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. 2014
  2. Published

    Schutz von Buchenwäldern in einem System von Naturwäldern

    Hehnke, T., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Kaiser, T. & Scherfose, V., 2014, Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 1-127, 127 p. (BfN-Skripten; no. 380).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  3. Published
  4. Published

    The Schöningen Middle Pleistocene sequence: Palaeoenvironment and dating

    Turner, C., Urban, B. & van Kolfschoten, T., 2014, The Quaternary of the Urals: global trends and PAN-European Quaternary records.: International conference INQUA-SEQS 2014. Borodin, A. V., Markova, E. A. & Strukova, T. V. (eds.). Ural Federal University, p. 172-174 3 p.

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

  5. Published

    The Schöningen Middle Pleistocene sequence: a broader perspective.

    van Kolfschoten, T., Kuijjer, K., Turner, C. & Urban, B., 2014, The Quaternary of the Urals: global trends and PAN-European Quaternary records: International conference INQUA-SEQS 2014. Borodin, A. V., Markova, E. A. & Strukova, T. V. (eds.). Ural Federal University, p. 59-61 3 p.

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

  6. Published

    Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung von Anpassungsstrategien an den Klimawandel für die Überflutungsflächen an der unteren Mittelelbe.

    Krüger, F., Scharnke, M., Schneider, W. & Urban, B., 2014, Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft im Klimawandel: Auswirkungen, Anpassungsstrategien und Entscheidungshilfen. Bloch, R., Bachinger, J., Fohrmann, R. & Pfriem, R. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 313-332 20 p. (Klimawandel in Regionen zukunftsfähig gestalten; vol. 8).

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

  7. Published

    Viitorul oamenilor şi al naturii în sudul Transilvaniei - Az emberek és a természet jövője Dél-Erdélyben

    Fischer, J., Milcu, A. I., Hartel, T., Hanspach, J. & Mikulcak, F., 2014, Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., 62 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  8. Published

    Wasserbauliche Maßnahmen zur Sicherung des ökologisch notwendigen Mindestabflusses kleiner Fließgewässer

    Reusch, H., Heuer-Jungemann, H. & Urban, B., 2014, Klimawandel in der Lüneburger Heide: Kulturlandschaften zukunftsfähig gestalten. Urban, B., Becker, J., Mersch, I., Meyer, W., Rechid, D. & Rottgardt, E. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 33-37 5 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 6).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  9. 2013
  10. Published

    A suite of multiplexed microsatellite loci for the ground beetle Abax parallelepipedus (Piller and Mitterpacher, 1783) (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Marcus, T., Assmann, T., Durka, W. & Drees, C., 12.2013, In: Conservation Genetics Resources. 5, 4, p. 1151-1156 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Competition between honey bees and wild bees and the role of nesting resources in a nature reserve

    Hudewenz, A. & Klein, A.-M., 12.2013, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 17, 6, p. 1275-1283 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Long-term trends in tree-ring width and isotope signatures (δ13C, δ15N) of Fagus sylvatica L. on soils with contrasting water supply

    Härdtle, W., Niemeyer, T., Aßmann, T., Baiboks, S., Fichtner, A., Friedrich, U., Lang, A. C., Neuwirth, B., Pfister, L., Ries, C., Schuldt, A., Simon, N. & Oheimb, G., 12.2013, In: Ecosystems. 16, 8, p. 1413-1428 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Post-dispersal seed predation of three grassland species in a plant diversity experiment

    Pufal, G. & Klein, A.-M., 12.2013, In: The Journal of Ecology. 6, 6, p. 468-479 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Spatial and seasonal distribution of trace metals in floodplain soils: A case study with the middle Elbe river, Germany

    Schulz-Zunkel, C., Krüger, F., Rupp, H., Meißner, R., Gruber, B., Gerisch, M. & Bork, H. R., 12.2013, In: Geoderma. 211-212, p. 128-137 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Coupling ordination techniques and GAM to spatially predict vegetation assemblages along a climatic gradient in an ENSO-affected region of extremely high climate variability

    Muenchow, J., Feilhauer, H., Bräuning, A., Bayer, F., Rodríguez, E. F., Rodríguez, R. A. & von Wehrden, H., 01.11.2013, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 24, 6, p. 1154-1166 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Traits of butterfly communities change from specialist to generalist characteristics with increasing land-use intensity

    Börschig, C., Klein, A.-M., von Wehrden, H. & Krauss, J., 11.2013, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 14, 7, p. 547–554 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Wood-inhabiting beetles (Coleoptera) associated with oaks in a global biodiversity hotspot: A case study and checklist for Israel

    Buse, J., Assmann, T., Friedman, A. L. L., Rittner, O. & Pavlícek, T., 11.2013, In: Insect Conservation and Diversity. 6, 6, p. 687-703 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Wood-pastures in a traditional rural region of Eastern Europe: Characteristics, management and status

    Hartel, T., Dorresteijn, I., Klein, C., Máthé, O., Moga, C. I., Öllerer, K., Roellig, M., von Wehrden, H. & Fischer, J., 01.10.2013, In: Biological Conservation. 166, p. 267-275 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    A systematic review of guiding principles for sustainable urban neighborhood development

    Lüderitz, C., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 10.2013, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 118, October, p. 40-52 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  20. Published

    Climatic responses of tree-ring width and δ13C signatures of sessile oak (Quercus petraea Liebl.) on soils with contrasting water supply

    Härdtle, W., Niemeyer, T., Aßmann, T., Aulinger, A., Fichtner, A., Lang, A. C., Leuschner, C., Neuwirth, B., Pfister, L., Quante, M., Ries, C., Schuldt, A. & Oheimb, G., 01.09.2013, In: Plant Ecology. 214, 9, p. 1147-1156 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Cultural ecosystem services: A literature review and prospects for future research

    Milcu, A. I., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. & Fischer, J., 01.09.2013, In: Ecology and Society. 18, 3, 34 p., 44.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Soil texture and altitude, respectively, largely determine the floristic gradient of the most diverse fog oasis in the Peruvian desert

    Muenchow, J., Hauenstein, S., Bräuning, A., Bäumler, R., Rodríguez, E. F. & von Wehrden, H., 01.09.2013, In: Journal of Tropical Ecology. 29, 5, p. 427-438 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review