News and Media Releases

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Citizen scientists throughout Germany analysed the ecological status of small waterways for the FLOW project. Photo: J. Farys
14.03.2024 | Media Release, Research, TOP NEWS

New study published in Science of the Total Environment  › more

Models suggest that the Atlantic Cod (<em>Gadus morhua</em>) may have a higher risk of extinction as water temperatures increase. (Picture: WT Fiege, CC BY-SA via Wikimedia Commons)

Fish species respond to temperature increases by going after more readily available prey. Models suggest this behaviour could lead to more extinctions.  › more

27.02.2024 | Theory in Biodiversity Science, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Viticulture depends on Nature's contributions to people. A seal of origin based on terroir can create awareness for the respective region. (Picture: Rick Baldwin / Pixabay)

A new approach to quantify the dependency of international trade and so-called Nature’s contributions to people  › more

23.02.2024 | sDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release
The Louisiana crawfish (<em>Procambarus clarkii</em>), which is native to northern Mexico and the southeastern United States, is an example of a species that is flourishing in Germany&rsquo;s freshwaters, driving homogenisation.&nbsp; (Picture: B. Meritz, CC BY-SA 2.0)

A new analysis shows that while many biotic communities are becoming more similar through time, an almost equal number are becoming more distinct  › more

21.02.2024 | Biodiversity Synthesis, Research, TOP NEWS
Rain forest (left) and oil palm plantation (right) (Picture: Ananggadipa Raswanto)

Nature study on the effects of land use change in tropical ecosystems  › more

20.02.2024 | Media Release, iDiv, TOP NEWS
Barranca de Huentitan is a canyon carved by the Rio Grande de Santiago in Mexico in the state of Jalisco. The canyon has several types of vegetation: Tropical Forest, Deciduous, Riparian forest vegetation, and secondary vegetation. (Picture: Emmanuel Oceguera Conchas)

Study identifies vegetation types most in need of conservation efforts to protect threatened species.  › more

14.02.2024 | Research, iDiv, Media Release, TOP NEWS
Fish in the upper Danube could be just as endangered in the future as they were in the past, but for different reasons (Picture: Joachim Pressl, Unsplash)

Higher temperatures could pose the greatest threat  › more

14.02.2024 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity and People
Brian McGill (Picture: University of Maine)

The US researcher will use the prize money for several stays at iDiv  › more

09.02.2024 | Media Release, MLU News, TOP NEWS
The Oder Delta area comprises diverse natural habitats and is particularly suitable for the natural comeback of wildlife. (Picture: Sandeep Sharma)

Survey shows positive attitudes towards rewilding in the Oder Delta region, but finds locals’ feelings are mixed.  › more

22.01.2024 | iDiv, Research, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release
(Picture: Adobe Stock)

Whitepaper examines the role of technology and finance to address biodiversity challenges  › more

22.01.2024 | Media Release
Prof Christian Wirth has been appointed external member of the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena (Picture: Antje GIildemeister)

Wirth’s work complements research focus of the Max Planck Institute  › more

17.01.2024 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv Members
The researchers built rainfall manipulation structures to experimentally reduce the amount of naturally occurring precipitation. Here: Drought Net site at the UFZ Research Station in Bad Lauchst&auml;dt. (Picture: G. Rada / iDiv)

Effects of extreme drought have been greatly underestimated  › more

09.01.2024 | TOP NEWS, Media Release
Female southern pig-tailed macaque with infant (Picture: Anna Holzner)

Study reveals link between frequent plantation visits and infant mortality in wild southern pig-tailed macaques in Peninsular Malaysia  › more

08.01.2024 | Research, Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members
Professor Dr Martin Quaas (Picture: Antje Gildemeister/Leipzig University)

Interview with Martin Quaas, head of Biodiversity Economics research group  › more

05.01.2024 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity Economics
Early 2024, the EU Parliament will take a final vote on one of the most important laws to stop the biodiversity loss in Europe. (Picture: André Künzelmann/UFZ)

Final vote of the EU Parliament in 2024  › more

15.12.2023 | TOP NEWS, Media Release
Monarch butterflies <em>(Danaus plexippus)</em> are an example of a species with formerly high local abundances that has declined in number (Picture: T. Hill)

