People involved –  Marion Chatelain (PI), Daniela Sint (Collaborator) & Tina Weedman (PhD student). 

Funding – Principal Investigator grant to Marion Chatelain from the Austrian Science Fund.

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Latest papers

Chatelain, M., Rubbmark, O., Rüdisser J., & Traugott. 2026. Urbanisation and Habitat Shape Resource-Driven Dietary Shifts in Wild Birds. Landscape and Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105552

Abstract

Urbanisation affects bird ecology and evolution through multiple pathways, including changes in habitat structure, temperature, pollution, and food availability. Among these, diet shifts likely play a central role, yet evidence on how adult birds adjust their diets across urban mosaics remains scarce. To address this gap, we investigated the year-round diet of two common songbirds—the great tit (Parus major) and the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)—across an urbanised landscape in Innsbruck, Austria. Using a dual-marker metabarcoding approach on fecal samples from 370 individuals captured at 147 locations, we identified both plant and arthropod dietary components. Urbanisation was associated with species- and season-specific changes in diet, demonstrating dietary flexibility in both species: urban great tits showed higher diet diversity and consumed a wider range of miscellaneous food items. During the breeding season, they often ate sunflower seeds—commonly provided at bird feeders—while less frequently consuming arthropods such as moths, spiders, and weevils. In contrast, urban blue tits more frequently consumed crab spiders and aphids, potentially compensating for reduced moth intake. These shifts are likely to contribute to urbanisation-driven variation in fitness. Moreover, they reflect broader changes in prey availability, vegetation and bird feeding practices. Specifically, urban green spaces increased plant-based food diversity, while residential areas promoted frequent use of bird feeders. Our findings suggest that urban management should focus on supporting diverse arthropod communities by promoting native vegetation, encourage wildlife-friendly gardening in residential areas, and preserve forest remnants and green corridors to enhance habitat connectivity.

Janas, K., Chatelain, M., Corsini, M., Da Silva, M., Wardecki,  Ł., Szulc, J. & Szulkin, M. 2025. Bird colours in urban mosaics: A study of two passerines. BioRxiv. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.07.15.664885v1

Abstract

Urban environments are characterized by markedly altered conditions, which can exert a negative impact on the organisms that inhabit them. Among phenotypic traits most sensitive to urbanization is the colourful plumage of birds. One of the best studied examples might be the urban dullness phenomenon, described for carotenoid-based traits, referring to colours being subdued in urban areas. In contrast, melanin-based and structural colouration are still understudied in the context of urbanization. Moreover, much research focused on changes in mean trait expression, while the effect on phenotypic variation, vital from an eco-evolutionary perspective, was rarely studied in this context. Here, we examined urbanization-driven differences in expression and phenotypic variation of carotenoid-based, melanin-based and structural colours of two urban adapters, the great tit (Parus major) and the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). Importantly, birds were sampled across multiple urban and suburban habitats, and replicated in eight Polish cities, located in the under-studied Central and Eastern European region. We found a consistent decrease in mean carotenoid chroma of great tit breast plumage in more heavily urbanized habitats. This trait was also characterized by higher urban phenotypic variation, which could stem from greater environmental heterogeneity in cities. In blue tits, we observed reduced brightness of breast feathers in urban city centres, and an increased brightness of blue tail feathers in more urbanized habitats. Our study sheds light on the complex pattern of colour trait sensitivity to urbanization and emphasizes the need for examining a wider range of species to gain greater insight into the eco-evolutionary processes acting in urban ecosystems.

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