Professorship for Ecology, especially Animal Ecology
Organisational unit: Professoship
Organisation profile
The Animal Ecology group is led by Prof. Dr. Thorsten Aßmann and is affiliated with the Institute of Ecology, Faculty of Sustainability at Leuphana University Lüneburg.
Research focuses on the influence of invertebrates on ecosystem functions (species as ecosystem engineers, herbivory, predation), large-scale distribution patterns of species and species groups (biodiversity) and their characteristics, in the Palaearctic and worldwide (macroecology), Molecular ecology (population genetics, phylogeography, conservation genetics and landscape genetics), conservation biology (conservation genetics, consequences of habitat fragmentation, restoration ecology) Biospeleology (biogeography, adaptive mechanisms), taxonomy and systematics of insects (especially ground beetles).
We teach the basics of ecology and other fields of biology. Lectures and seminars are supplemented by identification exercises and field trips.
Main research areas
The working group Animal Ecology focuses on
- the role of invertebrates in ecosystem functioning
(including habitat engineering, herbivory, predation) - large-scale distribution patterns of biodiversity and species traits in the Palaearctic and worldwide
(macroecology) - molecular ecology (population genetics, phylogeography, conservation genetics and landscape genetics)
- conservation biology (conservation genetics, fragmentation biology, restoration ecology)
- biospeleology (biogeography, adaptation)
- taxonomy and systematics of insects (especially carabids beetles)
(classical and modern approaches: morphology, morphometry, DNA technics)
Projects are performed mainly in Germany, the Middle East (especially Israel), Spain, and China.
- 2008
- Published
Finnish Pipunculidae (Diptera) studies Part I: Taxonomic notes on Cephalops Fallén, 1810, Pipunculus Latreille, 1802 and Tomosvaryella Aczél, 1939
Kehlmaier, C., 04.01.2008, In: Zootaxa. 1672, 1, p. 1-42 42 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Saproxylic beetle assemblages of three managed oak woodlands in the Eastern Mediterranean
Buse, J., Levanony, T., Timm, A., Dayan, T. & Aßmann, T., 01.01.2008, In: Zoology in the Middle East. 45, 1, p. 55-66 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Back to the roots and back to the future: towards a new synthesis amongst taxonomic, ecological and biogeographical approaches in carabidology
Penev, L. (Editor), Erwin, T. L. (Editor) & Aßmann, T. (Editor), 2008, Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd. 509 p. (Pensoft series faunistica)Research output: Books and anthologies › Conference proceedings › Research
- Published
Behavioural patterns of nocturnal carabid beetles determined by direct observations under red-light conditions
Drees, C., Matern, A. & Aßmann, T., 2008, Back to the roots and back to the future: Towards a New Synthesis Between Taxonomic, Ecological and Biogeographical Approaches in Carabidology. Penev, L., Erwin, T. L. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 409-423 15 p. (Pensoft series faunistica).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
From Latreille to DNA systematics: Towards a modern synthesis for carabidology
Aßmann, T., Buse, J., Drees, C., Habel, J. C., Härdtle, W., Oheimb, G., Schuldt, A., Wrase, D. W. & Matern, A., 2008, Back to the roots and back to the future: Towards a New Synthesis between Taxonomic, Ecological and Biogeographical Approaches in Carabidology. Penev, L. D., Erwin, T. L. & Aßmann , T. (eds.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 41-76 36 p. (Pensoft Series Faunistica ; no. 75).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review
- Published
Heredity of the elytral colour in adults of Poecilus lepidus Leske (Col., Carabidae): (Col., Carabidae)
Paarmann, W., Rohe, W., Lüchtrath, I., Aßmann, T. & Mossakowski, D., 2008, Back to the roots and back to the future: Towards a new synthesis amongst taxonomic, ecological and biogeographical approaches in carabidology. Penev, L., Erwin, T. & Assmann, T. (eds.). 1. ed. Pensoft Publishers Ltd., Vol. 75. p. 183-194 12 p. (Pensoft series faunistica ; vol. 75).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
Low species diversity in beech forest: a myth
Aßmann, T., Drees, C., Schröder, E. & Ssymank, A., 2008, Beech Forests - a German contribution to the global forest biodiversity. Knapp, H. D. (ed.). Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 25-32 8 p. (BfN-Skripten / Bundesamt für Naturschutz ; vol. 233).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Published
Multilayer structural colours in Poecilus lepidus (Coleoptera, Carabidae)
Mossakowski, D., Paarmann, W., Rohe, W., Lüchtrath, I. & Aßmann, T., 2008, Back to the roots and back to the future: Towards a new synthesis amongst taxonomic, ecological and biogeographical approaches in carabidology . Penev, L., Erwin, T. L. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., Vol. 75. p. 175-184 10 p. (Pensoft series faunistica; vol. 75).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
The xylobiontic beetle fauna of old oaks colonised by the endangered longhorn beetle Cerambyx cerdo Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Buse, J., Zabransky, P. & Aßmann, T., 2008, Mitteilungen der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Allgemeine und Angewandte Entomologie: Vorträge der Entomologentagung in Innsbruck vom 26. Februar bis 1. März 2007. Händel, J. (ed.). Gießen: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemeine und Angewandte Entomologie , p. 109-112 4 p. (DGaaE Nachrichten; vol. 16).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
Towards combined methods for recording ground beetles: pitfall traps, hand picking and sifting in Mediterranean habitats of Israel
Timm, A., Levanony, T., Dayan, T., Wrase, D. W. & Aßmann, T., 2008, Back to the roots and back to the future: Towards a new synthesis amongst taxonomic, ecological and biogeographical approaches in carabidology. Penev, L., Erwin, T. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 397-408 12 p. ( Pensoft series faunistica; no. 75).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research