Increasing urbanization leads to more frequent interactions—and even conflicts—between humans and wildlife. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach, considering both the behaviour of animals and how wildlife is perceived by urban residents, with the latter often being driven by attitudes or emotions that may not necessarily be evidence-based. Innovative research methods in urban ecology, including citizen science approaches, are essential for studying both the adaptations of wildlife to cities and humans' complex perceptions of urban animals. In this symposium, we aim to explore such approaches in urban behavioural ecology and evolution to understand wildlife adaptions to urban environments. Two outstanding speakers, each an expert in their respective field will give talks.

Outline of the Satellite Meeting:

• Keynote Presentations (morning session):

Speaker 1: Prof. Dr. Tanja Straka, Freie Universität Berlin

Topic: Urban Ecology (Title will be announced later)

Speaker 2: Dr. Jannis Gottwald, trackIT Systems GmbH, Cölbe

Founder of trackIT company: tackle longstanding questions in biology through tracking

• Methodological Introductions:

Introduction to and information on data collection methods (e.g., interviewing urban residents, behavioural observation of wildlife, and citizen science approaches). Introduction to state-of-the-art tracking systems and automated data analysis.

• Lunch Break

• Workshop (afternoon session):

Participants, divided into small groups, will conduct hands-on fieldwork either at the Botanical Garden (FU) or Schlossgarten Charlottenburg, focusing on:

1. Understanding wildlife perception among citizens (through surveys and interviews).

2. Collecting data on animal behaviour and exploring possibilities to investigate behavioural adaptations of animals in urban settings.

3. Will be introduced to citizen science tools (e.g., apps) for data collection.

• Late Afternoon Discussion:

Groups share findings, discussing the strengths, limitations, and feasibility of each method used in urban behavioural ecology and evolution research. Followed by optional dinner for networking and further discussion.

• Conclusion:

Summary of current trends in urban ecology and introduction to prominent research groups in the field.