Environmental Biology

[18] [19]

Reiter

Info

Species-based environmental research for monitoring of ecosystem health and biodiversity change is an emerging field in biology. Our newly established Center for Biodiversity Monitoring (Zentrum für Biodiversitätsmonitoring - ZBM) [4] will amend the profile of the ZFMK with aspects of species-based environmental research and deliver extremely important evidence on causes and consequences of biodiversity loss. Research in the ZBM will complement the infrastructural German research landscape and strengthen the field of species-based environmental research by adding the fields of population biology and conservation ecology.

The new ZBM section Environmental Biology is dedicated

to the development and application of innovative biodiversity monitoring approaches,
to detecting trends in biodiversity change,
to investigating the ecological structure in natural communities and species assemblages,
to understanding causes and consequences of species decline,
to modelling scenarios for the future,
to providing evidence-based solutions for biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources,
to improving cooperation between amateurs, agencies and researchers in the field of biodiversity research.

Already today, we are implementing large joint research projects within the ZBM section Environmental Biology, such as SustainCBW [20] (obstacles to nature conservation and sustainable development in biodiversity hotspots), INPEDIV [21] (causes of insect declines and consequences for ecological communities in German protected areas), DINA [22] (agricultural impact on biodiversity in German protected areas and implications for spatial planning), and AMMOD [23] (construction of automated multi-sensor stations for biodiversity monitoring).

Those large third-party funded collaborative research projects - partly initiated and led by ZFMK – aim at detecting biodiversity change over time and at understanding underlying causes and resulting consequences. Our hypotheses-based research will pave the ground for adaptive solutions to halt biodiversity loss and for evidence-based policy recommendations. By these means, the ZBM section Environmental Biology will complement insights from research conducted by government departments at the state and federal level in Germany and deliver scientific support to meet monitoring obligations.

Innovative technological developments and application-oriented interdisciplinary research in the section Environmental Biology is closely linked to the other two ZBM sections Metabarcoding [5] and Environmental Genomics [6]. Moreover, the ZBM will generate added value by employing and advancing existing infrastructures at the ZMB [3] (Biobank, GBOL database) and the ZTE [2] (biodiversity informatics, morphological reference collections).

Staff

Scientist, permanent position

[24]

Dr. Livia Schäffler [24]

Chief scientific advisor for research networks, international cooperation & science policy, Head of section Environmental Biology at the Center for Biodiversity Monitoring

Tel: +49 228 9122-352

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

E-Mail: l.schaeffler [at] leibniz-zfmk.de

Technical or laboratory assistant

[25]

Dr. Yanli Wu [25]

Technical Assistant

Tel: +49 228 9122-354

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

E-Mail: y.wu [at] leibniz-zfmk.de

Postdoc

[26]

Dr. Vera Zizka [26]

Postdoc

Tel: +49 228 9122-354

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

E-Mail: vera.zizka [at] uni-due.de

Ph.D. student

[27]

Niklas Noll [27]

PhD Student

Tel: +49 228 9122-354

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

E-Mail: n.noll [at] leibniz-zfmk.de

Projects

2019

[22]

DINA – Diversity of Insects in Nature Protected Areas [22]

In collaboration with the German NABU the ZFMK has been an active partner to initiate a large joint project to understand drivers of insect decline, the DINA project (2019-2022). The goal of the project is to assess and monitor the insect fauna in 21 selected Nature-protected areas using a Malaise trap transect approach. A particular goal of this project is to demonstrate the power of metabarcoding for the rapid and efficient assessment of the insect fauna relying on the GBOL database. Additionally to the insect fauna, landscape parameters including anthropogenic influence will be recorded.

Project lead:

Dr. Livia Schäffler [24]

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

[21]

Integrative Analysis of the influence of pesticides and land use on biodiversity in Germany (INPEDIV) [21]

The interdisciplinary joint project INPEDIV is funded for 3 years by the Leibniz Competition (March 2019 – February 2022). The aim of this study is to investigate consequences of organic and conventional farming for biodiversity in protected areas. By use of traditional methods and new technologies, we will examine agricultural land use effects on a broad range of plant and animal taxa across trophic levels at study sites in the Rhineland and in Brandenburg.

Project lead:

Dr. Livia Schäffler [24]

Funding:

Leibniz Association

2018

[20]

Towards a future sustainable world where climate, biodiversity, natural resources and human well-being are safeguarded (SustainCBW) [20]

Six Leibniz institutes cooperate the joint interdisciplinary project sustainCBW to analyze targets of the SDG, the CBD, and the Paris Agreement with respect to interdependencies that hamper an adequate consideration of biodiversity concerns and to develop solutions for conflicts of interest.

Project lead:

Dr. Livia Schäffler [24]

Funding:

Leibniz Association

Publications

Published in

2019

Frank, A.S.K. & Schäffler, L. (2019). Identifying Key Knowledge Gaps to Better Protect Biodiversity and Simultaneously Secure Livelihoods in a Priority Conservation Area. Sustainability 11: 5695

[read more] [28]

Links:

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/20/5695/pdf [29]

2018

Heiland, S., Schliep, R., Bartz, R., Schäffler, L., Dziock, S., Radtke, L., Trautmann, S., Kowarik, I., Dziock, F., Sudfeldt, C. & Sukopp, U. (2018). Indikatoren zur Darstellung von Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die biologische Vielfalt. Natur und Landschaft 93.1: 2-13

[read more] [30]

