Dr. Ornella Weideli specializes in the ecology of young reef sharks and has spent many years conducting research in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the Seychelles and French Polynesia. In these regions, coastal areas serve as crucial nurseries and feeding grounds for young sharks, but they are increasingly threatened by human impacts such as coastal development, climate change, and overfishing. Ornella has published her research in several scientific journals and presented her findings at numerous international conferences.

To foster greater public understanding of these endangered animals, Ornella has been committed to science communication from the early stages of her career. In addition to giving lectures nationally and internationally, she has appeared on various radio and TV programs and has written numerous articles in a wide range of magazines.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ornella has also contributed to medical research. After four years as a scientific assistant and study coordinator with Dr. Risch, she now works as a postdoctoral researcher and research fellow at the Institute for Laboratory Medicine (ILM).

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

2024

Debaere S, Weideli OC, Bouyoucos IA, Planes S, De Boeck G, Rummer JL (2024) The lunar cycle does not influence activity or foraging success of neonatal reef sharks in an amphidromic nursery system. Coral Reefs https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02534-4

Grossmann K, Risch M, Markovic M, Aeschbacher S, Weideli OC, Velez L, Kovac M, Pereira F, Wohlwend N, Risch C, Hillmann D, Lung T, Renz H, Twerenbold R, Rothenbühler M, Leibovitz D, Kovacevic V, Klaver P, Brakenhoff TB, Franks B, Mitratza M, Downward GS, Dowling A, Montes S, Veen D, Grobbee DE, Cronin M, Conen D, Goodale BM, Risch L (2024). Sex-specific differences in physiological parameters related to SARS-CoV-2 infections among a national cohort (COVI-GAPP). PLOSONE 19 (3): e0292203 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292203

2023

Wohlwend NF, Grossmann K, Aeschbacher S, Weideli OC, Telser J, Risch M, Conen D, Risch L. (2023) The association of suPAR with cardiovascular risk factors in young and healthy adults. Diagnostics. 13, no. 18: 2938. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13182938

Telser J, Grossmann K, Weideli OC, Hillmann D, Aeschbacher S, Wohlwend N, Velez L, Kuhle J, Aleksandra M, Benkert P, Risch C, Conen D, Risch M, Risch L (2023) Concentrations of Serum Brain Injury Biomarkers Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Individuals with and without Long-COVID—Results from the Prospective Population-Based COVI-GAPP Study. Diagnostics 2023, 13, 2167. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13132167

Debaere S, Weideli OC, Bouyoucos IA, Eustache KB, Trujillo JE, De Boeck G, Planes S, Rummer JL (2023) Quantifying changes in umbilicus size to estimate the relative age of neonatal blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus). Conservation Physiology 11(1): coad028; doi:10.1093/conphys/coad028

Weideli OC, Daly R, Peel LR, Shivji M, Heithaus M, Planes S, Papastamatiou YP (2023) Elucidating the role of competition in driving spatial and trophic niche pattern in sympatric juvenile reef sharks. Oecologia. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-023-05355-4

2022

Grossmann K, Aeschbacher S, Wohlwend N, Blum S, Weideli OC, Telser J, Risch M, Risch L, Conen D. (2022) Smoking and high-sensitivity troponin I levels in young and healthy adults from the general population. MDPI Applied Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199777

Risch M, Grossmann K, Aeschbacher S, Weideli OC, Kovac M, Pereira F, Wohlwend N, Risch C, Hillmann D, Lung T, Renz H, Twerenbold R, Rothenbühler M, Leibovitz D, Kovacevic V, Markovic A, Klaver P, Brakenhoff TB, Franks B, Mitratza M, Downward GS, Dowling A, Montes S, Grobbee DE, Cronin M, Conen D, Goodale BM, Risch L (2022) Investigation of the use of a sensor bracelet for the pre-symptomatic detection of changes in physiological parameters related to COVID-19: an interim analysis of a prospective cohort study (COVI-GAPP). BMJ Open; 12: e058274.

Bouyoucos IA, Simpfendorfer CA, Planes S, Schwieterman GD, Weideli OC, Rummer JL (2022). Thermally insensitive physiological performance allows neonatal sharks to use coastal habitats as nursery areas. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 682, 137 – 152. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13941.

2021

Weideli OC, Medd H (2021). Sideway swimming behaviour by blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) in mid-water column. Marine Biodiversity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-021-01242-4.

Matich P, Shipley ON, Weideli OC (2021). Quantifying spatial variation in isotopic baselines reveals size-based feeding in a model estuarine predator: implications for trophic studies in dynamic ecotones. Marine Biology, https://doi.org/10. 1007/s00227-021-03920-0.

Bouyoucos IA, Trujillo JE, Weideli OC, Nakamura N, Mourier J, Planes S, Simpfendorfer CA, Rummer JL (2021). Investigating links between thermal tolerance and oxygen supply capacity in shark neonates from a hyperoxic tropical environment. Science of the Total Environment, 782, 146854. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146854

2020

Matich, P, Plumlee, J, Weideli OC, Fisher, M (2020). New insights into the trophic ecology of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) from a subtropical estuary in the western Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Fish Biology, DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14592.

Weideli OC & Papastamatiou, YP (2020). Intestinal eversion in a pelagic shark evokes chase and bite attempts by large-bodied carangid fish. Journal of Ethology, DOI: 10.1007/s10164-020-00664-0.

Bouyoucos IA, Morrison PR, Weideli OC, Jacquesson E, Planes S, Simpfendorfer CA, Brauner CJ, Rummer JL (2020). Thermal tolerance and hypoxia tolerance are associated in blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) neonates. Journal of Experimental Biology, DOI: 10.1242/jeb.221937ID.

2019

Weideli OC, Kiszka J, Matich P, Heithaus M (2019). Effects of anticoagulants on stable isotope values (6¹³C and 6¹⁵N) of shark blood components. Journal of Fish Biology, https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14164.

Weideli OC, Bouyoucos IA, Papastamatiou YP, Mescam G, Rummer JL, Planes S (2019). Same species, different prerequisites: investigating body condition and foraging success in young reef sharks between an atoll and an island system. Scientific Reports, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49761-2.

Weideli OC, Papastamatiou YP, Planes S (2019). Size frequency, dispersal distances and variable growth rates of young sharks in a multi-species aggregation. Journal of Fish Biology. DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13968.

2017

Hussey NE, DiBattista JD, Moore, JW, Ward, EJ, Fisk, AT, Kessel, S, Feldheim, KA, Gruber, SH, Guttridge, TL, Weideli OC, Chapman DD (2017). Risky business for a juvenile marine predator? Testing the influence of foraging strategies on size and growth rate under natural conditions. Proc. R. Soc. B 284:20170166. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0166.

2018

Bouyoucos IA, Weideli OC, Planes S, Simpfendorfer CA, Rummer JL (2018). Dead tired: evaluating the physiological status and survival of neonatal reef sharks under stress. Conservation Physiology, 6, coy053.

2015

Weideli OC, Mourier J, Planes S (2015). A massive surgeonfish aggregation creates a unique opportunity for reef sharks. Coral Reefs, 34(3): 835, DOI: 10.1007/s00338-015-1290-2