Ein weißer Affe mit schwarzem Gesicht hält sich an einem Baumstamm fest und blickt in die Kamera.

Ein weißer Affe mit schwarzem Gesicht hält sich an einem Baumstamm fest und blickt in die Kamera.

Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology

What we do

The Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology Unit forms an organizational unit with the Sociobiology/Anthropology Department of the Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute for Zoology and Anthropology. We study the behavior, ecology and biodiversity of lemurs, but also of other vertebrates at our study site in Madagascar.

News

Patrick Jendritza, junior fellow at the Else Kröner Fresenius Center for Optogenetic Therapies, leading the “Visual Circuits” group at the German Primate Center (DPZ) on light-controlled brain-computer interfaces to restore vision.

January 08, 2026

Junior researcher investigates the restoration of vision

A woman is displayed on a screen, framed by a rectangle with colored circles. Two prices, 31.94€ and 25.66€, appear beside her. Another person observes from the foreground.

Thorge Beilfuß

December 19, 2025

How coordination emerges during real-time social interaction

[Translate to Englisch:]

December 17, 2025

2025 Photo Award: Three powerful winning images from research and everyday life

Indra Niehaus, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

December 10, 2025

How errors in the “cell skeleton” lead to a smaller brain

Image: Igor Kagan; the macaque image modified from: Monkey in a Persimmon Tree, 1935 by Ohara Koson

Igor Kagan; the macaque image modified from: Monkey in a Persimmon Tree, 1935 by Ohara Koson

December 05, 2025

EHUB (Kyoto)–DPZ Joint Workshop 2025

Microscopic fluorescence image of a circular biological tissue sample with green and purple structures on a black background.

November 27, 2025

How a gene shapes the architecture of the human brain

Two people in lab coats are working on a scientific device in a modern research lab. Both are sitting or standing next to a large white analytical instrument; in the background, a colorful fluorophore poster hangs on the wall.

November 26, 2025

Coronavirus Experts Hoffmann and Pöhlmann Recognized as Highly Cited Researchers 2025

[Translate to Englisch:] A baboon in a dry, leaf-strewn forest holds a spotted bushbuck calf and runs through the undergrowth between thin branches.

Lauriane Faraut

October 23, 2025

Guinea baboons share meat according to fixed social rules

3D representation of a human brain in side view with a transparent, pink surface against a black background; three areas are highlighted in color: a green and a yellow area close together on the upper lateral cerebral cortex and a blue area further forward.

Vladyslav Ivanov, erstellt mit AFNI_25.2.18

October 20, 2025

Controlling prostheses with the power of thought

[Translate to Englisch:] Der Berberaffe schaut in eine braune Holzbox in der eine Erdnuss und eine Gummischlage liegt.

DPZ - Kognitive Ethologie

October 15, 2025

Between fear and appetite – Barbary macaques tested for risk-taking behavior

Susanne Schumacher

October 01, 2025

The new “DPZ-Magazin” is here!

emur with orange eyes perched in the splintered trunk of a tree in a forest, looking toward the camera.

Johanna Henke-von der Malsburg

August 27, 2025

Lemurs in Madagascar: Diversity through repeated evolutionary bursts

Vier Guinea-Paviane ruhen in den Kronen der Galeriewälder des Niokolo-Koba-Nationalparks in Senegal.

July 30, 2025

Sleeping in good company: strategies for using sleeping places among Guinea baboons

Two chacma baboons fighting, with the male (right) attacking a female. In this species, the males are twice as large as the females, and the males dominate over the females.

July 07, 2025

Beyond the alpha male

May 08, 2025

Red alert for our closest relatives

Susanne Schumacher

May 07, 2025

Research highlights to read

Portraitfoto von Abhilash Dwarakanath

Katharina Diederich

April 30, 2025

Award for Abhi Dwarakanath

Gripping in case of uncertainty

KI-generiert von Gemini

April 10, 2025

How the brain controls movement under uncertainty

The image shows a digital representation of a workspace with various statistical graphics and tools. In the foreground are blue-colored 3D bar and line charts on blue paper, with a pie chart and a bar chart below. In the background are several stacks of coloring sheets and pens, as well as a pen field with different colors. The scenery conveys a sense of structure and organization.

ZpongXED – stock.adobe.com

April 02, 2025

How the brain evaluates rewards

Susanne Schumacher

April 01, 2025

DPZ aktuell: The new issue is here!

Fluorescence image of a chimpanzee brain organoid, showing various cell types in vivid colors and highlighting the complex tissue structure.

March 27, 2025

How did the large brain evolve?

ortrait of a researcher with curly blonde hair, standing in front of a modern glass facade, smiling warmly at the camera.

March 11, 2025

Erin Wessling and Michael Heide each win a scholarship from the Daimler and Benz Foundation

: Four baboons, including a juvenile, sit around a transparent research device containing food, testing how to access the reward.

March 05, 2025

Strategic mate choice in Guinea baboons

Screenshot des DPZ-Profils bei Bluesky

Sylvia Ranneberg

February 12, 2025

The DPZ is now on Bluesky

Microscopic image of star-shaped cells with red cell processes on a black background.Zellfortsätzen auf schwarzem Hintergrund.

Dioscuri Center for Chromatin Biology and Epigenomics

February 11, 2025

Astrocytes - guardians of the brain

zhgee/Shutterstock.com

February 03, 2025

Keeper or corner? How the brain enables flexible decisions

Illustration of a human heart with an applied heart patch. The heart patch has a honeycomb-like structure with small holes and is visible on the front of the heart. The depiction symbolizes the use of the heart patch for regenerating damaged heart tissue.

Eva Meyer-Besting / UMG

January 29, 2025

Animal studies confirm the safety and effectiveness of the heart patch

Two women in protective clothing and safety goggles are working in a research laboratory with biological safety levels. One woman is wearing a face mask and holding sample tubes, while the other hands her a tray with samples. In the background, protective gowns and warning signs for biological and radioactive hazards are visible.

January 23, 2025

New EU research project develops broad-spectrum antiviral drugs

A female Assamese macaque (Macaca assamensis) with an infant

January 22, 2025

Stress during early pregnancy affects offspring into adulthood

Four award winners with certificates

Susanne Schumacher

December 19, 2024

Photo and video award: the best of 2024

Interieur of the DPZ cafeteria

Wolf Schuchardt

December 18, 2024

DPZ Cafeteria under new management starting January 7th

Two scientists in lab coats stand next to a machine and analyse its results.

December 18, 2024

DPZ virologists among the ‘Highly Cited Researchers’

The picture shows a monkey with reddish-brown fur sitting on a tree.

Susanne Schumacher

December 18, 2024

DPZ aktuell published

[Translate to Englisch:]

ChatGPT, Dimitri Lindenwald

November 21, 2024

Our new webpage is online

NGUYEN VAN TRUONG

October 28, 2024

Why langurs drink salt water

Die 3D-gerenderte rasterelektronenmikroskopische Aufnahme zeigt SARS-CoV-2-Viren (rot), die an der Oberfläche einer Wirtszelle austreten.

willyam - stock.adobe.com

June 25, 2024

How SARS-CoV-2 affects our immune system