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.
- 2019
- Published
Interactive influence of livestock grazing and manipulated rainfall on soil properties in a humid tropical savanna
Okach, D. O., Ondier, J. O., Kumar, A., Rambold, G., Tenhunen, J., Huwe, B. & Otieno, D., 11.03.2019, In: Journal of Soils and Sediments. 19, 3, p. 1088-1098 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
sPlot – A new tool for global vegetation analyses
Bruelheide, H., Dengler, J., Jiménez-Alfaro, B., Purschke, O., Hennekens, S. M., Chytrý, M., Pillar, V. D., Jansen, F., Kattge, J., Sandel, B., Aubin, I., Biurrun, I., Field, R., Haider, S., Jandt, U., Lenoir, J., Peet, R. K., Peyre, G., Sabatini, F. M., Schmidt, M., Schrodt, F., Winter, M., Aćić, S., Agrillo, E., Alvarez, M., Ambarlı, D., Angelini, P., Apostolova, I., Arfin Khan, M. A. S., Arnst, E., Attorre, F., Baraloto, C., Beckmann, M., Berg, C., Bergeron, Y., Bergmeier, E., Bjorkman, A. D., Bondareva, V., Borchardt, P., Botta-Dukát, Z., Boyle, B., Breen, A., Brisse, H., Byun, C., Cabido, M. R., Casella, L., Cayuela, L., Černý, T., Chepinoga, V., Csiky, J., Curran, M., Ćušterevska, R., Dajić Stevanović, Z., De Bie, E., de Ruffray, P., De Sanctis, M., Dimopoulos, P., Dressler, S., Ejrnæs, R., El-Sheikh, M. A. E. R. M., Enquist, B., Ewald, J., Fagúndez, J., Finckh, M., Font, X., Forey, E., Fotiadis, G., García-Mijangos, I., de Gasper, A. L., Golub, V., Gutierrez, A. G., Hatim, M. Z., He, T., Higuchi, P., Holubová, D., Hölzel, N., Homeier, J., Indreica, A., Işık Gürsoy, D., Jansen, S., Janssen, J., Jedrzejek, B., Jiroušek, M., Jürgens, N., Kącki, Z., Kavgacı, A., Kearsley, E., Kessler, M., Knollová, I., Kolomiychuk, V., Korolyuk, A., Kozhevnikova, M., Kozub, Ł., Krstonošić, D., Kühl, H., Kühn, I., Kuzemko, A., Küzmič, F., Landucci, F., Lee, M. T., Levesley, A., Li, C. F., Liu, H., Lopez-Gonzalez, G., Lysenko, T., Macanović, A., Mahdavi, P., Manning, P., Marcenò, C., Martynenko, V., Mencuccini, M., Minden, V., Moeslund, J. E., Moretti, M., Müller, J. V., Munzinger, J., Niinemets, Ü., Nobis, M., Noroozi, J., Nowak, A., Onyshchenko, V., Overbeck, G. E., Ozinga, W. A., Pauchard, A., Pedashenko, H., Peñuelas, J., Pérez-Haase, A., Peterka, T., Petřík, P., Phillips, O. L., Prokhorov, V., Rašomavičius, V., Revermann, R., Rodwell, J., Ruprecht, E., Rūsiņa, S., Samimi, C., Schaminée, J. H. J., Schmiedel, U., Šibík, J., Šilc, U., Škvorc, Ž., Smyth, A., Sop, T., Sopotlieva, D., Sparrow, B., Stančić, Z., Svenning, J. C., Swacha, G., Tang, Z., Tsiripidis, I., Turtureanu, P. D., Uğurlu, E., Uogintas, D., Valachovič, M., Vanselow, K. A., Vashenyak, Y., Vassilev, K., Vélez-Martin, E., Venanzoni, R., Vibrans, A. C., Violle, C., Virtanen, R., von Wehrden, H., Wagner, V., Walker, D. A., Wana, D., Weiher, E., Wesche, K., Whitfeld, T., Willner, W., Wiser, S., Wohlgemuth, T., Yamalov, S., Zizka, G. & Zverev, A., 01.03.2019, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 30, 2, p. 161-186 26 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Toward Sustainable Urban Metabolisms: From System Understanding to System Transformation
John, B., Luederitz, C., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 01.03.2019, In: Ecological Economics. 157, p. 402-414 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Litter quality, land-use history, and nitrogen deposition effects on topsoil conditions across European temperate deciduous forests
Maes, S. L., Blondeel, H., Perring, M. P., Depauw, L., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Decocq, G., den Ouden, J., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kirby, K., Kopecký, M., Máliš, F., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 15.02.2019, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 433, p. 405-418 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
A clue on bee glue: New insight into the sources and factors driving resin intake in honeybees (Apis mellifera)
Drescher, N., Klein, A. M., Schmitt, T. & Leonhardt, S. D., 06.02.2019, In: PLoS ONE. 14, 2, 20 p., e0210594.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Determinants of farm size and stocking rate in Namibian commercial cattle farming
Engler, J.-O., Wehrden, H. & Baumgärtner, S., 01.02.2019, In: Land Use Policy. 81, p. 232-246 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Nitrogen fixation and carbon assimilation of the desert legume Tephrosia apollinea under PEG-induced osmotic stress
Hussain, M. I., El-Keblawy, A., Aljabi, A. E., Aljabi, D. E., Hafez, M., Al Jasmi, A., Schampoel, T. & Temperton, V. M., 02.2019, In: Flora. 251, p. 105-113 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Die Forschungsbohrung Garding-2 – ein neues wichtiges Klima- und Paläoumwelt-Archiv an der Westküste Schleswig-Holsteins
