Ecological research to read up on: The online blog of the Institute of Ecology

What happens when grassland is used less intensively – do the insects return? How is climate change altering mountain meadows in the Alps? And what does it really take for renaturation projects to succeed in the long term? Questions like these are the focus of Ecologically speaking, the blog of the Institute of Ecology at Leuphana University Lüneburg.

The blog makes ecological research accessible – for students, interested people and anyone who wants to understand how ecological research contributes to the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems. The articles draw on current studies and projects from the institute and explain the content in a clear and understandable way. The topics range from grassland restoration and insect decline to climate adaptation and ecosystem functions to socio-ecological approaches in nature conservation practice.

The latest article focuses on the influence of non-native plants in mountain regions. The spread of non-native species increases the risk of homogenisation of plant communities – i.e. a decline in diversity between plant communities. Possible consequences include reduced landscape diversity and the loss of ecosystem services.

Mountain regions are particularly affected: the long-term effects of homogenisation are still poorly understood, and studies comparing multiple spatial scales at higher altitudes have been lacking until now. A new study by Meike Buhaly, PhD candidate at the Institute of Ecology, presented in the latest blog post, closes this gap.

The full article and all other articles can be found on the blog.

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