{"id":44406,"date":"2026-07-15T14:02:33","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T12:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idiv.de\/staff\/benjamin-wildermuth\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T09:20:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T07:20:35","slug":"benjamin-wildermuth","status":"publish","type":"staff-manager","link":"https:\/\/www.idiv.de\/de\/staff\/benjamin-wildermuth\/","title":{"rendered":"Benjamin Wildermuth"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \n
\n
\n

\n Dr. \n Benjamin \n Wildermuth <\/h2>\n

Post-Doktorand<\/p>\n

\n Experimentelle Interaktions\u00f6kologie <\/path><\/svg><\/a> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \"\" <\/div>\n \n \n
\n
\n

Affiliationen<\/h4>\n

\n Leipzig University <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n

Adresse<\/h4>\n
\n

Puschstra\u00dfe 4
04103 Leipzig<\/p>\n

Raum: B.00.24<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n

\n
\n

Kontakt<\/h4>\n
\n

E-Mail: benjamin.wildermuth@idiv.de<\/a><\/p>\n

Telefon: +49 341 9733173<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Scientific career<\/h3>\n

Since 06\/2026<\/p>\n

Postdoctoral Researcher, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig,<\/strong> Experimental Interaction Ecology. Invertebrate ecology in different ecosystems across real-world and experimental contexts, including leading the project „Spatio-temporal insurance effects of heterogeneous forests<\/em>“ in the DFG research unit 5375 (\u201cBETA-FOR\u201d)<\/a>, hosted by Prof. Nico Eisenhauer.<\/p>\n

01\/2026 \u2013 05\/2026<\/p>\n

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Jena,<\/strong> Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution. Arthropod ecology in experimental and real-world grasslands, hosted by Dr. habil. Anne Ebeling<\/p>\n

01\/2024 \u2013 12\/2025<\/p>\n

Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Jena,<\/strong> Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, funded by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig (Flexpool). Lead of the project: „Relating community assembly to ecosystem functioning (CAFE) across trophic levels in space and time\u201c<\/em>, hosted by Dr. habil. Anne Ebeling.<\/p>\n

01\/2021 \u2013 04\/2024<\/p>\n

Dr. rer. nat., University of G\u00f6ttingen,<\/strong> Forest Nature Conservation, DFG research training group 2300 (\u201cEnriCo\u201d)<\/a>. Thesis title: „Forest biodiversity in times of global environmental change: Effects of tree species identity and admixture on diversity and trophic niches of arthropods, under special consideration of the canopy and its architecture\u201c<\/em>, examination board: Prof. Andreas Schuldt (PI), Prof. Stefan Scheu, Prof. Martin Husemann, Prof. Martin Gossner.<\/p>\n

10\/2017 \u2013 07\/2020<\/p>\n

Master of Science Biology, University of Hamburg,<\/strong> Institute of Plant Sciences and Microbiology. Thesis title: „Spatial patterns, life history and biological interactions of termite colonies (Macrotermes sp.) in the thorn bush savanna of Central Namibia\u201c<\/em>, supervision: Prof. Norbert J\u00fcrgens.<\/p>\n

10\/2014 \u2013 09\/2017<\/p>\n

Bachelor of Science Biology, University of Cologne,<\/strong> Institute of Zoology. Thesis title: „Community Composition and Dynamics of Eukaryotic Microbes Associated to Sargassum and other Macrophytes in the Atlantic\u201c<\/em>, supervision: Prof. Hartmut Arndt.<\/p>\n

Research Interests<\/h3>\n

My main focus lies on different facets of arthropod ecology, from trophic interactions to biodiversity research, covering community ecology and biodiversity\u2013ecosystem functioning (BEF) questions across spatio-temporal scales and multiple ecosystems. After previous work on termites in a subtropical thornbush savanna and arthropod communities in managed temperate forests as well as managed and experimental grasslands, I now focus on invertebrate-centred BEF trends and their stability across space and time in forests and grasslands around the globe, in both experimental and real-world settings.<\/p>\n

Publications<\/h3>\n

13. Klenke, J., Von Gro\u00df, V., Fuchs, J. M., Topanotti, L. R., Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Rivera P\u00e9rez, C. A., Lu, J.-Z., Likulunga, L. E., Knoke, T., & Paul, C. (2026).\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Balancing biodiversity and economics: Using robust Pareto-optimisation to quantify ecological\u2013economic trade-offs in German mixed beech forests. Ambio. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s13280-026-02441-8<\/p>\n

