Welcome
to the Working Group Ecosystem Research

The Working Group Ecosystem Research is part of the Institute of Landscape Ecology (ILÖK) of the University of Münster.

We study the structure, function and change of terrestrial ecosystems by using soil and vegetation as integrative key features in landscape ecology. We offer a broad range of courses in vegetation science and physical geography that addresses Bachelor, Master and Diploma students in landscape ecology as well as studens of other disciplines of geosciences.

News

Start of the BMBF-project SASCHA

[08.09.2011] Since the 1st of august 2011, the German-Russian research project "SASCHA - Sustainable land management and adaptation strategies to climate change for the Western Siberian corn-belt" is funded by the BMBF. The ILÖK Working Groups Ecosystem Research, Community Ecology and Climatology are participating in the project coordinated by Prof. Norbert Hölzel. project homepage

Kazakhstan’s steppe birds face new declines

Landscape ecologists from Münster analyse consequences of agricultural changes in the steppes of Kazakhstan

[16.08.2011] After a period of recovery over the past 20 years, indigenous bird populations of Kazakhstan's unique feather-grass steppe are now facing new declines. This is the conclusion arrived at by a team of scientists led by Prof. Norbert Hölzel and Johannes Kamp from the Institute of Landscape Ecology at Münster University. For the first time, the scientists have estimated the population densities of various steppe birds in relation to land use and vegetation in northern Kazakhstan. Drawing on these data they have made forecasts for developments in the future. more

Wide Steppe - Landscape Ecologists from Münster carry out research on the impact of post-soviet land use change in the kazakhian steppe

[15.07.2011] Three students from the University of Münster stayed for six weeks in the wide feathergrass steppe of northern Kazakhstan. Together with Johannes Kamp, PhD student from the Insititute of Landscape Ecology of the WWU, they carried out research on vegetation and bird communities of the vast areas of fallow land in the steppe zone. more

"Natur im Wandel" - studie on the effects of climate change on biodiversity in North Rhine-Westphalia published

Foto: Jan Ole Kriegs

[22.03.2010] The results of a pilot study on estimated effects of climate change on selected animal and plant species in North Rhine-Westphalia has been published as broschure for a wider audience now. The study has been conducted by the Working Groups Community Ecology and Ecosystem Research at ILÖK.
press release upm (german)
further information and broschure "Natur im Wandel" at MKUNLV (german)
Beside, the Bundesamt für Naturschutz has published a study on the effects of recent climate change on the fauna in Germany.
further information at BfN (german)

Research Results published in EU News Service

[27.07.2010] Recently published in Basic and Applied Ecology, the paper of Kathrin Kiehl, Anita Kirmer, Tobias W. Donath, Leonid Rasran & Norbert Hölzel (2010) Species introduction in restoration projects - method evaluation for the establishment of semi-natural grasslands has been choosen by DG Environment to be taken into the  News Service "Science for Environment Policy" and has been summed up and published under the title Restoring European grasslands takes more than just sowing seeds. pdf download

news archive

Conferences

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8th SER European Conference on Ecological Restoration
9-14 September 2012
Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Near-Natural Restoration
www.ecer2012.eu

Looking Back

4th World Conference on Ecological Restoration
21-25 August 2011
Mérida, Mexico
Re-establishing the Link between Nature and Culture
www.ser2011.org

7th SER European Conference on Ecological Restoration

23-27 August 2010
Avignon, France
Ecological Restoration and Sustainable Development
Establishing Links Across Froniters
www.seravignon2010.org

SER Summer School Restoration Ecology 2009
University of Münster - Germany 
29th of June - 3rd of July 2009
Species introduction and management of biodiversity in restoration projects
www.uni-muenster.de/Restorationsummerschool

Conferences

• 8th SER European Conference on Ecological Restoration
  www.ecer2012.eu


• further SER-links