News and Media Releases
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Low-intensity grassland is better able to withstand the consequences of climate change › more
Nature supports the economic and social aspects that underly mental health › more
By leveraging millions of time-stamped observations, researchers can identify plant rhythms and ecological patterns year-round › more
Study identifies policy needs, challenges, and future pathways. › more
New insights could impact future conservation strategies. › more
Report by Jose Valdez, postdoctoral researcher of Biodiversity Conservation at iDiv and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) Despite hosting some of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems… › more
iDiv met with members of the Bundestag to discuss expanding Germany's role › more
Life strategies of a multitude of soil faunal taxa can affect the formation of organic matter in soil. › more
New study in Nature Communications › more
Land users struggle with inflexible regulations and a lack of workforce › more
Largest modelling study of its kind, published in Science › more
Local differences in plant traits partially explain variation in climate-regulation processes › more
Nico Eisenhauer was admitted to the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. › more
Researchers at iDiv propose a new strategy for rewilding amphibians in a recent study. › more
High scientific honour › more
One-third of Africa’s great ape population faces risks related to mining › more
Diana Wall passed away on the 25th of March 2024. Diana Wall, a leading environmental scientist and soil ecologist, has been a longstanding member of iDiv's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and part… › more
New study reveals how social status and behaviour are reflected in the genetic makeup › more
Ecologist Prof Henrique Pereira is part of the ECB's Motifs Advisory Group, which proposes motifs for the next generation of euro banknotes. › more
![Citizen scientists throughout Germany analysed the ecological status of small waterways for the FLOW project. Photo: J. Farys Citizen scientists throughout Germany analysed the ecological status of small waterways for the FLOW project. Photo: J. Farys](/fileadmin/content/_processed_/2/8/csm_PM1-FLOW-2023-c-Joerg-Farys-410_5794ef2810.jpg)
New study published in Science of the Total Environment › more
Fish species respond to temperature increases by going after more readily available prey. Models suggest this behaviour could lead to more extinctions. › more
A new approach to quantify the dependency of international trade and so-called Nature’s contributions to people › more
A new analysis shows that while many biotic communities are becoming more similar through time, an almost equal number are becoming more distinct › more
Nature study on the effects of land use change in tropical ecosystems › more
Study identifies vegetation types most in need of conservation efforts to protect threatened species. › more
Higher temperatures could pose the greatest threat › more
The US researcher will use the prize money for several stays at iDiv › more
Survey shows positive attitudes towards rewilding in the Oder Delta region, but finds locals’ feelings are mixed. › more
Whitepaper examines the role of technology and finance to address biodiversity challenges › more
Wirth’s work complements research focus of the Max Planck Institute › more
Effects of extreme drought have been greatly underestimated › more
Study reveals link between frequent plantation visits and infant mortality in wild southern pig-tailed macaques in Peninsular Malaysia › more
Interview with Martin Quaas, head of Biodiversity Economics research group › more
Final vote of the EU Parliament in 2024 › more
Declines in insect numbers are largely driven by losses of more abundant species › more
New study on the link between biodiversity and climate › more
Report of an Expert Working Group outlines policy recommendations to develop broader transformative policies for human, animal, and ecosystem health › more
Study reveals natural solution to mitigate effects of climate change › more
Halle, Jena and Leipzig are three of the top six German universities in the field of ecology › more
Eight iDiv members named Highly Cited Researchers › more
Doctoral researchers will investigate sustainable concepts for the use of natural common goods › more
How authors’ personal circumstances influence the depiction of nature in their works › more
A new approach to co-designing biodiversity indicators › more
Surprisingly far-reaching impacts of light pollution › more
Data published on social media platforms can improve knowledge about species distribution and inform conservation planning › more
DFG to fund Research Unit › more
New study published in Science Advances › more
Immediate protection measures are required to safeguard invertebrate communities and critical ecosystem services. › more
The body sizes of organisms around the world are becoming smaller over time, especially among fish, with important implications for food webs and humans. › more
iDiv's researchers1 are concerned about the already precarious working conditions in German academia and are alarmed that the proposed changes to the WissZeitVG will exacerbate this.The WissZeitVG is… › more
Species observations have unveiled a potentially universal pattern › more
Report by Léonard El-Hokayem, doctoral student at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle. Decreasing rainfall and… › more