12. Piccini, S., Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Matevski, D., Kriegel, P., Penanhoat, A., Seidel, D., Hagge, J., Gossner, M. M., & Schuldt, A. (2026). Same forest, different story: Beetle community responses to non\u2010native tree species depend on the vertical stratum. Journal of Applied Ecology, 63(7), e70472. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1365-2664.70472<\/p>\n

11. Mrak, K., Hahn, P., Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, & Lamersdorf, N. (2026). Mineral nitrogen form preference, partitioning and root morphological traits of Douglas fir and European beech under intra\u2014And interspecific competition in-situ. European Journal of Forest Research, 145(2), 38. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10342-025-01853-7<\/p>\n

10. Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Br\u00f6cher, M., Ladouceur, E., Meyer, S. T., Schielzeth, H., Staab, M., Achury, R., Bl\u00fcthgen, N., Hertzog, L., Hines, J., Roscher, C., Schweiger, O., Weisser, W. W., & Ebeling, A. (2026). Arthropod species loss underpins biomass declines. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 10(1), 83\u201394. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41559-025-02909-y<\/p>\n

9. Topanotti, L. R., Fuchs, J. M., Albert, M., Schick, J., Penanhoat, A., Lu, J.-Z., P\u00e9rez, C. A. R., Foltran, E. C., Appleby, S., Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Stuckenberg, T., Likulunga, L. E., Glatthorn, J., Schuldt, A., Polle, A., Balkenhol, N., Scheu, S., Ammer, C., Paul, C., & Guerrero-Ram\u00edrez, N. (2024). Enhancing economic multifunctionality without compromising multidiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality via forest enrichment. Science Advances, 10(43), eadp6566. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1126\/sciadv.adp6566<\/p>\n

8. Wildermuth, B.*<\/strong>, Penanhoat, A.*, Sennhenn-Reulen, H., Matevski, D., Drescher, J., Aubry-Kientz, M., Seidel, D., & Schuldt, A. (2024). Canopy structure influences arthropod communities within and beyond tree identity effects: Insights from combining LiDAR data, insecticidal fogging and machine learning regression modelling. Ecological Indicators, 160, 111901. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.ecolind.2024.111901<\/p>\n

* shared first authorship<\/p>\n

7. Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Hagge, J., Seifert, C. L., Tjaden, R., & Schuldt, A. (2024). Beneficial effects of native broadleaved forests on canopy beetle diversity are not reduced by admixture of non\u2010native conifers. Journal of Applied Ecology, 1365-2664.14623. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1365-2664.14623<\/p>\n

6. Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Seifert, C. L., Husemann, M., & Schuldt, A. (2023). Metabarcoding reveals that mixed forests mitigate negative effects of non\u2010native trees on canopy arthropod diversity. Ecological Applications, 33(8), e2921. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/eap.2921<\/p>\n

5. Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, D\u00f6nges, C., Matevski, D., Penanhoat, A., Seifert, C. L., Seidel, D., Scheu, S., & Schuldt, A. (2023). Tree species identity, canopy structure and prey availability differentially affect canopy spider diversity and trophic composition. Oecologia, 203(1\u20132), 37\u201351. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00442-023-05447-1<\/p>\n

4. Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Fardiansah, R., Matevski, D., Lu, J.-Z., Kriegel, P., Scheu, S., & Schuldt, A. (2023). Conifers and non-native tree species shift trophic niches of generalist arthropod predators in Central European beech forests. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 23(1), 3. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12862-023-02105-1<\/p>\n

3. Schuldt, A., Huke, P., Glatthorn, J., Hagge, J., Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, & Matevski, D. (2022). Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity. Journal of Applied Ecology, 59(12), 3049\u20133060. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/1365-2664.14300<\/p>\n

2. Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Oldeland, J., Arning, C., Gunter, F., Strohbach, B., & Juergens, N. (2022). Spatial patterns and life histories of Macrotermes michaelseni termite mounds reflect intraspecific competition: Insights of a temporal comparison spanning 12 years. Ecography, 2022(9), e06306. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/ecog.06306<\/p>\n

1. Wildermuth, B.<\/strong>, Oldeland, J., & Juergens, N. (2021). A beneficial relationship: Associated trees facilitate termite colonies (Macrotermes michaelseni) in Namibia. Ecosphere, 12(7), e03671. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ecs2.3671<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

iDiv Publikationen<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n \n <\/div>\n
\n