I am a community ecologist studying how species interact with their environment and respond to global change. My work combines field ecology, quantitative analysis, and mechanistic frameworks, with a focus on ecosystem engineers, cross-habitat connectivity and applied conservation.
My PhD at WSL/Eawag/University of Zurich examines how beaver-engineering reshapes aquatic–terrestrial habitats and changes biodiversity, species interactions, and ecosystem functioning, building on my strong species and field experience. I also research animal behaviour (e.g., wintering Black-headed Gulls) and collaborate with forensic scientists by providing ecological expertise on scavengers.
Beaver-engineering increased bat species richness, activity, and feeding in paired Swiss stream systems, with gains linked to structural habitat heterogeneity (canopy/deadwood) and higher prey availability.
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Across a land-use gradient, beaver-engineered habitats boosted local biodiversity in most aquatic and adjacent terrestrial communities, showing that rewilding effects can extend even into human-dominated landscapes.
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Moser, V., L. Capitani, L. Zehnder, A. Hürbin, M. K. Obrist, K. Ecker, S. Boch, S. Minnig, C. Angst, F. Pomati, & A. C. Risch (2025):
Habitat heterogeneity and food availability in beaver-engineered streams foster bat richness, activity and feeding.
Journal of Animal Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70136
Featured with a Research Highlight: https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70144
Indra, L., V. Moser, M. Milella, D. Errickson, & S. Lösch (2025): Of rodents and foxes: Faunal activity and scavenging at carcasses in a Central European (Swiss) forest. Journal of Forensic Sciences 70.4, 1274-1291. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.70056
Moser, V., A. de Titta, S. Büttler, J. Schacht, F. Lehmans, L. Maumary & P. Ertl (2025): Überwinternde Lachmöwen Chroicocephalus ridibundus in der Schweiz sind Winterquartier und Tagesstandort jahrelang treu Ergebnisse aus Basel und Morges. Ornithologischer Beobachter 122: 152-167.
Moser, V., A. Barbalat, P. Ertl, I. Fuetsch, M. Ganz, H. Hörster, C. Niffenegger, C. Sahli, A. Schneider & N. Strebel (2025): Die Schweiz als Winterquartier und Rastgebiet für die Lachmöwe Chroicocephalus ridibundus. Ornithologischer Beobachter 122: 62-72.
Nava V., J. Y. Dar, V. De Santis, L. Fehlinger, J. Pasqualini, O. A. Adekolurejo, B. Burri, M. J. Cabrerizo, T. Chonova, M. Cour, F. Dory, A. M. Drost, A. Figler, G. Gionchetta, D. Halabowski, D. R. Harvey, V. Manzanares-Vázquez, B. Misteli, L. Mori-Bazzano, V. Moser, F. Rotta, B. Schmid-Paech, C. M. Touchet & J. Gostyńska (2024): Zooming in the plastisphere: the ecological interface for phytoplankton–plastic interactions in aquatic ecosystems. Biological Reviews 100.2: 834-854. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.13164
Schillé, L., Valdés‐Correcher, E., Archaux, F., … & Castagneyrol, B. (2024): Decomposing drivers in avian insectivory: Large‐scale effects of climate, habitat and bird diversity. Journal of Biogeography 51.6: 1079-1094. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14808
Bosco, L., V. Moser, M. M. Jones, Ø. Opedal, O. Ovaskainen, S. Gerber, R. Van Klink, S. A. Cushmann, R. Arlettaz & A. Jacot (2023): Habitat area and local habitat conditions outweigh fragmentation effects on insect communities in vineyards. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 4.1: e12193. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12193
Moser, V., H. Baur, A. Lehmann & G. Lehmann (2021): Two species? - Limits of the species concepts in the pygmy grasshoppers of the Tetrix bipunctata complex (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae). ZooKeys 1043: 33. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1043.68316
Moser, V., R. Spaar, K. Meichtry-Stier & N. Martinez (2019): Territory quality differs between paired and unpaired male Common Redstarts Phoenicurus phoenicurus. Bird Study 66.2: 269-272. https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2019.1637397
Benak, D., P. Carter, J. Ebr, I. Ebrova, K. Van Gaever, B. Kao, A. Meyer, V. Rudyi, J. Ben Simon, K. Tamar, R. Vardi & V. Moser (2025): Sighting of a large group of Pygmy Sperm Whales Kogia breviceps and a recent record of Dwarf Sperm Whale K. sima in the Azores. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 105:e129. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315425100830
Schacht, J., S. Büttler, M. Röllin & V. Moser (2025): Erste Nachweise des Weberknechts Lacinius dentiger (C. L. Koch, 1848) für die Schweiz (Opiliones: Phalangiidae). Entomo Helvetica 18: 141-148.
Hayes, F. E., M. Dodd & V. Moser (2024): New High Elevation Records for the Mesic Four-Striped Grass Rat Rhabdomys dilectus on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Journal of East African Natural History 113.2: 19-21. https://doi.org/10.2982/028.113.0201
Martinez, N., D. Matti, S. Hohl, V. Moser, D. Eichhorn & T. Roth (2024): Die verschiedenen Unterarten der Schafstelze Motacilla flava in der Nordwestschweiz. Mitteilungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaften beider Basel 21: 3.
Moser, V. (2021): Taking a chance. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 19.9: 535-535. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2425
Martinez, N., D. Matti, S. Hohl, V. Moser, D. Eichhorn & T. Roth (2021): Die Unterarten der Schafstelze Motacilla flava auf dem Frühjahrs- und Herbstzug in der Schweiz. Ornithologischer Beobachter 118: 216-239.
Kurtogullari, Y., V. Moser, M. Hochreutener & A. Jacot (2020): Zum Kuckuck, da füttern zwei potenzielle Wirtsarten gleichzeitig. Ornithologischer Beobachter 117: 74-76.
Martinez, N., P. Richterich & V. Moser (2020): Exceptional brood events of Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus and Black Redstart P. ochruros. Ornithologischer Beobachter 117: 267-269.
Martinez, N., T. Roth, V. Moser, G. Oesterhelt, B. Pfarr Gambke, P. Richterich, T. B. Tschopp, M. Spiess & S. Birrer (2017): Bestandsentwicklung von Brutvögeln in der Reinacher Ebene von 1997 bis 2016. Ornithologischer Beobachter 114: 257–274.
Moser, V., Angst, C., & Risch, A. (2024). Forschungsbeitrag 3: Der Biber schafft neue blau-grüne Lebensräume. In F. Altermatt, S. Güsewell, & R. Holderegger (Eds.), Biodiversität zwischen Wasser und Land - Exkursionen zu Gewässern, Mooren und Auen der Schweiz. Bern: Haupt Verlag
I do science to understand, protect and restore the biodiversity and ecosystems I love. Restoration is most effective when it is transparent, evidence-based, and grounded in ecological reality. I enjoy translating ecological knowledge into monitoring, planning, and communication that supports real-world decisions.
Co-founder of projectfelis.org, an NGO dedicated to small wild cat conservation
Member of naturalisten.ch, an interdisciplinary collective between research, nature conservation and practitioners
I enjoy giving talks and tailer them to different audiences, from scientific seminars to nature clubs and the broader public.
Email
valentinmoser (at) hotmail.com