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. 2017
  2. Published

    Functional flower traits and their diversity drive pollinator visitation

    Fornoff, F., Klein, A.-M., Hartig, F., Benadi, G., Venjakob, C., Schaefer, H. M. & Ebeling, A., 07.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 7, p. 1020-1030 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Luminescence dating of Late Pleistocene eruptions in the Eifel Volcanic Field, Germany

    Schmidt, C., Schaarschmidt, M., Kolb, T., Büchel, G., Richter, D. & Zöller, L., 07.2017, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 32, 5, p. 628-638 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Dryudella paulinae spec. nov. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) from Morocco

    Jacobs, H.-J. & Grabener, S., 30.06.2017, In: Contributions To Entomology. 67, 1, p. 111 - 115 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    The Sphodrina of the southern Levant (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Sphodrini)

    Casale, A. & Assmann, T., 30.06.2017, In: Fragmenta Entomologica. 49, 1, p. 13-24 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The age of the hominin fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and the origins of the Middle Stone Age

    Richter, D., Grün, R., Joannes-Boyau, R., Steele, T. E., Amani, F., Rué, M., Fernandes, P., Raynal, J. P., Geraads, D., Ben-Ncer, A., Hublin, J. J. & McPherron, S. P., 07.06.2017, In: Nature. 546, 7657, p. 293-296 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Intra- and interspecific hybridization in invasive Siberian elm

    Hirsch, H., Brunet, J., Zalapa, J. E., von Wehrden, H., Hartmann, M., Kleindienst, C., Schlautman, B., Kosman, E., Wesche, K., Renison, D. & Hensen, I., 01.06.2017, In: Biological Invasions. 19, 6, p. 1889-1904 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Land use affects dung beetle communities and their ecosystem service in forests and grasslands

    Frank, K., Hülsmann, M., Aßmann, T., Schmitt, T. & Blüthgen, N., 01.06.2017, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 243, p. 114-122 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Performance of process-based models for simulation of grain N in crop rotations across Europe

    Yin, X., Kersebaum, K. C., Kollas, C., Manevski, K., Baby, S., Beaudoin, N., Öztürk, I., Gaiser, T., Wu, L., Hoffmann, M., Charfeddine, M., Conradt, T., Constantin, J., Ewert, F., de Cortazar-Atauri, I. G., Giglio, L., Hlavinka, P., Hoffmann, H., Launay, M., Louarn, G., Manderscheid, R., Mary, B., Mirschel, W., Nendel, C., Pacholski, A., Palosuo, T., Ripoche-Wachter, D., P. Rötter, R., Ruget, F., Sharif, B., Trnka, M., Ventrella, D., Weigel, H. J. & E. Olesen, J., 01.06.2017, In: Agricultural Systems. 154, p. 63-77 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Human–nature connection: a multidisciplinary review

    Ives, C. D., Giusti, M., Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Klaniecki, K., Dorninger, C., Laudan, J., Barthel, S., Abernethy, P., Martín-López, B., Raymond, C. M., Kendal, D. & von Wehrden, H., 06.2017, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 26–27, June 2017, p. 106-113 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change by Reducing Evaporation Losses: Sediment Removal from the High Aswan Dam Reservoir

    Elba, E., Urban, B., Ettmer, B. & Farghaly, D., 04.05.2017, In: American Journal of Climate Change. 6, 2, p. 230-246 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    A review of ecosystem service benefits from wild bees across social contexts

    Matias, D. M. S., Leventon, J., Rau, A. L., Borgemeister, C. & von Wehrden, H., 01.05.2017, In: Ambio. 46, 4, p. 456-467 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  13. Published

    Regional differences in soil pH niche among dry grassland plants in Eurasia

    Wagner, V., Chytrý, M., Zelený, D., von Wehrden, H., Brinkert, A., Danihelka, J., Hölzel, N., Jansen, F., Kamp, J., Lustyk, P., Merunková, K., Palpurina, S., Preislerová, Z. & Wesche, K., 05.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 5, p. 660-670 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Comparison of wood volume estimates of young trees from terrestrial laser scan data

