Community Ecology & Ecotoxicology
Topics
Our research is concerned with multiple stressors in agricultural landscapes and has a focus on the effects of pesticides on terrestrial biodiversity and communities. We study the interactions between species on different spatial and temporal scales and try to understand patterns such as variation in species richness, productivity and food web structure and processes of community assembly.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Effects of herbicides and insecticides on terrestrial biodiversity and communities](/fileadmin/oekotoxikologie_und_umwelt/Bilder/ecotox_overview.jpg)
Additionally to recognised stressors such as habitat destruction or disease we consider pesticides effects to explain observed biodiversity patterns and especially food web disruption gets our attention.
Contact us directly if you are interested in participating in our Research Project Courses (RPC) and Master theses in our group.
Former Research Projects
Integrative analysis of the analysis of pesticides and landuse on biodiversity in Germany (INPEDIV).
Amphibian Ecology – The mosquito control biocide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) directly and indirectly affects amphibians and their role in terrestrial ecosystems. (Verena Gerstle)
The impact of pesticides on amphibians: Effects of environmentally relevant pesticide mixtures and formulations on German Anura. (Elena Adams)
Development of mosquito control concepts in conformity with nature conservation (Stefanie Allgeier)
Insecticide effects on wild bee species and their ecosystem services (Philipp Uhl)
Amphibians in the agricultural landscape - direct and indirect effects on population connectivity and viability (Patrick Lenhardt)
HERPESTI. Characterizing the risk of pesticide use on amphibian and reptile populations based on multiple, ecologically relevant responses (Dr. Manuel E. Ortiz Santaliestra)
bap (biodiversity assessment of pesticides): Biodiversity protection in the regulation of environmental risks of pesticides (Melanie Hahn)
The influence of pesticides and fertiliser on the fauna and flora of a surrogate field margin (Juliane Schmitz)
Bats in the agricultural landscape – direct and indirect effects of pesticides and management practice (Peter Stahlschmidt)
Former Studies
Fungicide residues of nocturnal flying insects using three sampling methodologies and their relation to bat diet. (Fabian Daza) Master thesis
Sensitivity of macrophytes to the herbicide diquat dibromide grown singly and in mesocosms (Verena Sesin, Master thesis).
Influence of organic matter on the toxicity of imidacloprid to the springtail Folsomia candida (Afolarin Ogungbemi, Master thesis).
Environmental and Health costs Assessment of Pesticide use in Potato Farming in Nepal (Kripaa Dahal, Master thesis).
Lethal and sublethal of dimethoate and λ-cyhalothrin on bumble bee workers in lab and semi-field design (Eva Eschenbach, Master thesis)
The red mason bee Osmia bicornis under the influence of pesticide stress and food availability (Claudia Wollmann, Master thesis).
Indirect effects of the mosquito control agent Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis on bat activity in Southwest Germany: a case study (André Ehlert, Master thesis)
The impact of Bti-based mosquito control in seasonal wetlands on aquatic emergence and benthos (Anna Kästel, Master thesis)
The impact of regular Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) treatments on newts (Amphibia: Caudata) in temporary flooded wetlands near Neustadt (Weinstraße) Stefanie Allgeier Master thesis
Effects of pesticides and fertilizer on different plant species in greenhouse tests. (Lisa Ressl, Diploma thesis)
Effects of cultivation and greening of vineyards on ants in Palatinate (Tabea Gummer, Diploma thesis)
Evaluation of acute glyphosate sensitivity of non-target wild plant species compared to crop species based on OECD Guideline 227 (Vegetative Vigour Test) (Julia Brack, Master thesis)
Eutrophication potentiel of an OP flame retardand - tests with single celled algae (Sie Yung Law, Master thesis)
Effects of insecticides exposure on the behavior of ground beetles (Stefan-Bogdan Dehelean, Master thesis)
Vergleichende Untersuchung zur Fledermausaktivität oberhalb und unterhalb der Baumkronen im
Gebiet des Pfälzerwalds (Arne Jach, Diploma thesis)Reintroduction of the ‘Critically Endangered’ Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) in Van Long Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam (Sarah Elser, Diploma thesis)
Land snail communities in agricultural crops and their field margins (Klaus Swarowsky, Master thesis)
Impact of agrochemicals on spider diversity in field margins (Marcus Metz, Diploma thesis)
Snail diversity in field margins in the agricultural landscape. (Klaus Swarowsky, Diploma thesis)
Bestimmung der Rückstandsdynamik von Chlorphyrifos-methyl und Fenoxycarb auf nachtaktive Arthropodengemeinschaften – Eine Freilandstudie im Obstbau mit dem Ziel einer Risikoabschätzung für Fledermäuse (Lea Roos, Diploma thesis)
Untersuchung zum Einfluss des Dünger-, Herbizid- und Insektizideintrags auf die Biodiversität von Feldsäumen am Beispiel von Zikaden (Auchenorrhyncha) (Timo Felix, Diploma thesis)
Mapping and extrapolating Beta diversity of ants in Borneo. (Tobias Reich, Diploma thesis)
Ökotoxikologie von Amphibien: Effekte von Pflanzenschutzmitteln auf juvenile Grasfrösche (Rana temporaria) bei umweltrelevanter terrestrischer Exposition (Annika Alscher, Diploma thesis)
Development of a pollen feeding design for the ecotoxicological risk assessment of the honey bee. (Jörg Staffel, Diploma thesis)
The effects of pesticides drift on phytophagous insects with a focus on grasshoppers and butterflies – a literature review (Juliane Schmitz).
Pesticide Riskassessement for non-target arthropods: a comparison of the sensitivity of Drosophila funebris and Drosophila melanogaster against Aphidius rhopalosiphi. (Stefan Kimmel)
Composition of the amphibian community in rain water retention ponds. (Silke Bischof, Diploma thesis)