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. 2025
  2. Published

    The use of functional traits in assessing productivity in natural ecosystems

    Bordin, K. M., Morales, D. D. C., Klipel, J., Bergamin, R. S., Kramer, J. M. F., Müller, S. C., Thomas, P. A. & Rosenfield, M. F., 01.01.2025, Plant Functional Traits: Linking Climate and Ecosystem Functioning. Kumar, M., Bussmann, R. W. & Swenson, N. G. (eds.). Elsevier, p. 111-133 23 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Orientation-driven photosynthesized carbon belowground mediates intercropped peanut microbiota changes for pathogen resistance

    Lu, J., Shen, Y., He, G., Li, S., Kumar, A., Sun, B. & Chen, Y., 01.2025, In: Plant and Soil. 506, 1, p. 209-226 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Accepted/In press

    Biological invasions: a global assessment of geographic distributions, long-term trends, and data gaps

    Author collaboration of "Biological invasions: a global assessment of geographic distributions, long-term trends, and data gaps", 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Biological Reviews.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Accepted/In press

    New draft law on environmental licensing is a major threat to the Brazilian ecosystems and can hinder ecological restoration efforts

    Weidlich, E. W. A., de Morae, L. F. D. & Engel, V. L., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Restoration Ecology. 1 p., e70171.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  6. Accepted/In press

    Proposing a social-ecological framework for successful grassland restoration in Germany—an overview and insights from the Grassworks project

    Temperton, V. M., Pătru-Dușe, I. A., Twerski, A., Laeseke, P., Neudert, R., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A., Romero, M. P., Bauer, M., Beckmann, V., Fischer, J., Gray, K., Härdtle, W., Kollmann, J., Kuhn, L., Laschke, C. J., Loos, J., Lutz, L., May, F., Meyer, M., Martin-Lopez, B., Riechers, M., Ptacek, M., Seifert, D., Schmidt, A., Sturm, L., Thiele, J., Tischew, S., Unseld, L., Venus, T., Wiesmeier, M. & Kirmer, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Restoration Ecology. 15 p., e70109.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Accepted/In press

    Road Disturbance Shifts Root Fungal Symbiont Types and Reduces the Connectivity of Plant-Fungal Co-Occurrence Networks in Mountains

    Radujković, D., Verbruggen, E., Clavel, J., Pauchard, A., Fuentes-Lillo, E., Barros, A., Aschero, V., Haider, S., Ratier Backes, A., Pergl, J., Vítková, M., Lučanová, A., Nuñez, M. A., Lenoir, J., Nijs, I. & Lembrechts, J. J., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Molecular Ecology. e17771.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Accepted/In press

    The tree growth–herbivory relationship depends on functional traits across forest biodiversity experiments

    Li, Y., Schuldt, A., Bauhus, J., Belluau, M., Berthelot, S., Burghardt, K. T., Bruelheide, H., Castagneyrol, B., Chu, C., Eisenhauer, N., Ferlian, O., Fründ, J., Gebauer, T., Gravel, D., Jactel, H., Li, S., Liang, Y., Parker, J. D., Parker, W. C., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Staab, M., Verheyen, K., Schmid, B., Ma, K. & Liu, X., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Nature Ecology and Evolution.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. 2024
  10. Published

    Genome size influences plant growth and biodiversity responses to nutrient fertilization in diverse grassland communities

    Morton, J. A., Arnillas, C. A., Biedermann, L., Borer, E. T., Brudvig, L. A., Buckley, Y. M., Cadotte, M. W., Davies, K., Donohue, I., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Estrada, C., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Jentsch, A., Martinson, H., McCulley, R. L., Raynaud, X., Roscher, C., Seabloom, E. W., Stevens, C. J., Vesela, K., Wallace, A., Leitch, I. J., Leitch, A. R. & Hersch-Green, E. I., 11.12.2024, In: PLoS Biology. 22, 12, 21 p., e3002927.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Overcoming the crisis: Social and ecological impacts of the 17th and 18th century Northern Wars on Kazuń village (Poland) and its surrounding area

