Sylke Frahnert

Dr. Sylke Frahnert is a Researcher at the Museum of Natural History Berlin (Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research), where she serves as Curator of the Ornithological Collection and Women's Representative. Her work spans ornithology, taxonomy, and historical collection studies, focusing on avian systematics, evolutionary morphology, and the legacy of colonial-era expeditions like Ernst Schäfer's Tibet missions. She employs advanced techniques such as 3D geometric morphometrics to analyze corvid skulls and bird footscale patterns.

• Research Interests: Evolutionary morphology of birds, type specimen documentation, historical context of colonial collections, and functional integration of avian species in urban ecosystems.
• Publications: Her publications (2004–2011) emphasize type specimen cataloging, taxonomic revisions, and the intersection of ornithology with cultural heritage. Notable works include analyses of the Oppenheim Collection, Nauru bird specimens, and 3D morphometric studies on corvid skulls.
• Team Involvement: She collaborates on projects like the digital catalog of German ornithological type specimens under GBIF and contributes to museum-wide initiatives such as the 'Class, Order, Art' anniversary volume.