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Experimental & Applied Ecology, Bonn

Our tasks

The Applied and Experimental Ecology Section was founded in 2021. In addition to its own research, the section is responsible for coordinating ecological research and managing the research infrastructure of the Ecology Lab, as well as training and advising LIB researchers and student research projects.

Research within the section contributes to the assessment of biodiversity change through innovative approaches in laboratory and field experiments. The aim is to go beyond pure biodiversity monitoring to identify the causes and interactions with the drivers of climate and biodiversity change in the Anthropocene and to derive consequences for species and entire communities.

Goals

  • Experimental research on drivers of biodiversity change
  • Standardisation of methods for integration into monitoring programmes
  • Development and application of innovative technologies and monitoring approaches
  • Investigating the impact of climate & biodiversity change under auto- & synecological aspects
  • Integration of research on functional traits, multitrophic interactions and movement ecology
  • Establish hypothesis networks based on ecological theory and predict future scenarios
  • Training of ecologists & taxonomists
  • Function as an integrative ecological laboratory at the LIB

Approaches

  • Monitoring at landscape level under land use aspects & inclusion of environmental gradients
  • Field experiments with treatments & replicated design
  • Controlled experiments in climate chambers and greenhouses
  • Technology development
  • Testing & use of semi-automated image recognition methods - for identification and pre-sorting of monitoring composite samples
  • Method comparisons and verification
  • Theory-based experiments on species interactions

In order to achieve these goals, the section is closely networked within the zbm with the Conservation Ecology, Metabarcoding, Geo-Palaeontology and Mineralogy sections, and LIB-wide with the zmb and ztm centres and the central research infrastructures (e.g. biobank, biodiversity informatics, morphology laboratory).

Ecological laboratory infrastructure

  • Invertebrate monitoring systems: Bottom funnel traps, window/wing traps, landing nets, audio detectors (Audiomoth), light traps*(Nature Conservation Ecology Section), Malaise traps*(Nature Conservation Ecology Section), AMMOD system*(Metabarcoding Section)
  • Vertebrate monitoring systems: Wildlife cameras, audio detectors (Audiomoth), field optics (binoculars, spotting scopes)
  • In the process of being established: Climatic cabinets for insect breeding & other laboratories
  • In the process of being established: experimental areas at the LIB and experimental farm / field station

Contact person

Dr. David Ott

  • Head of Section Experimental & Applied Ecology
  • Ecological laboratory (zbm facilities, field sites, upcoming station)

Phone: +49 228 9122 452
E-Mail: [email protected]

Projects

All projects

Publications

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Employees

All employees
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