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. 2021
  2. Published

    A new Parazuphium Jeannel, 1942 species (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Zagros Mountains in Iran

    Wrase, D. W. & Assmann, T., 18.01.2021, In: ZooKeys. 2021, 1011, p. 41-49 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Developmental plasticity of Brachypodium distachyon in response to P deficiency: Modulation by inoculation with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria

    Baudson, C., Delory, B. M., Spaepen, S., du Jardin, P. & Delaplace, P., 01.01.2021, In: Plant Direct. 5, 1, 17 p., e00296.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Evaluating structural and compositional canopy characteristics to predict the light-demand signature of the forest understorey in mixed, semi-natural temperate forests

    Depauw, L., Perring, M. P., Landuyt, D., Maes, S. L., Blondeel, H., De Lombaerde, E., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Closset-Kopp, D., Decocq, G., Den Ouden, J., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kopecký, M., Liepiņa, I., Macek, M., Máliš, F., Schmidt, W., Smart, S. M., Ujházy, K., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 01.01.2021, In: Applied Vegetation Science. 24, 1, 13 p., e12532.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Farmers' perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies in South Africa's Western Cape

    Talanow, K., Topp, E., Loos, J. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2021, In: Journal of Rural Studies. 81, p. 203-219 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Global patterns of ecologically unequal exchange: Implications for sustainability in the 21st century

    Dorninger, C., Hornborg, A., Abson, D., von Wehrden, H., Schaffartzik, A., Giljum, S., Engler, J. O., Feller, R. L., Hubacek, K. & Wieland, H., 01.01.2021, In: Ecological Economics. 179, 14 p., 106824.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Making the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration a Social-Ecological Endeavour

    Fischer, J., Riechers, M., Loos, J., Martín-López, B. & Temperton, V. M., 01.01.2021, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 36, 1, p. 20-28 9 p., 2749.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    The coronavirus pandemic as an analogy for future sustainability challenges

    Engler, J.-O., Abson, D. & Wehrden, H., 01.01.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 1, p. 317-319 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Priority effects and ecological restoration

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Nelson, C., Maron, J. L., Callaway, R. M., Delory, B. & Temperton, V. M., 01.2021, In: Restoration Ecology. 29, 1, 11 p., e13317.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Arable vegetation of calcareous soils (Caucalidion) Plant community of the year 2022: Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres 2022

    Bergmeier, E., Meyer, S., Pape, F., Dierschke, H., Härdtle, W., Heinken, T., Hoelzel, N., Remy, D., Schwabe, A., Tischew, S. & Schneider, S., 2021, In: Tuexenia. 41, p. 299-350 52 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Forest Ecosystems: A functional and biodiversity perspective

    Fichtner, A. & Härdtle, W., 2021, Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Hobohm, C. (ed.). Cham: Springer Verlag, p. 383-405 23 p. 16. (Environmental Challenges and Solutions).

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

  12. Published

    Land use change and the future of biodiversity

    Hobohm, C., Beierkuhnlein, C., Börtitz, C., Clark, V. R., El Balti, N., Fichtner, A., Franklin, S., Gaens, T., Härdtle, W., Hansen, A. S., Janišová, M., Jansen, J., Lindner, M., Moro-Richter, M., Müller-Benedict, V., Ott, K., Reinmuth, K. C., van Rooijen, N. M., Sandberg, M., Schaminée, J. H. J., Tang, C. Q., Vahle, H.-C. & Vanderplank, S. E., 2021, Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Hobohm, C. (ed.). Cham: Springer Verlag, p. 451-483 33 p. (Environmental Challenges and Solutions).

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

  13. Published
  14. Published

    Wiederherstellung degradierter Sandheidelebensräume

    Tischew, S., Dolnik, C., Meyer, F. & Härdtle, W., 2021, In: Natur und Landschaft. 96, 4, p. 184-191 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. 2020
  16. Published

    The Caterpillar Hunter Beetles Calosoma Weber (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the southern Levant

    Aßmann, T., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Drees, C., Friedmann, A.-L.-L., Hetzel, A., Orbach, E., Renan, I., Reuter, C. & Wrase, D. W., 31.12.2020, In: Israel Journal of Entomology. 50, 2, p. 133-158 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Going beyond certificates: A systematic review of alternative trade arrangements in the global food sector

    Rathgens, J., Gröschner, S. & von Wehrden, H., 10.12.2020, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 276, 11 p., 123208.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  18. Published

    Provenance- and life-history stage-specific responses of the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris to elevated vapour pressure deficit

    Ibe, K., Walmsley, D., Fichtner, A., Coners, H., Leuschner, C. & Härdtle, W., 01.12.2020, In: Plant Ecology. 221, 12, p. 1219-1232 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there