    Kunz, M., Hess, C., Raumonen, P., Bienert, A., Hackenberg, J., Maas, H.-G., Härdtle, W., Fichtner, A. & von Oheimb, G., 30.04.2017, In: iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry. 10, 2, p. 451-458 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Assessing sustainable biophysical human-nature connectedness at regional scales

    Dorninger, C., Abson, D. J., Fischer, J. & von Wehrden, H., 24.04.2017, In: Environmental Research Letters. 12, 5, p. 1-11 11 p., 055001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    From deforestation to blossom: Large-scale restoration of montane heathland vegetation

    Borchard, F., Härdtle, W., Streitberger, M., Stuhldreher, G., Thiele, J. & Fartmann, T., 01.04.2017, In: Ecological Engineering. 101, p. 211-219 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Mapping and analysing historical indicators of ecosystem services in Germany

    Dittrich, A., von Wehrden, H., Abson, D. J., Bartkowski, B., Cord, A. F., Fust, P., Hoyer, C., Kambach, S., Meyer, M. A., Radzevičiūtė, R., Nieto-Romero, M., Seppelt, R. & Beckmann, M., 01.04.2017, In: Ecological Indicators. 75, p. 101-110 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    The relationship between plant species richness and soil pH vanishes with increasing aridity across Eurasian dry grasslands

    Palpurina, S., Wagner, V., von Wehrden, H., Hájek, M., Horsák, M., Brinkert, A., Hölzel, N., Wesche, K., Kamp, J., Hájková, P., Danihelka, J., Lustyk, P., Merunková, K., Preislerová, Z., Kočí, M., Kubešová, S., Cherosov, M., Ermakov, N., German, D., Gogoleva, P., Lashchinsky, N., Martynenko, V. & Chytrý, M., 01.04.2017, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 26, 4, p. 425-434 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    The reproductive potential and importance of key management aspects for successful Calluna vulgaris rejuvenation on abandoned Continental heaths

    Henning, K., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Fichtner, A. & Tischew, S., 01.04.2017, In: Ecology and Evolution. 7, 7, p. 2091-2100 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Energy transitions and national development indicators: A global review of nuclear energy production

    Gralla, F., Abson, D. J., Møller, A. P., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 04.2017, In: Renewable & Sustainble Energy Reviews. 70, p. 1251-1265 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  21. Published

    Methodological Challenges in Sustainability Science: A Call for Method Plurality, Procedural Rigor and Longitudinal Research

    Wehrden, H., Lüderitz, C., Leventon, J. & Russell, S., 20.03.2017, In: Challenges in Sustainability. 5, 1, p. 35-42 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Phenotypic Plasticity Explains Response Patterns of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Saplings to Nitrogen Fertilization and Drought Events

    Dziedek, C., Fichtner, A., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Jansen, K., Kunz, M., Walmsley, D., Von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 20.03.2017, In: Forests. 8, 3, p. 1-11 11 p., 91.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Experimental evidence of two mechanisms coupling leaf-level C assimilation to rhizosphere CO 2 release

    Kayler, Z., Keitel, C., Jansen, K. & Gessler, A., 01.03.2017, In: Environmental and Experimental Botany. 135, p. 21-26 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Generalist social bees maximize diversity intake in plant species-rich and resource-abundant environments

    Kaluza, B. F., Wallace, H., Keller, A., Heard, T. A., Jeffers, B., Drescher, N., Blüthgen, N. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.03.2017, In: Ecosphere. 8, 3, 19 p., e01758.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Inside honeybee hives: Impact of natural propolis on the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and viruses

    Drescher, N., Klein, A. M., Neumann, P., Yañez, O. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.03.2017, In: Insects. 8, 1, 18 p., 15.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  26. Published
  27. Published
  28. Published