Declines in insect numbers are largely driven by losses of more abundant species  › more

15.12.2023 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Synthesis, Biodiversity and People
Biodiverse forests release fewer biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) into the atmosphere than monocultures. (Picture: Colourbox)

New study on the link between biodiversity and climate  › more

13.12.2023 | Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS, Experimental Interaction Ecology
The report outlines policy recommendations to develop broader transformative policies for human, animal, and ecosystem health. (Picture: Eklipse)

Report of an Expert Working Group outlines policy recommendations to develop broader transformative policies for human, animal, and ecosystem health  › more

07.12.2023 | TOP NEWS, iDiv, Media Release
Front view of the cable data logger box for the soil temperature measurement system (Controller Area Network bus module system) at the Jena experimental site.&nbsp; (Picture: Karl Kübler / MPI BGC Jena)

Study reveals natural solution to mitigate effects of climate change  › more

06.12.2023 | Media Release, Research, Experimental Interaction Ecology, iDiv, TOP NEWS
Halle, Jena and Leipzig are among the top six German universities in the field of ecology (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt, iDiv)

Halle, Jena and Leipzig are three of the top six German universities in the field of ecology  › more

04.12.2023 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release
(Picture: Stefan Bernhardt / iDiv)

Eight iDiv members named Highly Cited Researchers  › more

15.11.2023 | TOP NEWS
Forest dieback 2.0, air pollution or species loss: the new Research Training Group is researching sustainable utilisation concepts for natural commons. (Picture: Colourbox)

Doctoral researchers will investigate sustainable concepts for the use of natural common goods  › more

13.11.2023 | iDiv, Biodiversity Economics, Media Release, TOP NEWS
The researchers developed metrics that make it possible to measure biodiversity in literary works.&nbsp; (Picture: Colourbox)

How authors’ personal circumstances influence the depiction of nature in their works  › more

13.11.2023 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release
The Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve in the Tropical Andes (Ecuador) is the home of many animals, plants, insects &ndash; but also humans. Sustainable nature conservation in such areas requires cooperation among scientific, societal, economic, and political institutions (Picture: Francisco José Prieto Albuja)

A new approach to co-designing biodiversity indicators  › more

03.11.2023 | Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS
Modern societies rely heavily on artificial light at night, but this convenience comes at a cost not only to people's health but also to ecosystems.&nbsp; (Picture: Jürgen Vieweg/Pixelio)

Surprisingly far-reaching impacts of light pollution  › more

30.10.2023 | Theory in Biodiversity Science, Media Release, Experimental Interaction Ecology, TOP NEWS
Nature photographers worldwide are sharing their biodiversity observations on social media &ndash; a huge potential also for biodiversity research. (Picture: Sultan Ahmed)

Data published on social media platforms can improve knowledge about species distribution and inform conservation planning  › more

27.10.2023 | Media Release, iDiv, Biodiversity and People, Research, TOP NEWS
The Jena Experiment has been investigating the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning for over 20 years. A DFG Research Unit will now be funded for another four years (Picture: Matthias Ditscherlein)

DFG to fund Research Unit  › more

10.10.2023 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Experimental Interaction Ecology
A look into the canopy of the experimental forest plantation MyDiv. (Picture: Tama Ray)

New study published in Science Advances  › more

09.10.2023 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv Members, Experimental Interaction Ecology
The iDiv Ecotron consists of several controlled mini-ecosystems, so-called EcoUnits. (Picture: Anja Schmidt)

Immediate protection measures are required to safeguard invertebrate communities and critical ecosystem services.  › more

26.09.2023 | Research, iDiv, Experimental Interaction Ecology, Media Release, TOP NEWS
Three blue-cheeked butterflyfish (Chaetodon semilarvatus) in the Red Sea, Egypt. Blue-cheeked butterflyfish are a relatively large species, which can attain a maximum total length of 23 centimetres (cm), though 15 cm is most common. (Picture: Maria Dornelas)

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

08.09.2023 | iDiv, Research, Biodiversity Synthesis, TOP NEWS
Demonstration against the WissZeitVG in front of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in Berlin. (Picture: C. Suthorn / cc-by-sa-4.0 / commons.wikimedia.org)