A new interconnected system to monitor biodiversity around the world is urgently needed to direct and focus conservation action. › more
New study reveals that over 1000 vascular plants in Nigeria may be undescribed. › more
Retention of dead biomass by plants likely to serve function in carbon and nutrient cycling › more
Researchers record large-scale shift in photosynthesis activity for the first time › more
International research team compares form and function of island and mainland plants › more
Novel framework allows for a more effective management of soils as carbon sinks › more
Habitat diversity can mitigate effects of climate change on insects › more
Over 300 guests from politics, science and civil society › more
New study suggests fragmentation and climate warming could disadvantage large animals due to their limited traveling speeds › more
Research project "MetaChange" will be funded with almost 2.5 million euros over the next five years › more
![Dr. Marten Winter congratulating Dr. Steven Bachmann (Picture: Carolin Kögler) Dr. Marten Winter congratulating Dr. Steven Bachmann (Picture: Carolin Kögler)](/fileadmin/content/_processed_/d/3/csm_2500participantsRedList_klein_dcc9bb265a.jpg)
On 15 March 2023 sDiv - the synthesis centre of iDiv welcomed its 2500th participant at an sDiv working group meeting. The lucky one was Dr. Steven Bachman who travelled from the Royal Botanic… › more
More widely distributed species benefit from anthropogenic changes › more
Under long-term fisheries management, evolutionary change, that has resulted in smaller maturation sizes, can be reversed profitably. › more
Higher extinction rates of insular mammals after arrival of modern human › more
The effects of climate change on the Earth’s vegetation depend to a large degree on local conditions › more
New study reveals that living roots are as important as dead leaves in sustaining tropical soil biodiversity › more
NaturaConnect Stakeholder Event in Brussels brings over 70 leading EU policy and governmental decision-makers › more
Study finds that current monitoring data may be far too incomplete and deficient to provide a precise global picture of local biodiversity richness trends › more
Specialised foraging skills could have made the essential difference › more
Even many years after being abandoned, plant diversity of former agricultural sites is still incomplete compared to undisturbed sites › more
Researchers propose to consider insects in the expansion and new designation of protected areas › more
iDiv invited to a parliamentary evening in Berlin to discuss possible action › more
Biodiversity–stability relationships strengthen over time in a long-term grassland experiment › more
The complex relationships between plants and their pollinators have changed dramatically across the last century. › more
European project started to assess ecological restoration through rewilding › more
New framework to identify groundwater-dependent vegetation › more
Meta-analysis of scientific literature shows decline of interactions with nature due to growing urbanisation, but systematic studies are rare › more
Report by Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Researcher of the Biodiversity Conservation research group at iDiv and MLU, and lead author of a new publication in Ecology and Evolution › more
Study shows: citizen science can, indeed, be an option to assess the ecological state of smaller streams › more
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Major review of the island’s biodiversity reveals urgent need for collaborative science-based conservation › more
Chair of iDiv’s Board of Trustees named University Manager of the Year › more
Researchers from Leipzig call for a joint research agenda linking research on climate extremes and biodiversity › more
Jena Senckenberg Institute of Plant Form and Function strengthens collection-based biodiversity research › more
Positive effects of grazing can turn to negative under warmer climate › more
Seven iDiv members named Highly Cited Researchers › more
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Report by Dr Corey Callaghan, Assistant Professor at University of Florida, formally postdoctoral researcher at iDiv and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg › more
International project NaturaConnect brings together the knowledge on how to protect biodiversity in Europe › more
Researchers rank drivers of global biodiversity change › more
![Light experiment. Photo: Anu Eskelinen Light experiment. Photo: Anu Eskelinen](/fileadmin/content/_processed_/7/5/csm_1_PM_cages_c__Anu_Eskelinen_07e3123991.jpg)
Field experiment shows that competition for light is the key mechanism driving loss of plant diversity under eutrophication and lack of grazing. › more
![Dry sand heathland near Hamburg. Photo: Christiane Buchwald Dry sand heathland near Hamburg. Photo: Christiane Buchwald](/fileadmin/content/_processed_/f/3/csm_Trockene_Sandheide_Christiane_Buchwald_5012162e23.jpg)
Data gathered by habitat mapping programs can make important contributions to biodiversity research. › more
![Silverfish, Photo: Colourbox Silverfish, Photo: Colourbox](/fileadmin/content/_processed_/0/4/csm_Silberfischchen_Colourbox_e9664f6f7c.jpg)
Exact number of silverfish and centipedes still unknown › more