    Late pliocene–pleistocene record of the garding-2 research drill core, Northwest Germany

    Proborukmi, M. S., Urban, B., Frechen, M., Grube, A. & Rolf, C., 03.2017, In: Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geowissenschaften. 168, 1, p. 141-167 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Two new Lebistina Motschulsky, 1864 species from Kenya and Tanzania (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini)

    Assmann, T., Boutaud, E., Drees, C., Marcus, T., Nolte, D., Starke, W., Terlutter, H., Völler, E. & Zumstein, P., 21.02.2017, In: African Invertebrates. 58, 1, p. 9-21 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Does sustainable intensification offer a pathway to improved food security for aquatic agricultural system-dependent communities?

    Attwood, S. J., Park, S., Loos, J., Philipps, M., Mills, D. & McDougall, C., 17.02.2017, Sustainable Intensification in Smallholder Agriculture: An integrated systems research approach. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 71-87 17 p. (Earthscan food and agriculture series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  31. Published

    Beta diversity of plant species in human-transformed landscapes: Control of community assembly by regional productivity and historical connectivity

    Conradi, T., Temperton, V. M. & Kollmann, J., 01.02.2017, In: Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 24, p. 1-10 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published

    Crown and leaf traits as predictors of subtropical tree sapling growth rates

    Li, Y., Kröber, W., Bruehlheide, H., Härdtle, W. & von Oheimb, G., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 136-145 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    Foraging wireworms are attracted to root-produced volatile aldehydes

    Barsics, F., Delory, B. M., Delaplace, P., Francis, F., Fauconnier, M. L., Haubruge, É. & Verheggen, F. J., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Pest Science. 90, 1, p. 69-76 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Impact of tree diversity and environmental conditions on the survival of shrub species in a forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China

    Yang, B., Li, Y., Ding, B.-Y., Both, S., Erfmeier, A., Härdtle, W., Ma, K., Schmid, B., Scholten, T., Seidler, G., von Oheimb, G., Yang, X. & Bruehlheide, H., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 179-189 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    Interspecific and intraspecific variation in specific root length drives aboveground biodiversity effects in young experimental forest stands

    Bu, W., Schmid, B., Liu, X., Li, Y., Härdtle, W., Von Oheimb, G., Liang, Y., Sun, Z., Huang, Y., Bruelheide, H. & Ma, K., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 158-169 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Leverage points for sustainability transformation

    Abson, D. J., Fischer, J., Leventon, J., Newig, J., Schomerus, T., Vilsmaier, U., von Wehrden, H., Abernethy, P., Ives, C. D., Jager, N. W. & Lang, D. J., 01.02.2017, In: Ambio. 46, 1, p. 30-39 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    On the combined effect of soil fertility and topography on tree growth in subtropical forest ecosystems - a study from SE China

    Scholten, T., Goebes, P., Kühn, P., Seitz, S., Aßmann, T., Bauhus, J., Bruelheide, H., Buscot, F., Erfmeier, A., Fischer, M., Härdtle, W., He, J.-S., Ma, K., Niklaus, P. A., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schmid, B., Shi, X., Song, Z., von Oheimb, G., Wirth, C., Wubet, T. & Schmidt, K., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 111-127 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Salivary cues: simulated roe deer browsing induces systemic changes in phytohormones and defence chemistry in wild‐grown maple and beech saplings

    Ohse, B., Hammerbacher, A., Seele, C., Meldau, S., Reichelt, M., Ortmann, S. & Wirth, C., 01.02.2017, In: Functional Ecology. 31, 2, p. 340-349 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Tree diversity increases levels of herbivore damage in a subtropical forest canopy: evidence for dietary mixing by arthropods?