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

08.09.2023 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release
The Sri Lanka Hanging-Parrot (<em>Loriculus beryllinus</em>) lives only in Sri Lanka. It is globally a very rare species, meaning there are few individuals (Picture: Corey Callaghan)

Species observations have unveiled a potentially universal pattern  › more

04.09.2023 | Biodiversity Synthesis, TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity Conservation
A new map shows Mediterranean&rsquo;s potentially groundwater-dependent vegetation. (Picture: L. El-Hokayem)

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

01.09.2023 | iDiv, TOP NEWS
GBiOS combines global collaboration, technology and data to monitor biodiversity change and target action. (Picture: GEO BON)

A new interconnected system to monitor biodiversity around the world is urgently needed to direct and focus conservation action.  › more

25.08.2023 | Media Release, iDiv, TOP NEWS
Nigeria is home to over 4,700 vascular plants &ndash; and likely many more undocumented species. (Picture: Rosemary Lodge / Flickr)

New study reveals that over 1000 vascular plants in Nigeria may be undescribed.  › more

23.08.2023 | iDiv, Media Release, TOP NEWS, Research, iDiv Members
Common garden experiment in which we measured the proportion of marcescence. (Picture: Renáta Schnablová)

Retention of dead biomass by plants likely to serve function in carbon and nutrient cycling  › more

15.08.2023 | Media Release, TOP NEWS
The setup of new geostationary satellites allows for vegetation observation from space. (Picture: Colourbox)

Researchers record large-scale shift in photosynthesis activity for the first time  › more

08.08.2023 | TOP NEWS, sDiv, Media Release
Tenerife's flora has a surprisingly high diversity in terms of forms and functions. In the background: Pico del Teide, Spain's highest mountain at 3715 metres. (Picture: Holger Kreft)

International research team compares form and function of island and mainland plants  › more

12.07.2023 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Only with the help of more holistic management, carbon sequestration in soils can be increased. (Picture: Carsten W. Mueller)

Novel framework allows for a more effective management of soils as carbon sinks  › more

15.06.2023 | Media Release, Experimental Interaction Ecology, TOP NEWS
The movements of this beetle (Carabus coriaceus) have been tracked with the help of a RFID tag. (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt, iDiv)

Habitat diversity can mitigate effects of climate change on insects  › more

26.04.2023 | Research, iDiv, TOP NEWS, Theory in Biodiversity Science, Media Release
More than 300 guests celebrated the 10th anniversary of iDiv in the Paulinum of Leipzig University (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt, iDiv)

Over 300 guests from politics, science and civil society  › more

20.04.2023 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release
The daily and seasonal movements of large animals like the Sri Lankan elephant take place within a mosaic of natural habitats which are becoming increasingly fragmented by anthropogenic land-use changes such as deforestation and agricultural cultivation. (Picture: Ulrich Brose, CC-BY 4.0)

New study suggests fragmentation and climate warming could disadvantage large animals due to their limited traveling speeds  › more

19.04.2023 | TOP NEWS, Theory in Biodiversity Science, Media Release, Research, iDiv
Ecologist Jonathan Chase receives the prestigious ERC Advanced Grant (Picture: Volker Hahn / iDiv)

Research project "MetaChange" will be funded with almost 2.5 million euros over the next five years  › more

30.03.2023 | TOP NEWS, iDiv, Media Release, Biodiversity Synthesis
Dr. Marten Winter congratulating Dr. Steven Bachmann (Picture: Carolin Kögler)

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

20.03.2023 | iDiv, sDiv, TOP NEWS
The little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) increased occupancy through time in an area given special protection status in Portugal. (Picture: Ron Knight (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons)

More widely distributed species benefit from anthropogenic changes  › more

20.03.2023 | Research, iDiv, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Synthesis, Media Release
Cod (Gadus morhua) taken through glass at Atlanterhavsparken, &Aring;lesund, Norway (Picture: Hans-Petter Fjeld)

Under long-term fisheries management, evolutionary change, that has resulted in smaller maturation sizes, can be reversed profitably.  › more

