Bart Kempenaers

Professor Bart Kempenaers serves as Director of the Department of Ornithology at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Seewiesen, Germany. Formerly known as the Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics (renamed in July 2023), this department conducts cutting-edge research in avian behavioural ecology. Kempenaers also holds the position of Honorary Professor in Behavioural Ecology at Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, a title he has held since 2004. His leadership guides a highly international research team focused on understanding how sexual selection drives biodiversity in bird species worldwide.

Professor Kempenaers' academic foundation was established in Belgium where he was born in 1967. His formal education includes:

• Biology studies at the Universities of Limburg and Antwerp (completed 1989)
• PhD at the University of Antwerp (completed 1994)

As a leading behavioural ecologist and ornithologist, Kempenaers' research centers on sexual selection and the evolution of avian mating behavior. His work investigates mate selection mechanisms, divorce patterns in bird pairs, and the prevalence and implications of extra-pair copulations. He coordinates field studies on arctic-breeding shorebirds with diverse mating systems, employing technology-assisted behavioral observations on large populations of free-living birds. His department maintains a comprehensive database linking life-history traits of approximately 10,000 bird species with environmental and ecological data, enabling large-scale comparative analyses of evolutionary patterns. Their research combines field observations, captive studies, and advanced statistical methods to understand how sexual selection shapes behavioral and life-history traits.

Analysis of Kempenaers' recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning behavioural ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation science. His research consistently examines breeding site fidelity, sexual selection mechanisms, extra-pair paternity, and the ecological factors influencing avian coloration and behavior. Methodologically, his work incorporates innovative approaches including accelerometry, machine learning, and comparative analyses across diverse bird species. A significant portion of his research investigates shorebirds, particularly species with alternative reproductive tactics, while other studies explore urban adaptation, vocal communication, and host-microbiome interactions.

Professor Kempenaers leads a highly international department that investigates how sexual selection acts as a driver of biodiversity. The department's work is characterized by technology-assisted behavioral observations on large numbers of individuals in free-living populations, complemented by captive studies and advanced statistical approaches. They maintain an extensive database linking life-history traits of the world's bird species with environmental data, enabling large-scale comparative analyses of evolutionary patterns. The department's research spans multiple continents, with field studies conducted in Europe, North America, and other regions where their study species breed.