Animal Ecology and Trophic Interaction

The Animal Ecology and Trophic interactions group investigates the ecology of terrestrial invertebrates (especially insects) with a focus on biodiversity, species interactions, community ecology, and processes within ecosystems. Important research questions are how species, their diversity, interactions, and the functions exerted by species and their biotic interactions are influenced by changing environmental conditions in space and time. The research combines comparative field data and natural history observations with experimental manipulations and ecological theory to test hypotheses and to understand nature. Our research is quantitative and integrates across a broad methodological spectrum. In teaching, the professorship is involved in the Bachelor and Master degree programs of the School of Sustainability and in further programs of the Leuphana College.