16.03.2023 | Media Release, Research, TOP NEWS, iDiv, Biodiversity Economics
Illustration of Sardinian Dwarf Mammoth, Sardinian Giant Otter, Deer, Sardinian Dhole and Giant Pica (Picture: Peter Schouten / http://studioschouten.com.au/)

Higher extinction rates of insular mammals after arrival of modern human  › more

09.03.2023 | Biodiversity Synthesis, iDiv, Media Release, TOP NEWS
In wetlands, plants grow taller as temperatures increase (Picture: Felix Mittermeier / Pixabay)

The effects of climate change on the Earth’s vegetation depend to a large degree on local conditions  › more

09.03.2023 | Research, Media Release, MLU News, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS
The researchers compared the effects of live roots or leaf litter in small experimental plots in the rainforest (left) with oil palm plantations (right). (Picture: Ananggadipa R)

New study reveals that living roots are as important as dead leaves in sustaining tropical soil biodiversity  › more

07.03.2023 | Media Release, TOP NEWS
At the Stakeholder Event, the project is connecting with stakeholders for building capacity for protected areas. (Picture: IIASA - Matea-Osti)

NaturaConnect Stakeholder Event in Brussels brings over 70 leading EU policy and governmental decision-makers  › more

01.03.2023 | Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Camera traps, here at the Peneda-Ger&ecirc;s National Park in Portugal, are essential monitoring tools for detecting the presence of mammal species and other large animals. However, there is no global system of camera trap monitoring and only long-term data from a limited number of sites.&nbsp; (Picture: Zuleger et al. 2023 (CC BY 4.0))

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

10.02.2023 | TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release
A BaYaka boy climbs a tree to forage for food (Picture: Karline Janmaat)

Specialised foraging skills could have made the essential difference  › more

09.02.2023 | Molecular Interaction Ecology, Physiological Diversity, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Grassland at Cedar Creek, Minnesota (US) &ndash; one of the oldest fields in the upper left, and remnant savanna in the lower right. (Picture: Forest Isbel)

Even many years after being abandoned, plant diversity of former agricultural sites is still incomplete compared to undisturbed sites  › more

07.02.2023 | Media Release, Biodiversity Synthesis, TOP NEWS, Physiological Diversity
The common Jezebel (<em>Delias eucharis</em>), a medium-sized butterfly that appears in many areas of South and Southeast Asia, is an example of an inadequately represented insect species in protected areas.&nbsp; (Picture: Shawan Chowdhury)

Researchers propose to consider insects in the expansion and new designation of protected areas  › more

01.02.2023 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity and People
During the panel discussion with Dr Christiane Paulus, Head of the Nature Conservation Department of the BMUV (left), Olaf Bandt, Chairman of BUND (2nd from left), and Andreas Jahn, Federal Executive Director of the BMVW (right), Prof. Aletta Bonn (UFZ, iDiv) (2nd from right) recommended setting up a national biodiversity council.&nbsp; (Picture: Henning Schacht)

iDiv invited to a parliamentary evening in Berlin to discuss possible action  › more

17.01.2023 | TOP NEWS, iDiv, Media Release
The Jena Experiment (Picture: Alexandra Weigelt)

Biodiversity–stability relationships strengthen over time in a long-term grassland experiment  › more

13.01.2023 | Research, Media Release, Experimental Interaction Ecology, iDiv, TOP NEWS
Moths such as Plusia festucae are decimated today compared to Sil&eacute;n's times. (Picture: Alastair Rae, CC BY-SA 2.0; Wiki Commons)

The complex relationships between plants and their pollinators have changed dramatically across the last century.  › more

03.01.2023 | Species Interaction Ecology, Media Release, TOP NEWS, UFZ News
A German case study focuses on &ldquo;urban rewilding&rdquo; as a nature-based solution in the Ruhrgebiet area (Picture: Peter Keil)

European project started to assess ecological restoration through rewilding  › more

02.01.2023 | TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation
Vegetation surveys were taken in a Mediterranean study area. (Picture: Léonard El-Hokayem)

New framework to identify groundwater-dependent vegetation  › more

15.12.2022 | iDiv Members, TOP NEWS
Outdoor activities such as visiting natural areas, here the Ari&egrave;ge Regional Park in France, play a key role in defining our relationship with nature and how we protect it.&nbsp; (Picture: : Antoine Bel (license CC-BY-4.0))

