A5008055100- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Remote Sensing in Agriculture
- Impact of Light on Environment and Health
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
University of Würzburg
2016-2025
Fischer (Germany)
2016
Technical University of Darmstadt
2011
Abstract Recently reported insect declines have raised both political and social concern. Although the been attributed to land use climate change, supporting evidence suffers from low taxonomic resolution, short time series, a focus on local scales, collinearity of identified drivers. In this study, we conducted systematic assessment populations in southern Germany, which showed that differences biomass richness are highly context dependent. We found largest difference between semi-natural...
Tropical forest recovery is fundamental to addressing the intertwined climate and biodiversity loss crises. While regenerating trees sequester carbon relatively quickly, pace of remains contentious. Here, we use bioacoustics metabarcoding measure post-agriculture in a global hotspot Ecuador. We show that community composition, not species richness, vocalizing vertebrates identified by experts reflects restoration gradient. Two automated measures - an acoustic index model bird composition...
The use of metabarcoding for insect species identification has grown rapidly, but the absence abundance data hinders meaningful diversity metrics like sample coverage-standardized richness. Additionally, vast number taxa often lacks a unified phylogeny or trait database. We present framework constructing phylogenetic tree encompassing majority families, standardisation coverage (an objective measure completeness) and assessment both taxonomic using Hill series data. Applied to central...
Mass-flowering crops may affect long-term population dynamics, but effects on pollinators have never been studied across several years. We monitored wild bees in oilseed rape fields 16 landscapes Germany two consecutive Effects bee densities of landscape cover the years monitoring and previous were evaluated with data from three fit empirical to a mechanistic model provide estimates for attractiveness its effect productivity comparison rest landscape, we consequences pollinator Our results...
Summary Artificial lights have become an integral and welcome part of our urban peri‐urban environments. However, recent research has highlighted the potentially negative ecological consequences ubiquitous artificial light. In particular, insects, especially moths, are expected to be negatively impacted by presence lights. Previous with light traps shown a male‐biased attraction in moths. this study, we sought determine whether street could limit moth dispersal there was any sex bias More...
Women can synchronize their menstrual cycles with the Moon.
We present the results of individual-based simulation experiments on evolution dispersal rates organisms living in metapopulations. find conflicting regarding relationship between local extinction rate and evolutionarily stable (ES) depending which principal mechanism causes extinction: if is caused by environmental catastrophes eradicating populations, we observe a positive correlation ES rate; consequence stochastic dynamics fluctuations, becomes ambiguous; cases where mortality, negative...
Ants that get injured during predation on termites saved by their nestmates and recover inside the nest.
Intensification of land use by humans has led to a homogenization landscapes and decreasing resilience ecosystems globally due loss biodiversity, including the majority forests. Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) research provided compelling evidence for positive effect biodiversity on ecosystem functions services at local (α-diversity) scale, but we largely lack empirical how between-patch β-diversity affects multifunctionality landscape scale (γ-diversity). Here, present novel...
One of the most dramatic changes occurring on our planet is ever-increasing extensive use artificial light at night, which drastically altered environment to nocturnal animals are adapted. Such pollution has been identified as a driver in insect decline past years. species group experiencing marked declines moths, play key role food webs and ecosystem services such plant pollination. Moths can be easily monitored within illuminated area streetlight, where they typically exhibit disoriented...
It is assumed that a properly timed circadian clock enhances fitness, but only few studies have truly demonstrated this in animals. We raised each of the three classical Drosophila period mutants for >50 generations laboratory competition with wildtype flies. The populations were either kept under conventional 24-h day or cycles matched mutant's natural cycle, i.e., 19-h case pers and 29-h perl mutants. arrhythmic per0 grown together flies constant light renders similar as In addition, had...
Abstract Biodiversity–ecosystem functioning (BEF) research has provided strong evidence and mechanistic underpinnings to support positive effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning, from single multiple functions. This knowledge gained mainly at the local alpha scale (i.e. within ecosystems), but increasing homogenization landscapes in Anthropocene raised potential that declining beta (across ecosystems) gamma scales is likely also impact functioning. Drawing theory, we propose a new...
Conservation programs need improved tools to measure the recovery of animal diversity across restoration gradients. We used soundscapes and expert identifications bird species calculate niche position (i.e., mean environmental conditions all areas a occupies) breadth standard deviation distribution) along gradient; from agriculture early (up 20 yrs) late 38 recovery, old-growth forests. Our survey included 323 was conducted in 66 plots lowland Chocoan tropical rainforest Ecuador where less...
Abstract Tropical old‐growth forests continue to decline worldwide, resulting in a huge loss of biodiversity. The extent which the expansion second‐growth can counteract biodiversity is context‐dependent and controversial. To test recovery bird communities along gradient from active pastures cacao plantations, through regenerating forest on land last used for agriculture between 1 38 years ago, forest, we sampled simultaneous audio recordings 66 plots, an expert identified all species...
Quantifying the success of biodiversity restoration is a major challenge in UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. We evaluated potential acoustic indices to predict recovery bird communities within abandoned agricultural areas. Using audio recordings from lowland tropical forest region, we identified 334 species and calculated established indices. Community composition was analyzed using Hill numbers, accounting for incomplete sampling. Acoustic effectively predicted independent data (R2 =...
Identifying key drivers of insect diversity decline in the Anthropocene remains a major challenge biodiversity research. Metabarcoding has rapidly gained popularity for species identification, yet lack abundance data complicates accurate metrics like sample coverage-standardized richness. Additionally, vast number taxa lacks unified phylogeny or trait database. We introduce new workflow metabarcoding that constructs phylogenetic tree most families, standardizes coverage and assesses both...
Increasing interest is directed on understanding how individuals utilize information to come dispersal decisions. We assume base emigration decisions male and female density in their natal patches. derive gender-specific functions for probability of species with discrete generations polygynous mating under the premise that strategies equalize fitness expectations emigrants philopatric individuals: migration should then always depend a critical threshold own gender. Whether opposite sex...
Solitary bees in seasonal environments must align their life-cycles with favorable environmental conditions and resources; the timing of emergence is highly fitness relevant. In several bee species, overwintering temperature influences both date body weight at emergence. High variability dates among specimens same temperatures suggests that also depends on individual conditions. However, possible causes for this variability, such as differences size or weight, have been rarely studied. a...
Abstract Quantifying tree defoliation by insects over large areas is a major challenge in forest management, but it essential ecosystem assessments of disturbance and resistance against herbivory. However, the trajectory from leaf‐flush to insect refoliation broadleaf trees highly variable. Its tracking requires high temporal‐ spatial‐resolution data, particularly fragmented forests. In unique replicated field experiment manipulating gypsy moth Lymantria dispar densities mixed‐oak forests,...