2017

Schliep, R., Bartz, R. Dröschmeister, R., Dziock, F., Dziock, S., Fina, S., Kowarik, I., Radtke, L., Schäffler, L., Siedentop, S., Sudfeldt, C., Trautmann, S., Sukopp, U. & Heiland, S. (2017). Indikatorensystem zur Darstellung direkter und indirekter Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf die biologische Vielfalt. BfN-Skripten 470

[read more] [31]

2016

Johann, F., Noll, N., Forst, R., Scherfose, V. (2016): Informations- und Bildungseinrichtungen in den deutschen Naturparken - eine Internetrecherche - In: Forst, R., Scherfose, V. (eds.): Naturparkmanagement in Deutschland - Qualitätsoffensive Naturparke. - Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt, Seite 145-166

[read more] [32]

Bonn, A., Richter, A., Vohland, K., Pettibone, L., Brandt, M., Feldmann, R., Goebel, C., Grefe, C., Hecker, S., Hennen, L., Hofer, H., Kiefer, S., Klotz, S., Kluttig, T., Krause, J., Küsel, K., Liedtke, C., Mahla, A., Neumeier, V., Premke- Kraus, M., Rillig, M. C., Röller, O., Schäffler, L., Schmalzbauer, B., Schneidewind, U., Schumann, A., Settele, J., Tochtermann, K., Tockner, K., Vogel, J., Volkmann, W., von Unger, H., Walter, D., Weisskopf, M., Wirth, C., Witt, T., Wolst, D. & D. Ziegler (2016): Grünbuch Citizen Science Strategie 2020 für Deutschland. Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ), Deutsches Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung (MfN), Berlin-Brandenburgisches Institut für Biodiversitätsforschung (BBIB), Berlin.

[read more] [33]

Bonn, A., Richter, A., Vohland, K., Pettibone, L., Brandt, M., Feldmann, R., Goebel, C., Grefe, C., Hecker, S., Hennen, L., Hofer, H., Kiefer, S., Klotz, S., Kluttig, T., Krause, J., Küsel, K., Liedtke, C., Mahla, A., Neumeier, V., Premke-Kraus, M., Rillig, M. C., Röller, O., Schäffler, L., Schmalzbauer, B., Schneidewind, U., Schumann, A., Settele, J., Tochtermann, K., Tockner, K., Vogel, J., Volkmann, W., von Unger, H., Walter, D., Weisskopf, M., Wirth, C., Witt, T., Wolst, D. & D. Ziegler (2016): Green Paper Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), German Centre for integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (MfN), Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin.

[read more] [34]

2015

Schäffler, L., Saborowski J. & Kappeler, P.M. (2015). Agent-mediated spatial storage effect in heterogeneous habitat stabilizes competitive mouse lemur coexistence in Menabe Central, Western Madagascar. BMC Ecology 15:7

[read more] [35]

Schönthaler, C., von Andrian-Werbung, S., Pieck, S., Tröltzsch, J., Nickel, D., Lange, M., Lukat, E., Stein, U., Sukopp, U., Dröschmeister, R. Heiland, S., Radtke, L., Schliep, R., Bartz, R., Kowarik, I., Dziock, S., Dziock, F., Schäffler, L., Siedentop, S., Fina, S., Sudfeldt, C., Trautmann, S., Küchenhoff, H., Shao, S., Deutschländer, T., Rauthe M., & Friedrich, K. (2015). Monitoringbericht 2015 zur Deutschen Anpassungsstrategie an den Klimawandel. Bericht der Interministeriellen Arbeitsgruppe Anpassungsstrategie der Bundesregierung. Schönthaler, K., von Adrian-Werburg, S., van Rüth, P. & Hempen, S. (Eds.), UBA, Dessau-Roßlau: 256

[read more] [36]

2014

Schäffler, L. & Kappeler, P.M. (2014). Distribution and abundance of the world's smallest primate, Microcebus berthae, in Central Western Madagascar. Int. Journal of Primatology 35: 57-72.

[read more] [37]

Schäffler, L. & Kappeler, P.M. (2014). Distribution and abundance of three cheirogaleid species in Menabe Central, Western Madagascar. Lemur News 18: 38-43

[read more] [38]

Schwitzer, C., Schäffler, L., Mittermeier, R., Louis Jr., E. & Richardson, M. (2014). Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur. S. 26ff in Mittermeier, Schwitzer, Rylands, Taylor, Chiozza, Williamson, Wallis (eds.). Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2012–2014. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Int. Primatological Society, Conservation International, and Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation

[read more] [39]

2009

Dammhahn, M., Schäffler, L., Fichtel, C. & Kappeler, P.M. (2009). Rapid lemur survey in northern Menabe. Lemur News 14: 13-16

[read more] [40]

2008

Kappeler. P.M. & Schäffler, L. (2008). The lemur syndrome unresolved: extreme male reproductive skew in sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), a sexually monomorphic lemur with female dominance. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 62:1007-1015.

[read more] [41]

2002

Rüppel, O., Schäffler, L. & Hölldobler, B. (2002). Short communication: lack of plasticity in the behavior of queens of the ant Leptothorax rugatulus Emery (Formicidae: Hymenoptera). Journal of Insect Behavior 15: 447-454.

[read more] [42]

Contact person

[24]

Dr. Livia Schäffler [24]

Chief scientific advisor for research networks, international cooperation & science policy

Head of section Environmental Biology at the Center for Biodiversity Monitoring

Directorate [43]

Environmental Biology [44]

Research Networks [45]

+49 228 9122-352

+49 228 9122-212

l.schaeffler [at] leibniz-zfmk.de