Meta-analysis of scientific literature shows decline of interactions with nature due to growing urbanisation, but systematic studies are rare  › more

14.12.2022 | Macroecology and Society, Media Release, TOP NEWS, sDiv
A group of the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) in their tidal habitat of the Sundarban mangrove forest in Bangladesh. (Picture: Sandeep Sharma)

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

12.12.2022 | Biodiversity Conservation, iDiv, Media Release, TOP NEWS
Citizen scientists at the river Prie&szlig;nitz near Dresden (Picture: Julia von Gönner)

Study shows: citizen science can, indeed, be an option to assess the ecological state of smaller streams  › more

08.12.2022 | TOP NEWS, iDiv, Biodiversity and People, Research, Media Release, UFZ News

Major review of the island’s biodiversity reveals urgent need for collaborative science-based conservation  › more

01.12.2022 | Media Release, Evolution and Adaptation, TOP NEWS
Prof. Walter Rosenthal is University Manager of the Year 2022. (Picture: Jan-Peter Kasper, University of Jena)

Chair of iDiv’s Board of Trustees named University Manager of the Year  › more

01.12.2022 | TOP NEWS
Due to extreme drought events, tree growth may decline, pathogens proliferate and entire tree patches die.&nbsp; (Picture: Henrik Hartmann and Olaf Kolle)

Researchers from Leipzig call for a joint research agenda linking research on climate extremes and biodiversity  › more

30.11.2022 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members

Jena Senckenberg Institute of Plant Form and Function strengthens collection-based biodiversity research  › more

27.11.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members
Ranchers driving livestock in Patagonia (Argentina). (Picture: Sergio Velasco Ayuso.)

Positive effects of grazing can turn to negative under warmer climate  › more

24.11.2022 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, Research
(Picture: Stefan Bernhardt, iDiv)

Seven iDiv members named Highly Cited Researchers  › more

15.11.2022 | TOP NEWS

Report by Dr Corey Callaghan, Assistant Professor at University of Florida, formally postdoctoral researcher at iDiv and Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg  › more

14.11.2022 | Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS
<em>NaturaConnect</em> will focus on six case studies to test and refine their approaches and inform local ongoing conservation efforts. One is the Carpathian-Danube region. (Picture: Ante Gugić)

International project NaturaConnect brings together the knowledge on how to protect biodiversity in Europe  › more

10.11.2022 | TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release
Land-use changes such as deforestation and grassland conversion are not only the main cause of global biodiversity loss, they are also responsible for about a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. (Picture: Adobe Stock)

Researchers rank drivers of global biodiversity change  › more

10.11.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members
Light experiment. Photo: Anu Eskelinen

Field experiment shows that competition for light is the key mechanism driving loss of plant diversity under eutrophication and lack of grazing.  › more

02.11.2022 | Media Release, Research, Physiological Diversity, TOP NEWS, UFZ News
Dry sand heathland near Hamburg. Photo: Christiane Buchwald

Data gathered by habitat mapping programs can make important contributions to biodiversity research.   › more

28.10.2022 | iDiv, Media Release, MLU News, Research, TOP NEWS
Silverfish, Photo: Colourbox

Exact number of silverfish and centipedes still unknown  › more

28.10.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS
Bees are exposed to a mixture of pesticides. Uni Halle / Markus Scholz

Insecticides containing flupyradifurone and sulfoxaflor can have devastating effects on honey bee health.  › more

25.10.2022 | iDiv, Media Release, MLU News, TOP NEWS
Study area of the NutNet experiment in Jena (Picture: Anne Ebeling)

Researchers find the processes behind species decline due to nutrient inputs  › more

24.10.2022 | Media Release, Biodiversity Synthesis, Physiological Diversity, TOP NEWS
The results demonstrated the potential of using citizen science data e.g. from iNaturalist to help map plant traits on a global scale. (Picture: Tony Iwane)

iNaturalist app users play a significant role in helping researchers create global maps of plant traits  › more