    Związek, T., Obremska, M., Targowski, M., Sobechowicz, Ł., Siwek, W. A., Gąsiorowski, M., Theuerkauf, M., Kozłowska-Szyc, M., Guzowski, P., Poniat, R., Mulczyk, A., Szewczyk, K., Panecki, T., Solon, J., Zachara-Związek, U. & Słowiński, M., 12.2024, In: Journal of Historical Geography. 86, p. 377-390 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Soil conditions modify species diversity effects on tree functional trait expression

    Davrinche, A. & Haider, S., 12.2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 16 p., 17114.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Temperate alley-cropping agroforestry improves pest control potential by promoting spider abundance and functional diversity

    Matevski, D., Sagolla, V., Beule, L. & Schuldt, A., 12.2024, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 61, 12, p. 3079-3091 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. E-pub ahead of print

    Colonization and extinction lags drive non-linear responses to warming in mountain plant communities across the Northern Hemisphere

    Bektaş, B., Chisholm, C., Egelkraut, D., Lynn, J., Block, S., Deola, T., Dommanget, F., Enquist, B. J., Goldberg, D. E., Haider, S., Halbritter, A. H., He, Y., Jaunatre, R., Jentsch, A., Klanderud, K., Kardol, P., Lachmuth, S., Loucougaray, G., Münkemüller, T., Niedrist, G., Nomoto, H., Seltzer, L., Paul Töpper, J., Rew, L. J., Seipel, T., Shah, M. A., James Telford, R., Walker, T. W. N., Wang, S., Wardle, D. A., Wolff, P., Yang, Y., Vandvik, V. & Alexander, J. M., 20.11.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ecography. 15 p., e07378.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Diversity-enhanced canopy space occupation and leaf functional diversity jointly promote overyielding in tropical tree communities

    Ray, T., Fichtner, A., Kunz, M., Proß, T., Bradler, P. M., Bruelheide, H., Georgi, L., Haider, S., Hildebrand, M., Potvin, C., Schnabel, F., Trogisch, S. & Oheimb, G. V., 15.11.2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 951, 12 p., 175438.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Exposure of Bromus hordeaceus to fossil- and plant-based micro- and nanoplastics: Impacts and plant-plastic interactions vary depending on polymer type and growth phase

    Alonso-Crespo, I. M. & Mateos-Cárdenas, A., 01.11.2024, In: Chemosphere. 368, 11 p., 143715.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Shrub cover declined as Indigenous populations expanded across southeast Australia

    Mariani, M., Wills, A., Herbert, A., Adeleye, M., Florin, S. A., Cadd, H., Connor, S., Kershaw, P., Theuerkauf, M., Stevenson, J., Fletcher, M. S., Mooney, S., Bowman, D. & Haberle, S., 01.11.2024, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 386, 6721, p. 567-573 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Ecological features facilitating spread of alien plants along Mediterranean mountain roads

    Santoianni, L. A., Innangi, M., Varricchione, M., Carboni, M., La Bella, G., Haider, S. & Stanisci, A., 11.2024, In: Biological Invasions. 26, 11, p. 3879-3899 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Mapping and assessing the knowledge base of ecological restoration

    Heger, T., Jeschke, J., Febria, C., Kollmann, J., Murphy, S. D., Rochefort, L., Shackelford, N., Temperton, V. & Higgs, E., 11.2024, In: Restoration Ecology. 32, 8, 10 p., e13676.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Measuring at all scales: sourcing data for more flexible restoration references

    Shackelford, N., Dudney, J., Stueber, M. M., Temperton, V. M. & Suding, K. L., 11.2024, In: Restoration Ecology. 32, 8, 10 p., e13541.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  21. Published

    Plant neighbors differentially alter a focal species' biotic interactions through changes to resource allocation

    Turner, S. C. & Schweitzer, J. A., 11.2024, In: Ecology. 105, 11, 18 p., e4395.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Shifts in plant functional trait dynamics in relation to soil microbiome in modern and wild barley

    Kumar, A., Kuznetsova, O., Gschwendtner, S., Chen, H., Alonso-Crespo, I. M., Yusuf, M., Schulz, S., Bonkowski, M., Schloter, M. & Temperton, V. M., 11.2024, In: Plants People Planet. 6, 6, p. 1398-1412 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ...67 Next

Recently viewed