![Bees are exposed to a mixture of pesticides. Uni Halle / Markus Scholz Bees are exposed to a mixture of pesticides. Uni Halle / Markus Scholz](/fileadmin/content/_processed_/f/5/csm_Bienen_Markus_Scholz_5c5672d3bc.jpg)
Insecticides containing flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor can have devastating effects on honey bee health. › more
Researchers find the processes behind species decline due to nutrient inputs › more
iNaturalist app users play a significant role in helping researchers create global maps of plant traits › more
Researchers evaluate plant population data between 1927 and 2020 › more
The movement of species around the globe has lasting impacts on biodiversity and human livelihoods far into the future › more
New study published in Nature › more
![iDay group photo (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt/iDiv) iDay group photo (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt/iDiv)](/fileadmin/content/_processed_/9/5/csm_iDay-2022-3074-SBernhardt-iDiv_935a638910.jpg)
On 29 September 2022, the iDiv administrator networking event iDay took place at the iDiv Core Centre and the Botanical Gardens Leipzig. For the third time, the Central Services team invited… › more
Poorly defined land rights increase deforestation, but private land rights must go hand in hand with strict environmental policies. › more
Recent expansions mean little more than a stabilisation of the species › more
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At the 37th meeting of the International Society of Chemical Ecology (ISCE) held from 8-12 August 2022 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, our PhD student Jessil Pajar achieved the second place in the… › more
Islands act as natural laboratories of evolution › more
Steppes of Eastern Europe harbour a similar number of plant species as Amazon rainforest regions › more
Effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in national parks is associated with socioeconomic conditions › more
New digital map displays full diversity of life through thousands of photos › more
New research offers a pathway to achieving the 30 by 30 target using ecosystem diversity across four South American countries › more
New experts survey considerably extends the global biodiversity knowledge by underrepresented species groups and regions › more
Climate decoupling particularly prominent among habitat specialists › more
Leipzig citizen science project “VielFalterGarten” promotes insect diversity in the city and invites people to actively participate in the protection of butterflies › more
Over 300 scientists make recommendations on how to improve the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy › more
Researchers discover microbes in pitch-dark aquifers as important primary producers › more
iDiv and Leipzig University get new junior research group: “Soil Biological Diversity and Functions” › more
Report by Dr Jose Valdez, Postdoctoral Researcher of the Biodiversity Conservation research group at iDiv and Leipzig University, and senior author of a new publication in Frontiers in Ecology and… › more
Drought-exposure history improves the recovery of grassland communities from subsequent drought › more
Former research director of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biotechnology (IPB) in Halle passed away › more
Junior Research Group 'Symbiont Evolution' started at iDiv and MLU › more
40 years of conservation data: Researchers show population trends of native insects › more
New genomic tools shed light on the evolutionary history of chimpanzees and contribute to their conservation › more
Large-scale use of camera trap data can help improve wildlife conservation › more
If expectant mothers are exposed to stress their child can develop behavioural problems - but less often with siblings › more
Researchers recommend urban conservation gardening measures to reverse horticultural trends › more
Role of the former Rector of Leipzig University for iDiv acknowledged › more
Novel concept helps managing soils as a carbon sink › more
DFG extends funding for the international research training group TreeDì › more
Effects of missing large herbivores on food plants still detectable today › more
Reptiles likely benefit from efforts to save other animals › more
Presentation of the Strategy and Citizen Science Festival on 29 April in Berlin › more
Nationwide measurement campaign of the citizen science project FLOW starts › more
iDiv delighted at award for founding director › more
Based on a press release by the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) National biodiversity monitoring programmes in Europe face many challenges: too little coordination, inadequate… › more
Researchers recommend taking underappreciated factors for biodiversity loss into account › more
Botanical gardens invite citizens to explore the effects of climate change on plants › more
Only weak trend correlations between different insect groups › more
Study closes gaps in the risk of extinction of plant species › more
Identical twins’ nature experiences more similar than fraternal twins but local environment also key › more
Chemical "cry for help" from trees verified in a natural habitat for the first time › more
BMBF research project starts in the Oder Delta model area › more
Environment ministers from Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony discuss regional biodiversity protection measures › more
Report by María Felipe-Lucia, Senior Scientist at German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) › more