Institute of Ecology

Organisational unit: Institute

Organisation profile

The Institute of Ecology is the biological and natural science department of Leuphana University of Lüneburg. Research focuses on the effects of global changes such as climate change and land use change on organisms and communities biodiversity loss as well as on biological and chemical processes. In cooperation with the human sciences, socio-economic factors of ecosystem research are considered.

Main research areas

Research foci at the Institute of Ecology are the effects of global change such as climate change and land use change on organisms and their communities and on biological functional and chemical processes. The focus is on the causes and effects of declining animal and plant populations as well as current biodiversity loss and the associated changes in abiotic and biotic ecosystem functions. In collaboration with human science research groups at Leuphana University, socio-economic factors of ecosystem research are also jointly considered.

Experimental research takes place both in laboratories, in greenhouses and in open spaces at Leuphana University. Further, many investigations take place in cultivated landscapes and in urban areas. The field studies are carried out in various countries of the temperate and Mediterranean latitudes and the tropics and sub-tropics, but also regionally, e.g. in Lüneburg and the Lüneburg Heath. Research cooperations exist with many different national and international universities and non-university institutions such as local nature conservation organizations and schools. Particularly noteworthy are the cooperations with the Alfred Töpfer Academy for Nature Conservation and the biosphere reserve administration Niedersächsische Elbtalaue.

The courses range from basic and advanced courses in various sub-fields of ecology and biology, including the performance of experiments in laboratory practicals and in the field, to interdisciplinary courses in the Bachelor's and Master's programs.

In interdisciplinary courses, contents from the fields of landscape ecology, botany, soil ecology, zoology, genetics and nature conservation are linked together, as well as courses that combine different disciplines of the natural sciences with those of the human sciences.

  1. 2015
  2. Agroecological practices in the Andean high lands: agrobiodiversity, culture and family farming

    Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. (Speaker) & de la Pava, R. (Speaker)

    08.04.2015

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  3. Climate change and sustainable use of high Aswan dam reservoir

    Elba, E. (Speaker), Farghaly, D. (Speaker) & Urban, B. (Speaker)

    23.03.201525.03.2015

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  4. Sustainable use of arable lands within the Elbe river biosphere reserve in Lower Saxony, Germana using SAR-Data

    Elba, E. (Speaker), Farghaly, D. (Speaker) & Urban, B. (Speaker)

    23.03.201525.03.2015

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  5. Zur Wirkung von Feuer und anderen Pflegemaßnahmen auf den Nährstoffhaushalt von Heidelandschaften

    Härdtle, W. (Speaker) & Niemeyer, T. (Speaker)

    01.01.201531.12.2015

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesEducation

  6. 1st iDiv Annual Conference - 2015

    Ohse, B. (Speaker)

    2015

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  7. 2014
  8. Workshop „Biochar goes practice - Biokohle in der Praxis“ 2014

    Urban, B. (Speaker) & Thiem, C. (Speaker)

    09.12.201410.12.2014

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventExternal workshops, courses, seminarsResearch

  9. 7th International Conference on the Geology of Africa - GOA 2014

    Urban, B. (Participant)

    24.11.201426.11.2014

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  10. 1st Agroecological Encounter of Bogota 2014

    de la Pava, R. (Organiser) & Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. (Organiser)

    11.11.201412.11.2014

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventExternal workshops, courses, seminarsResearch

  11. Pflanzenkohle aus kontaminiertem Auen-Grünland als Bodenverbesserer

    Wolski, S. (Speaker), Thiem, C. (Speaker), Krüger, F. (Speaker) & Urban, B. (Speaker)

    22.09.201423.09.2014

    Activity: Talk or presentationtalk or presentation in privat or public eventsResearch

  12. Exploring plant community asembly

    Weidlich, E. W. A. (presenter)

    08.09.201412.09.2014

    Activity: Talk or presentationPresentations (poster etc.)Research

  13. Roe deer browsing induces changes in phytohormones, primary metabolites and defense chemistry in beech and maple saplings

    Ohse, B. (Speaker)

    08.09.201412.09.2014

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  14. The Chronostratigraphy and environmental development of the Middle Pleistocene sequence of Schöningen.

    Richter, D. (Speaker) & Urban, B. (Speaker)

    01.09.201407.09.2014

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  15. 17th IEA Triannual Conference and World Congress 2014

    Engler, J.-O. (Speaker)

    05.06.201410.06.2014

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  16. Insect Chemical Ecology 2014 - Doctoral Course - ICE 2014

    Delory, B. (Coauthor)

    01.06.201415.06.2014

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventExternal workshops, courses, seminarsResearch

  17. Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ) (External organisation)

    Staab, M. (Chair)

    2014 → …

    Activity: MembershipLearned societies and special interest organisationsResearch

  18. German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (External organisation)

    Haider, S. (Member)

    2014 → …

    Activity: MembershipBodies of public institutionsResearch

  19. 2013
  20. 43rd Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland - 2013

    Klein, A.-M. (Participant)

    09.09.201313.09.2013

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  21. Building Bridges in Ecology – Linking Systems, Scales and Disciplines

    Klein, A.-M. (Speaker)

    09.09.201313.09.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  22. Cross-pollination benefits differ among oilseed rape varieties

    Klein, A.-M. (Speaker)

    09.09.201313.09.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationPresentations (poster etc.)Research

  23. Zu Bodenhydrologie und Kohlenstoffhaushalt sandiger Ackerböden im Klimawandel: Umgang mit Unsicherheiten bei der Modellierung

    Urban, B. (Speaker) & Schmelmer, K. (Speaker)

    02.09.201303.09.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  24. Biodiversity and ecosystem functions in annual oil seed production: Camelina and pennycress double-cropping in Germany

    Groeneveld, J. H. (Speaker)

    21.08.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  25. Are managed honey bees a threat to native wild bees?