    Fazey, I., Schäpke, N., Caniglia, G., Hodgson, A., Kendrick, I., Lyon, C., Page, G., Patterson, J., Riedy, C., Strasser, T., Verveen, S., Adams, D., Goldstein, B., Klaes, M., Leicester, G., Linyard, A., McCurdy, A., Ryan, P., Sharpe, B., Silvestri, G., Abdurrahim, A. Y., Abson, D., Adetunji, O. S., Aldunce, P., Alvarez-Pereira, C., Amparo, J. M., Amundsen, H., Anderson, L., Andersson, L., Asquith, M., Augenstein, K., Barrie, J., Bent, D., Bentz, J., Bergsten, A., Berzonsky, C., Bina, O., Blackstock, K., Boehnert, J., Bradbury, H., Brand, C., Böhme, J., Bøjer, M. M., Carmen, E., Charli-Joseph, L., Choudhury, S., Chunhachoti-ananta, S., Cockburn, J., Colvin, J., Connon, I. L. C., Cornforth, R., Cox, R. S., Cradock-Henry, N., Cramer, L., Cremaschi, A., Dannevig, H., Day, C. T., de Lima Hutchison, C., de Vrieze, A., Desai, V., Dolley, J., Duckett, D., Durrant, R. A., Egermann, M., Elsner (Adams), E., Fremantle, C., Fullwood-Thomas, J., Galafassi, D., Gobby, J., Golland, A., González-Padrón, S. K., Gram-Hanssen, I., Grandin, J., Grenni, S., Lauren Gunnell, J., Gusmao, F., Hamann, M., Harding, B., Harper, G., Hesselgren, M., Hestad, D., Heykoop, C. A., Holmén, J., Holstead, K., Hoolohan, C., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Horlings, L. G., Howden, S. M., Howell, R. A., Huque, S. I., Inturias Canedo, M. L., Iro, C. Y., Ives, C. D., John, B., Joshi, R., Juarez-Bourke, S., Juma, D. W., Karlsen, B. C., Kliem, L., Kläy, A., Kuenkel, P., Kunze, I., Lam, D., Lang, D. J., Larkin, A., Light, A., Luederitz, C., Luthe, T., Maguire, C., Mahecha-Groot, A. M., Malcolm, J., Marshall, F., Maru, Y., McLachlan, C., Mmbando, P., Mohapatra, S., Moore, M. L., Moriggi, A., Morley-Fletcher, M., Moser, S., Mueller, K. M., Mukute, M., Mühlemeier, S., Naess, L. O., Nieto-Romero, M., Novo, P., ÓBrien, K., O'Connell, D. A., O'Donnell, K., Olsson, P., Pearson, K. R., Pereira, L., Petridis, P., Peukert, D., Phear, N., Pisters, S. R., Polsky, M., Pound, D., Preiser, R., Rahman, M. S., Reed, M. S., Revell, P., Rodriguez, I., Rogers, B. C., Rohr, J., Nordbø Rosenberg, M., Ross, H., Russell, S., Ryan, M., Saha, P., Schleicher, K., Schneider, F., Scoville-Simonds, M., Searle, B., Sebhatu, S. P., Sesana, E., Silverman, H., Singh, C., Sterling, E., Stewart, S. J., Tàbara, J. D., Taylor, D., Thornton, P., Tribaldos, T. M., Tschakert, P., Uribe-Calvo, N., Waddell, S., Waddock, S., van der Merwe, L., van Mierlo, B., van Zwanenberg, P., Velarde, S. J., Washbourne, C. L., Waylen, K., Weiser, A., Wight, I., Williams, S., Woods, M., Wolstenholme, R., Wright, N., Wunder, S., Wyllie, A. & Young, H. R., 01.12.2020, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 70, 18 p., 101724.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Woody plant diversity, composition and structure in relation to environmental variables and land-cover types in Lake Wanchi watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia

    Angessa, A. T., Lemma, B., Yeshitela, K., Fischer, J., May, F. & Shumi, G., 01.12.2020, In: African Journal of Ecology. 58, 4, p. 627-638 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Plant traits alone are poor predictors of ecosystem properties and long-term ecosystem functioning

    van der Plas, F., Schröder-Georgi, T., Weigelt, A., Barry, K., Meyer, S., Alzate, A., Barnard, R. L., Buchmann, N., de Kroon, H., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Engels, C., Fischer, M., Gleixner, G., Hildebrandt, A., Koller-France, E., Leimer, S., Milcu, A., Mommer, L., Niklaus, P. A., Oelmann, Y., Roscher, C., Scherber, C., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Scheu, S., Schmid, B., Schulze, E. D., Temperton, V., Tscharntke, T., Voigt, W., Weisser, W., Wilcke, W. & Wirth, C., 12.2020, In: Nature Ecology & Evolution. 4, 12, p. 1602-1611 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    A cross-scale assessment of productivity–diversity relationships

    Craven, D., van der Sande, M. T., Meyer, C., Gerstner, K., Bennett, J. M., Giling, D. P., Hines, J., Phillips, H. R. P., May, F., Bannar-Martin, K. H., Chase, J. M. & Keil, P., 01.11.2020, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 29, 11, p. 1940-1955 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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