20.10.2022 | iDiv Members, Media Release, TOP NEWS
The cornflower or bachelor's button (<em>Centaurea cyanus</em>) has been among the &ldquo;losers&rdquo;; its population has declined considerably over the past 100 years. (Picture: A. Künzelmann/UFZ)

Researchers evaluate plant population data between 1927 and 2020  › more

19.10.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members
Black Locust (<em>Robinia pseudocacia</em>) is a tree native to North America that has been introduced in all continents. European empires have played a major role in its introduction and spread.  (Picture: Franz Essl)

The movement of species around the globe has lasting impacts on biodiversity and human livelihoods far into the future  › more

17.10.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members
The soils of this pine forest in Seville were included in the study. (Picture: Manuel Delgado Baquerizo)

New study published in Nature  › more

12.10.2022 | Experimental Interaction Ecology, Media Release, TOP NEWS
iDay group photo (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt/iDiv)

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

05.10.2022 | iDiv
Tropical deforestation causes widespread loss of biodiversity and carbon stocks. (Picture: Amazônia Real from Manaus AM, Brasil, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Poorly defined land rights increase deforestation, but private land rights must go hand in hand with strict environmental policies.  › more

01.10.2022 | Macroecology and Society, Media Release, TOP NEWS
Iberian wolf. (Picture: Adobe Stock)

Recent expansions mean little more than a stabilisation of the species  › more

29.09.2022 | Research, Media Release, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation

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

22.09.2022 | Molecular Interaction Ecology
One of the most impressive examples of woodiness on the Canary Islands is offered by Wildpret's viper's bugloss (<em>Echium wildpretii subsp. Wildpretii)</em>. The species is found exclusively on the high flanks of the Teide volcano on Tenerife. (Picture: Frederic Lens/ Naturalis Biodiversity Centre in Leiden)

Islands act as natural laboratories of evolution  › more

07.09.2022 | sDiv, Media Release, TOP NEWS
This meadow in Romania is one of the most species-rich regions on earth - in 2009, a research team found 98 plant species here. (Picture: Jürgen Dengler)

Steppes of Eastern Europe harbour a similar number of plant species as Amazon rainforest regions  › more

01.09.2022 | iDiv Members, Media Release, TOP NEWS, Research
A nature conservation ranger of the Saxon Switzerland National Park, Germany, shows his colleague a forest area where he had discovered an illegal fireplace. (Picture: Hanspeter Mayr, Saxon Switzerland National Park)

Effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in national parks is associated with socioeconomic conditions  › more

15.08.2022 | Media Release, Evolutionary and Anthropocene Ecology, TOP NEWS
The home screen of LifeGate shows the full diversity of life at a glance. Users can zoom in at any given area until they reach the species level.&nbsp; (Picture: LifeGate by Martin Freiberg)

New digital map displays full diversity of life through thousands of photos  › more

27.07.2022 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv Members
The following photos show examples of the region investigated in the study as well as animals living there. Here: Central Andean (Yungas) Montane &amp; Upper Montane Humid Forest. (Picture: Pat Comer, NatureServe)

New research offers a pathway to achieving the 30 by 30 target using ecosystem diversity across four South American countries  › more

19.07.2022 | Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release, TOP NEWS
The scientific literature only covers a small part of the species diversity. Insect species, especially those in the species-rich tropical regions, have been very little researched and are hardly considered in biodiversity assessments. (Picture: Alexa Schmitz / pixabay)

New experts survey considerably extends the global biodiversity knowledge by underrepresented species groups and regions  › more

18.07.2022 | Media Release, Experimental Interaction Ecology
The grasshopper sparrow (<em>Ammodramus savannarum</em>), a grassland specialist, has not fully adjusted its distribution and abundance to changing climatic conditions. (Picture: Adobe Stock)

Climate decoupling particularly prominent among habitat specialists  › more

14.07.2022 | Biodiversity Synthesis, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Identification panels help to distinguish the species. (Picture: UFZ)

Leipzig citizen science project “VielFalterGarten” promotes insect diversity in the city and invites people to actively participate in the protection of butterflies  › more

08.07.2022 | Media Release, Biodiversity and People, TOP NEWS
The following photos show different types of agricultural land use. Here: Grassland near Melleryd, Sweden. (Picture: Sebastian Lakner)

