Landscape Ecology and Vegetation Science

We study ecological processes in spatially and temporally variable environments. In particular, we aim to better understand and forecast biodiversity dynamics under environmental change. Progress in this field requires the integration of ecological research with concepts and methods from evolutionary biology, biogeography, and environmental science. This integrative approach is reflected in our broad methodological spectrum which ranges from small-scale experiments to large-scale remote sensing and from biodiversity monitoring to applied statistics and ecological modelling.

Our research aims at a fundamental understanding of ecological processes, but it is also closely linked to applied questions concerning conservation, land use and the management of natural resources. While we are involved in research projects across the world, our current foci lie in Central Europe and Southern Africa.