Grube, A., Frechen, M., Hesse, K., Proborukmi, M. S., Urban, B., Wonik, T. & Zhang, J., 01.01.2019, In: Natur- und Landeskunde Zeitschrift für Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg und Mecklenburg. 126, 1-3, p. 1-15 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Leverage points 2019: A transdisciplinary conference, inspiring change
Leventon, J., Zimmermann, H., Von Wehrden, H. & Becker, S., 01.01.2019, In: GAIA. 28, 1, p. 55-57 3 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Transferring biodiversity-ecosystem function research to the management of ‘real-world’ ecosystems
Manning, P., Loos, J., Barnes, A. D., Batáry, P., Bianchi, F. J. J. A., Buchmann, N., De Deyn, G. B., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Fischer, M., Fründ, J., Grass, I., Isselstein, J., Jochum, M., Klein, A. M., Klingenberg, E. O. F., Landis, D. A., Lepš, J., Lindborg, R., Meyer, S. T., Temperton, V. M., Westphal, C. & Tscharntke, T., 01.01.2019, Mechanisms underlying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function. Eisenhauer, N., Bohan, D. A. & Dumbrell, A. J. (eds.). London: Academic Press Inc., p. 323-356 34 p. (Advances in Ecological Research; vol. 61).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Vulnerablility of Ecosystem Services in Farmland Depends on Landscape Management: Drivers, Risks, and Societal Responses
Loos, J., Batary, P., Grass, I., Westphal, C., Bänsch, S., Baillod, A. B., Hass, A. L., Rosa, J. & Tscharntke, T., 01.01.2019, Atlas of Ecosystem Services: Drivers, Risks, and Societal Responses. Schröter, M., Bonn, A., Klotz, S., Seppelt, R. & Baessler, C. (eds.). Springer Verlag, p. 91-96 6 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Published
Environmental drivers interactively affect individual tree growth across temperate European forests
Maes, S. L., Perring, M. P., Vanhellemont, M., Depauw, L., Van den Bulcke, J., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Decocq, G., den Ouden, J., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kopecký, M., Máliš, F., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 01.2019, In: Global Change Biology. 25, 1, p. 201-217 17 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres 2020: Borstgrasrasen
Schwabe-Kratochwil, A., Tischew, S., Bergmeier, E., Garve, E., Härdtle, W., Heinken, T., Hölzel, N., Peppler-Lisbach, C., Remy, D. & Dierschke, H., 2019, In: Tuexenia. 39, p. 287-308 22 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen und fachliche Anforderungen an die Waldbehandlung in Naturschutzgebieten
Wernicke, P., Czybulka, D., Flade, M., Fuß, A., Grünwald, M., Härdtle, W., Kerth, G., Knapp, H. D., Jeschke, L., Lenschow, U., Linke, C., Polzin, W.-P., Ringel, H., Scheller, W., Spieß, H.-J., Wachlin, V. & Winter, S., 2019, In: Natur und Naturschutz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 47, p. 172-204 33 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Was tun gegen das Insektensterben? Empfehlungen für naturschutzfachlich wertvolle Flächen
Aßmann, T., Buse, J., Drees, C., Homburg, K. & Nolte, D., 2019, In: Natur und Landschaft. 94, 6-7, p. 289-293 5 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- 2018
- Published
Wahrnehmung und Anpassungsverhalten der Landwirte an Greening: Eine qualitative Studie in Südniedersachsen
Schüler, S., Bienwald, L., Loos, J. & Lakner, S., 19.12.2018, In: Berichte uber Landwirtschaft. 96, 3, 22 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
A critical review of policies and legislation protecting Tanzanian wetlands
Materu, S. F., Urban, B. & Heise, S., 02.12.2018, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 4, 12, p. 310-320 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
A new world for old landscapes: Land-use intensification and bird conservation in a traditional farming landscape
Dorresteijn, I., Nimmo, D. G., Loos, J., Hanspach, J., Moga, C. I., David, A., Ernst, L. M. & Fischer, J., 01.12.2018, In: North-Western Journal of Zoology. 14, 2, p. 199-207 9 p., e171605.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Biodiversity across trophic levels drives multifunctionality in highly diverse forests
Schuldt, A., Assmann, T., Brezzi, M., Buscot, F., Eichenberg, D., Gutknecht, J., Härdtle, W., He, J.-S., Klein, A.-M., Kühn, P., Liu, X., Ma, K., Niklaus, P. A., Pietsch, K. A., Purahong, W., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schmid, B., Scholten, T., Staab, M., Tang, Z., Trogisch, S., von Oheimb, G., Wirth, C., Wubet, T., Zhu, C.-D. & Bruelheide, H., 01.12.2018, In: Nature Communications. 9, 1, 10 p., 2989 .Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Commercializing traditional non-timber forest products: An integrated value chain analysis of honey from giant honey bees in Palawan, Philippines
Matias, D. M. S., Tambo, J. A., Stellmacher, T., Borgemeister, C. & von Wehrden, H., 01.12.2018, In: Forest Policy and Economics. 97, p. 223-231 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review