What is Oskar Heinroth?
'''Oskar Heinroth''' ([[Mainz]]-Kastel, 1 March 1871 &ndash; [[Berlin]], 31 May 1945) was a [[Germany|German]] [[biology|biologist]] who was one of the founders of [[ethology]].<ref>Tembrock, Günter 2001. Oskar Heinroth (1871–1945). In Ilse Jahn & Michael Schmitt (eds): ''Darwin & Co. Eine Geschichte der Biologie in Porträts''. Beck, München, vol 2, 380–400. {{ISBN|3-406-44639-6}}</ref> Heinroth was director of the [[Berlin Zoo]] & [[Aquarium]] for over 30 years. He married twice, both times to colleagues: He was married to Magdalena (née Wiebe, 1904-1932) and, after her death, to Katharina (née Berger, 1933-1945). His studies of behaviour in the [[Anatidae]] ([[ducks]] and [[geese]]) showed their [[instinct]]ive behaviour patterns. He also rediscovered the phenomenon of [[imprinting]], reported in the 19th century by [[Douglas Spalding]] but not followed up at the time. Heinroth showed that the behaviour of birds was characteristic of a species, as much as its anatomy. His results were popularised by [[Konrad Lorenz]], whose mentor he was. Lorenz regarded Heinroth as the true founder of the study of [[animal behaviour]] as a branch of [[zoology]]. == References == {{reflist}} ==Sources== * Oskar Heinroth & Magdalena Heinroth 1924–1934. ''Die Vögel Mitteleuropas''. Illustrated, 4 vols, Bermühler, Berlin. * Oskar Heinroth & Katharina Heinroth 1958. ''The birds''. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. {{ISBN|0-472-05005-2}}. {{DEFAULTSORT:Heinroth, Oskar}} [[Category:1871 births]] [[Category:1945 deaths]] [[Category:German biologists]] [[Category:People from Mainz]] [[Category:German zoologists]] [[Category:Ethologists]]