Biodiversity and Climate

Community Ecology and Macroecology

We investigate the effects of global climate and land-use change on the biodiversity and range dynamics of vertebrates, especially of birds. We focus on ecosystem consequences of these changes at all organizational levels including geographic ranges, species diversity, community structure, and population dynamics.

Evolutionary Analyses and Biological Archives

We use a a wide range of disciplines to gain insights in the biodiversity of oomycetes and a deeper knowledge of the evolutionary processes that have shaped oomycete diversity and their biotic interaction. Furthermore a Junior research group studies the genomes of fungi.

Evolutionary Vertebrate Genomics

Our research group compares and analyzes the genomes of vertebrates to get a better understanding of their evolution. We focus on mammals. In previous studies we have looked into the genomes of giraffe, whale and bear species as well as crocodile and marsupial species.

Functional Ecology and Global Change

Human actions globally jeopardise natural ecosystems. We investigate how these human impacts and anthropogenic climate change modify biodiversity and ecological processes and functions. Our research primarily aims to disentangle the functional causes and consequences of global biodiversity loss.

Geobiodiversity Research

We investigate and combine large-scale biogeographical, macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns to infer the underlying abiotic and biotic drivers of biodiversity, such as mountain building, climate change, and their effects on speciation and extinction.

Medical Biodiversity and Parasitology

We conduct research on medically relevant organisms, including parasites, disease vectors (e.g. mosquitoes, rodents, bats) and reservoir hosts. We focus on the population dynamics, ecology, life cycles and transmission mechanisms using a broad spectrum of methods, from specimen-based taxonomy using morphological and molecular approaches, to advanced approaches of phylogeography and niche modelling.

Molecular Ecology

We investigate phenotypic and genomic variation in and between ecological key species in order to reveal functional similarities and differences of climate tolerance across taxa and ecosystems.

Molecular Evolutionary Biology

Our research aims at understanding organism-environment interactions using molecular tools. We look into the genetic and genomic signatures (in populations, species and communities) as a result of environmental conditions, the influence of climatic factors on the interaction of organisms, and the of partners in a symbiosis and microbiomes in this regard.

Movement Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation

Members of this group study theoretical and applied aspects of movement- and wildlife ecology, from the behavioral underpinnings and social interactions to ecosystem functions and macro-ecological patterns. Other members investigate how the consumption of globally traded agricultural and forestry products impacts the environment at the site of their cultivation.

Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironmental Dynamics

We use the isotopic fingerprint of climate, biodiversity and geodynamic processes to understand Earth System dynamics in the geologic past. Reconstructing the interplay between global climate change and mountain building allows us to establish climate change histories that may serve as templates for future climate projections.

Quantitative Biogeography

Our working group investigates interactions between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and climate on spatiotemporal scales ranging local studies to the globe and from the past to future scenarios. We develop process-based and statistical computer models for simulating the dynamics of species and ecosystems, in particular dynamic regional to global vegetation models.

Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment

Tübingen, Schöningen

As of October 2009, the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment (SHEP) was built and established at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. In May of 2017, SHEP became an institute of the Leibniz Association.

Actuopalaeontology

Cnidaria

The research field comprises studies on different Cnidaria taxa with the main focus on Scyphozoa, Hydrozoa, and Staurozoa which are investigated in taxonomic and ecological studies.

Ecological Biodiversity Research

We study the interactions of meiofauna organisms with their environment. From the tidal range to the deep sea, these seafloor inhabitants, which are only 1 mm in size at most, play an important role in ecosystems. n Meeresbodenbewohner eine wichtige Rolle in den Ökosystemen.

In the Ecological Biodiversity Research we investigate the interaction of meiofauna organisms with their environment. From the intertidal down to the deep sea these 1 mm-sized inhabitants of the sea floor play a crucial part in food webs.

Systematics and Biogeography

Division

The SDEI focuses its research on phylogenetic systematics as well as on biogeography. That means the examination of phylogeny and classification of species within the megadiverse insect orders such as Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Lepidoptera.

Crustacea

In the Crustacea section we mainly study decapods. These are animals that the non-specialist will easily classify as crustaceans.

Entomology III  – Lepidoptera and Trichoptera

The Entomology III team conducts research into the evolution, speciation, ecological adaptation and distribution primarily of caddisflies and moths.

River and Floodplain Ecology

River and Floodplain Ecology Research at the division is concerned with long-term changes of aquatic biodiversity, the effects of restoration measures on aquatic communities in streams and rivers, as well as the influence of climate change on aquatic invertebrates. These topics are worked on predominantly in the context of different national and international research projects.

Cryptogams

The cryptogamic section curates the collections of algae, bryophytes, fungi, lichens and ferns of the Herbarium Senckenbergianum (FR).

Molecular Evolution of Plants and Fungi

On one hand the staff of the section is fully involved in the day-to-day routine of the the Grunelius-Möllgaard-Laboratory in order to secure optimal working conditions, provide logistic support by ordering consumables and troubleshooting expertise.

Conservation Genetics

The Conservation Genetics Group develops and applies modern DNA-based tools to aid research and conservation of endangered European wildlife. 

Palaeoanthropology

The Section Palaeoanthropology closely cooperates with the Research Centre ROCEEH of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and with New York University in the field of Human Paleobiomics.

Palaeoclimate & Palaeoenvironmental Research

The section is primarily focusing on the quantitative, semi-quanitative and qualitative reconstruction of selected palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental parameters, as well as the dynamics of these parameters in space and time.

Phanerogams I + II

The two sections work closely together and curate the higher plant collections (seed plants) of the Herbarium Senckenbergianum Frankfurt/M. (FR).

Quaternary Large Mammals

The Quaternary large mammals section continues a tradition of interregional Ice Age research, which has been in existence in Weimar since the second half of the 19th century.

Quaternary Small Mammals

The scientific field of the section is biodiversity and evolution of Quaternary small mammal assemblages, which are investigated in the framework of international research projects and collaborations.

Quaternary Macrofloras

The Quaternary macrofloras section was founded in 2008 in the course of an expansion of the palaeo-botanical research in Weimar. Botanical macro-remains provide detailed information on the local vegetation, environments and climate of the past.

Quaternary Microfloras

The Quaternary plants section was established in 2000 when the Institute of Quaternary Palaeontology, Weimar, was joined with the Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft. The section continues the traditions of palaeobotanical research in Weimar, based on the abundant plant remains of the Thuringian Travertine deposits.

Pterygote Insects

Our main field of activity is Numeric-Morphology-Based-Alpha-Taxonomy (NUMOBAT) of the ant genera Camponotus, Cardiocondyla, Bothriomyrmex, Formica, Hypoponera, Lasius, Myrmica, Leptothorax, Tapinoma, Temnothorax and Tetramorium.

Herpetology

Molecular Laboratory

The use of molecular biological methods in state of the art evolutionary research has two major advantages: the methodology can be implemented universally in all organisms and enables insight along a long time interval of many million years.

Ornithology

The Dresden collection of birds houses approximately 91.000 objects including whole skins, mounted specimens, skeletons, eggs, nests and feather mounts.