    Brezzi, M., Schmid, B., Niklaus, P. A. & Schuldt, A., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 13-27 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Tree diversity promotes generalist herbivore community patterns in a young subtropical forest experiment

    Zhang, J., Bruelheide, H., Chen, X., Eichenberg, D., Kröber, W., Xu, X., Xu, L. & Schuldt, A., 01.02.2017, In: Oecologia. 183, 2, p. 455-467 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Tree diversity and nectar composition affect arthropod visitors on extrafloral nectaries in a diversity experiment

    Staab, M., Methorst, J., Peters, J., Blöthgen, N. & Klein, A. M., 02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 201-212 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  42. Published

    Investigations for the detection of genotoxic substances on TLC plates

    Egetenmeyer, N. & Weiss, S. C., 20.01.2017, In: Journal of Liquid Chromatography and Related Technologies. 40, 2, p. 69-74 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Variation in short-term and long-term responses of photosynthesis and isoprenoid-mediated photoprotection to soil water availability in four Douglas-fir provenances

    Junker, L. V., Kleiber, A., Jansen, K., Wildhagen, H., Hess, M., Kayler, Z., Kammerer, B., Schnitzler, J.-P., Kreuzwieser, J., Gessler, A. & Ensminger, I., 10.01.2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 16 p., 40145.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    The Importance of Being First: Exploring Priority and Diversity Effects in a Grassland Field Experiment

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Von Gillhaussen, P., Delory, B., Blossfeld, S., Poorter, H. & Temperton, V. M., 05.01.2017, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 7, 12 p., 2008.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Ecosystem functions as indicators for heathland responses to nitrogen fertilisation

    Bähring, A., Fichtner, A., Ibe, K., Schütze, G., Temperton, V. M., Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 01.01.2017, In: Ecological Indicators. 72, p. 185-193 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Can knowledge of priority effects improve outcomes of ecological restoration?

    Nelson, C. R., Weidlich, E. W. A. & Temperton, V. M., 2017, Linking Science and Practise for a Better World: Book of Abstracts; VII World Conference on Ecological Restoration. Durigan, G. (ed.). Sociedad Ibero Americana y der Caribe de Restauracion Ecologica, p. 217 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Current overview of research on priority effects and its relevance to restoration

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Nelson, C. R. & Temperton, V. M., 2017, Linking Science and Practise for a Better World: Book of Abstracts; VII World Conference on Ecological Restoration. Durigan, G. (ed.). Sociedad Ibero Americana y der Caribe de Restauracion Ecologica, p. 215 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Energizing marginal soils: A perennial cropping system for Sida hermaphrodita

    Nabel, M., Poorter, H., Temperton, V. M., Schrey, S., Koller, R., Schurr, U. & Jablonowski, N., 2017, Geophysical Research Abstracts. European Geosciences Union (EGU), Vol. 19. 1 p. (Geophysical research abstracts; vol. 19).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearch

  49. Published

    Exploring priority effects in a central European grassland field experiment in order to inform restoration

    Weidlich, E. W. A., 2017, Linking Science and Practise for a Better World: Book of Abstracts; VII World Conference on Ecological Restoration. Durigan, G. (ed.). Sociedad Ibero Americana y der Caribe de Restauracion Ecologica, p. 215 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Interacciones entre plantas y animales

    Pacheco, L. F., Aparicio, J., Benavides Frias, C., Escobar, M., Galeón, R., García, E., Guerra, F., Gómez, I., Larrea-Alcázar, D. M., Limachi, M., Maldonado, D., Miranda, B., Morales, D., Moya, M. I., Rico, A., Salazar-Bravo, J. & Tellería, L., 2017, Historia natural del valle de La Paz. Moya, M. I., Meneses, R. I. & Sarmiento, J. (eds.). 3 ed. La Paz: Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Bolicia (MNHN), p. 193-199 7 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    Lasioglossum (Evylaeus) cleome, nouvelle espèce d‘abeille de l’Afrique du Nord (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Halictidae)

    Pauly, A., Ebmer, A. W. & Grabener, S., 2017, In: Belgian Journal of Entomology. 48, p. 1-9 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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