Over 300 scientists make recommendations on how to improve the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy  › more

30.06.2022 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity and People
First author of the study Dr Will Overholt and senior author Prof Kirsten K&uuml;sel taking samples. (Picture: Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena)

Researchers discover microbes in pitch-dark aquifers as important primary producers  › more

29.06.2022 | iDiv Members, Media Release, TOP NEWS
Dr Anton Potapov, head of a new junior research group at iDiv and Leipzig University (Picture: D. Sandmann)

iDiv and Leipzig University get new junior research group: “Soil Biological Diversity and Functions”  › more

24.06.2022 | Media Release, iDiv, TOP NEWS
Gollum from Lord of the Rings (Picture: Denys Korobov/Pixabay)

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

15.06.2022 | Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS
The Jena Experiment, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), started in 2002 and is one of the longest-running biodiversity experiments in Europe. (Picture: Jena Experiment)

Drought-exposure history improves the recovery of grassland communities from subsequent drought  › more

09.06.2022 | Media Release, Experimental Interaction Ecology, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS
Prof Dr Dierck Scheel (Picture: Andreas Stedtler)

Former research director of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biotechnology (IPB) in Halle passed away  › more

07.06.2022 | iDiv Members, iDiv, TOP NEWS
Dr Michael Gerth, head of the new Junior Research Group at iDiv and MLU (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt/iDiv)

Junior Research Group 'Symbiont Evolution' started at iDiv and MLU  › more

06.06.2022 | iDiv, Media Release, Symbiont Evolution, TOP NEWS
The Alpine mountain grasshopper (<em>Miramella alpina</em>) has so far been unaffected by changes in climate and land use. This grasshopper species, which is widespread throughout Europe at higher altitudes, has a stable occurrence in the Bavarian Alps, which has hardly changed in recent decades. (Picture: E. K. Engelhardt / TUM)

40 years of conservation data: Researchers show population trends of native insects   › more

03.06.2022 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity and People
Given the almost complete absence of chimpanzee fossils, the genetic information from current populations is crucial for describing their evolutionary history. (Picture: Pixabay)

New genomic tools shed light on the evolutionary history of chimpanzees and contribute to their conservation  › more

02.06.2022 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Evolutionary and Anthropocene Ecology
Turkey vulture (<em>Cathartes aura</em>) drying under the sunlight in the floodplain <em>v&aacute;rzea forests</em> of Mamirau&aacute; Sustainable Development Reserve (MSDR), Central Amazonia (Picture: Research Group of Felid Ecology and Conservation in Amazonia, Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development (www.mamiraua.org))

Large-scale use of camera trap data can help improve wildlife conservation  › more

01.06.2022 | Theory in Biodiversity Science, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Older siblings may reduce the likelihood that their younger brothers or sisters develop behavioural problems.&nbsp; (Picture: Federica Amici)

If expectant mothers are exposed to stress their child can develop behavioural problems - but less often with siblings  › more

31.05.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members
Gardening can make an important contribution to the population development of plant species. The grape hyacinth (<em>Muscari botryoides</em>) is listed as "vulnerable" on the German Red List, but is often used as an ornamental and has increased its population by 65 percent in recent decades. (Picture: Wikimedia Commons)

Researchers recommend urban conservation gardening measures to reverse horticultural trends  › more

18.05.2022 | TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release
Prof Sch&uuml;cking during the laudation. (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt/iDiv)

Role of the former Rector of Leipzig University for iDiv acknowledged  › more

17.05.2022 | TOP NEWS
Earthworms stimulate microorganisms to produce more stabilised carbon in the soil. (Picture: A. Murray)

Novel concept helps managing soils as a carbon sink  › more

11.05.2022 | Experimental Interaction Ecology, Research, TOP NEWS
Doctoral researchers of the Research Training Group during fieldwork in the BEF-China experiment. (Picture: Rémy Beugnon)

DFG extends funding for the international research training group TreeDì  › more

09.05.2022 | iDiv, Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS
The large, woody fruits of the <em>Manicaria saccifera</em> palm that depend on large animals for their dispersal. (Picture: John Dransfield, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)

Effects of missing large herbivores on food plants still detectable today  › more