    Hudewenz, A. (Speaker)

    19.08.201323.08.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  26. 11th INTECOL Congress 2013

    Groeneveld, J. H. (Participant)

    18.08.201323.08.2013

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  27. Biodiversity and ecosystem functions in annual oil seed production: Camelina and pennycress double-cropping in Germany

    Groeneveld, J. H. (Oral presentation)

    18.08.201323.08.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

  28. Biodiversity and ecosystem funtions in annual oil seed production: Camelina and pennycress double-cropping in Germany

    Klein, A.-M. (Oral presentation)

    18.08.201323.08.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

  29. Biodiversity and crop pollination services

    Klein, A.-M. (Oral presentation)

    14.08.201317.08.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesResearch

  30. Rethinking economy, nature use and development: Caring as a socio-ecological concept for sustainability and gender justice

    Katz, C. (Speaker) & Gottschlich, D. (Speaker)

    31.07.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  31. Competencies for sustainable development of rural areas need the integration of Gender

    Thiem, A. (Speaker) & Katz, C. (Speaker)

    29.07.201301.08.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsTransfer

  32. Ramsey discounting of ecosystem services

    Baumgärtner, S. (Speaker), Klein, A.-M. (Coauthor), Thiel, D. (Coauthor) & Winkler, K. (Coauthor)

    26.06.201329.06.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  33. Nachhaltig & Geschlechtergerecht - Widerspruch oder Synergien?

    Hofmeister, S. (Lecturer)

    24.06.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesTransfer

  34. Nachhaltig & Geschlechtergerecht - Widerspruch oder Synergien?

    Katz, C. (Lecturer)

    24.06.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesTransfer

  35. Nachhaltigkeit & Geschlechtergerecht - Widerspruch oder Synergien?

    Katz, C. (Lecturer)

    24.06.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationGuest lecturesTransfer

  36. Western Closure of the Corinth Rift : Stratigraphy and structure of the Lakka fault block

    Palyvos, N. (Speaker), Ford, M. (Coauthor), Mancini, M. (Coauthor), Esu, D. (Coauthor), Girotti, O. (Coauthor) & Urban, B. (Coauthor)

    07.04.201312.04.2013

    Activity: Talk or presentationPresentations (poster etc.)Research

  37. 2012
  38. Annual Meeting of the British Ecological Society 2012

    Hudewenz, A. (Coauthor)

    17.12.201220.12.2012

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  39. Paper Writing Workshop 2012

    Pufal, G. (Organiser)

    13.12.201218.12.2012

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventExternal workshops, courses, seminarsResearch

  40. Tagung "Gender trifft Nachhaltigkeit - Nachhaltigkeit braucht Gender" - NaGe 2012

    Heilmann, S. (Organiser), Hofmeister, S. (Organiser), Katz, C. (Organiser), Thiem, A. (Organiser) & Mölders, T. (Participant)

    10.12.201211.12.2012

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  41. Wald und Gender

    Katz, C. (Speaker)

    10.12.201211.12.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  42. Simposio Internacional Conservacion de la Biodiversidad y Educacion Ambiental - 2012

    Pufal, G. (Speaker)

    12.11.201216.11.2012

    Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic eventConferencesResearch

  43. Resource use and competition between honey bees and wild bees in the Lüneburger Heath

    Hudewenz, A. (Speaker)

    13.09.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  44. Spillover effects and importance of urban gardens for trap-nesting bees and wasps

    Pereira Peixoto, M. H. (presenter)

    12.09.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationPresentations (poster etc.)Research

  45. Pollination of Camelina sativa and Thlaspi arvense: Two new potential oil crop species in Germany

    Groeneveld, J. H. (Speaker)

    11.09.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  46. Science and Practitioners: Transdisciplinary research a bridge to create socially robust knowledge

    Brandt, P. (Speaker) & Gralla, F. (Speaker)

    11.09.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  47. Bear activity in traditional woodpastures in souther Transylvania, Romania

    von Wehrden, H. (presenter)

    10.09.201214.09.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationPresentations (poster etc.)Research

  48. Developing robust field survey protocols in landscape ecology: A case study on birds, plants and butterflies

    von Wehrden, H. (Speaker)

    10.09.201214.09.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch

  49. Different responses of ant species to sugars and amino acids in a subtropical forest of China 

    Staab, M. (Coauthor)

    10.09.201214.09.2012

    Activity: Talk or presentationConference PresentationsResearch