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.
- 2007
- Published
The influence of habitat quality on populations: A plea for an amended approach in the conservation of Agonum ericeti
Drees, C., Vermeulen, R., Aßmann, T. & Matern, A., 2007, In: Baltic Journal of Coleopterology. 7, 1, p. 1-8 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- 2006
- Published
Can management compensate for atmospheric nutrient deposition in heathland ecosystems?
Härdtle, W., Niemeyer, M., Niemeyer, T., Aßmann, T. & Fottner, S., 01.08.2006, In: The Journal of Applied Ecology. 43, 4, p. 759-769 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Vegetation responses to environmental conditions in floodplain grasslands: prerequisites for preserving plant species diversity
Härdtle, W., Redecker, B., Aßmann, T. & Meyer, H., 02.05.2006, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 7, 3, p. 280-288 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Reproductive biology and strategies of nine meloid beetles from Central Europe (Coleoptera: Meloidae)
Lückmann, J. & Aßmann, T., 31.03.2006, In: Journal of Natural History. 39, 48, p. 4101-4125 25 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
Aphaenopidius
Aßmann, T. & Lompe, A., 2006, Die Käfer Mitteleuropas; Bd. 2: Adephaga ; 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Freude, H., Klausnitzer, B. & Müller-Motzfeld, G. (eds.). Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, p. 149 1 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Published abstract in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
Flusslandschaft Elbe zwischen Hitzacker und Gartow
Härdtle, W. & Aßmann, T., 2006, Flora und Vegetation im nordöstlichen Niedersachsen: Sonderheft aus Anlass der 56. Jahrestagung der Floristisch-soziologischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft vom 09. bis 12. Juni 2006 in Lüneburg. Hassenstein, U. & Härdtle, W. (eds.). Lüneburg: Naturwissenschaftlicher Verein für das Fürstentum Lüneburg von 1851 e.V., p. 79-82 4 p. (Jahrbuch des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für das Fürstentum Lüneburg von 1851 e.V.; vol. Sonderheft, no. 1/2006).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
Freilandforschung im Unterricht - Erforschung ökologischer Grundprinzipien am Beispiel von Laufkäfern verschiedener Lebensräume: ein Unterrichtsvorschlag für die gymnasiale Oberstufe
Drees, C., 2006, In: Berichte des Institutes für Didaktik der Biologie der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, IDB. 15, p. 33-68 36 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
Für den Naturschutz? - eine carabidologische Langzeituntersuchung im Hofgehölz Möhr
Drees, C., Aßmann, T., Matern, A. & Günther, J., 2006, 25 Jahre Naturschutzakademie - Zukunft durch Naturschutz. Strohschneider, R. (ed.). Schneverdingen: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz, p. 37-39 3 p. (Mitteilungen aus der Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz; no. 1/2006).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Published
Leistus
Aßmann, T., 2006, Die Käfer Mitteleuropas; Bd. 2: Adephaga ; 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Freude, H., Klausnitzer, B. & Müller-Motzfeld, G. (eds.). 2., Nachdr. ed. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, p. 65-70 6 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Published
Licinini
Aßmann, T., 2006, Die Käfer Mitteleuropas; Bd. 2: Adephaga ; 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Freude, H., Klausnitzer, B. & Müller-Motzfeld, G. (eds.). 2., Nachdruck ed. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, p. 428-435 8 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research