29.04.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, Evolution and Adaptation
Geographic distribution of threatened reptiles. Reptile species are considered threatened if ranked as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species&trade;. Species richness refers to the number of different species that occur in an area. Warmer (redder) colors denote a larger number of threatened reptile species.&nbsp; (Picture: Cox, N. and Young, B. E., et al. Global reptile assessment shows commonality of tetrapod conservation needs. Nature (2022))

Reptiles likely benefit from efforts to save other animals  › more

27.04.2022 | TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release
Nature observations by citizen scientists. (Picture: Detlef Metzer)

Presentation of the Strategy and Citizen Science Festival on 29 April in Berlin  › more

26.04.2022 | Media Release, UFZ News, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity and People
<em>Caddisfly larva</em> (Picture: Julia von Gönner)

Nationwide measurement campaign of the citizen science project FLOW starts  › more

12.04.2022 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity and People
From left: Prof Dr Beate A. Sch&uuml;cking, Rector of the University of Leipzig (until March 2022); Burkhard Jung, Mayor of the City of Leipzig; Prof Dr Christian Wirth , award winner; Prof Dr Eva In&eacute;s Obergfell, Rector of the University of Leipzig; Prof Dr Hans Wiesmeth, President of the Saxon Academy of Sciences at Leipzig (Picture: Swen Reichhold, Bild: SAW)

iDiv delighted at award for founding director  › more

07.04.2022 | TOP NEWS, iDiv, iDiv Members, Media Release
Common Brimstone (<em>Gonepteryx rhamni</em>) (Picture: BIOCON/iDiv)

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

31.03.2022 | Biodiversity Conservation, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS
Earthworms are considered essential ecosystem engineers underground. Researchers from iDiv and Leipzig University have now shown that they also play a major role in shaping aboveground communities.&nbsp; (Picture: V. Gutekunst)

Researchers recommend taking underappreciated factors for biodiversity loss into account  › more

30.03.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, Experimental Interaction Ecology
The Leipzig Botanical Garden is one of the institutions that invite interested persons to actively join the citizen science project Pflanze KlimaKultur! (Picture: Christian Hüller)

Botanical gardens invite citizens to explore the effects of climate change on plants  › more

11.03.2022 | Biodiversity and People, TOP NEWS
Different groups of insects, e.g., beetles and butterflies, may show similar abundance trends in one place, but dissimilar trends in other places. The photo shows a longhorn beetle (<em>Leptura quadrifasciata</em>) and a map (<em>Araschnia levana</em>). (Picture: Oliver Thier)

Only weak trend correlations between different insect groups  › more

23.02.2022 | Biodiversity Synthesis, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Collage of plant species that are range-restricted to Europe but threatened in at least one country, with some of them being globally threatened. (Picture: Vlaev, Dimiter in Peev, D. et al. (eds) (2015): Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 1. Plants and Fungi. MoEW & BAS, Sofia [Single inset drawings; compiled by Staude, I.]. http://e-ecodb.bas.bg/rdb/en/)

Study closes gaps in the risk of extinction of plant species  › more

07.02.2022 | Media Release, Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS
Identical twins are jumping from rocks in a forest on hiking in Slovenia. (Picture: _jure / Adobe Photo Stock)

Identical twins’ nature experiences more similar than fraternal twins but local environment also key  › more

03.02.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity and People
The "cry for help" has been demonstrated for the first time in the natural habitat - in the canopy of the Leipzig floodplain forest. (Picture: Steffen Schellhorn)

Chemical "cry for help" from trees verified in a natural habitat for the first time  › more

18.01.2022 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, Molecular Interaction Ecology
The model area Oder Delta (Picture: Solvin Zankl / Rewilding Europe)

BMBF research project starts in the Oder Delta model area  › more

17.01.2022 | iDiv Members, TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity Conservation, UFZ News
(Picture: A. Tille)

Environment ministers from Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia and Saxony discuss regional biodiversity protection measures  › more

14.01.2022 | iDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release
Water ecosystems provide diverse material or immaterial benefits to the people (Picture: Pixabay)

Report by María Felipe-Lucia, Senior Scientist at German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)  › more

04.01.2022 | TOP NEWS, Biodiversity and People
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