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.

  1. 2003
  2. Published

    Rote Liste der in Niedersachsen und Bremen gefährdeten Sandlaufkäfer und Laufkäfer [(Coleoptera: Cicindelidae et Carabidae)] mit Gesamtartenverzeichnis, 1. Fassung vom 01.06.2002.

    Aßmann, T. (Editor), Dormann, W. (Editor), Främbs, H., Gürlich, S., Handke, K., Huk, T., Sprick, P. & Terlutter, H., 2003, In: Informationsdienst Naturschutz Niedersachsen. 2003, 02, p. 70-95 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Species accounts

    Turin, H., Penev, L. D., Casale, A., Arndt, E., Aßmann, T., Makarow, K., Mossakowski, D., Szél, G. & Weber, F., 2003, The genus carabus in europe: A Synthesis . Turin, H., Penev, L. & Casale, A. (eds.). Sofia [u.a.]: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 151-286 136 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  4. 2002
  5. Published

    Inland sand ecosystems: dynamics and restitution as a consequence of the use of different grazing systems

    Schwabe, A., Remy, D., Aßmann, T., Kratochwil, A., Mährlein, A., Nobis, M., Storm, C., Zehm, A., Schlemmer, H., Seuss, R., Bergmann, S., Eichberg, C., Menzel, U., Persigehl, M., Zimmermann, K. & Weinert, M., 01.01.2002, Pasture landscapes and nature conservation. Redecker, B., Härdtle, W., Finck, P., Riecken, U. & Schröder, E. (eds.). Springer, p. 239-252 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  6. Published

    Bottom-up creation of allele frequency differentiation in Carabus auronitens

    Hinsch, M. & Aßmann, T., 2002, Scales, hierarchies and emergent properties in ecological models. Hölker, F. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main [u.a.]: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 71-82 12 p. (Theorie in der Ökologie; vol. 6).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  7. Published

    Laufkäferuntersuchungen in nordwestdeutschen Hudewäldern und Hudelandschaften

    Falke, B. & Aßmann, T., 2002, Laufkäfer im Wald. Filderstadt: Gesellschaft für Angewandte Carabidologie, p. 51-54 4 p. (Angewandte Carabidologie Supplement II; vol. Sup. 2001).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  8. Published

    Naturschutzbiologie

    Aßmann, T. & Härdtle, W., 2002, Naturwissenschaften. Härdtle, W. (ed.). Berlin [u.a.]: Springer, p. 113-213 101 p. ( Studium der Umweltwissenschaften).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  9. Published

    Palaeogeography and palaeoecology of Carabus auronitens (Coleoptera): characterization and localization of glacial refugia in southern France and reconstruction of postglacial expansion routes by means of allozyme polymorphismus ; with 25 tables

    Reimann, T., Aßmann, T., Nolte, O., Reuter, H., Huber, C. & Weber, F., 2002, Keltern-Weiler: Goecke & Evers. 151 p. (Abhandlungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg; vol. 35)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  10. 2001
  11. Published

    Description of a new species of Anchomenidius Heyden 1880 from the Montes de Leön in north-west Spain (Carabidae)

    Wrase, D. W. & Aßmann, T., 2001, In: Koleopterologische Rundschau. 71, p. 1-9 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  12. Published

    Sandökosysteme im Binnenland: Förderung dynamischer Prozesse durch Beweidung?

    Schwabe-Kratochwil, A., Remy, D., Zehm, A., Aßmann, T., Kratochwil, A., Mährlein, A., Nobis, M., Storm, C., Schlemmer, H., Seuss, R., Bergmann, S., Eichberg, C., Menzel, U., Persigehl, M., Wester, P. & Zimmermann, K., 2001, Forschung und Naturschutz in Sandlebensräumen: Tagungsband Symposium vom 15.-17.2.200, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen.. Erlangen: BUND NATURSCHUTZ IN BAYERN E.V., p. 43-46 4 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  13. Published

    Waldlaufkäfer im Naturschutzgebiet Lüneburger Heide: von der Verbreitung zur populationsbiologischen Analyse (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Aßmann, T., Bresemann, J., Kopp, A., Persigehl, M., Rosenkranz, B. & Günther, J., 2001, Wald und Naturschutz: Forschungsergebnisse aus dem Niedersächsischen Forstamt Sellhorn. Wübbenhorst, J. (ed.). Schneverdingen: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz, p. 119-126 8 p. (NNA Berichte; vol. 14, no. 2).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch