Oskar Heinroth

Oskar Heinroth (Mainz-Kastel, 1 March 1871 – Berlin, 31 May 1945) was a German biologist who was one of the founders of ethology.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.  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 instinctive 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 

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. .

Category:1871 births
Category:1945 deaths
Category:German biologists
Category:People from Mainz
Category:German zoologists
Category:Ethologists