Media releases from 2021

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Klimatische Unterschiede verändern die Wuchshöhe von Pflanzenarten entlang der Breitengrade. Die Ökonomie der Pflanzen zeigt diese Gradienten aber nicht. (Picture: S. Michalski)
23.12.2021 | iDiv Members, Media Release, TOP NEWS

New findings could improve scientific Earth system models  › more

Overhanging branch of pedunculate oak due to the 2018 hotter drought. (Picture: Rolf A. Engelmann)
20.12.2021 | TOP NEWS, iDiv Members, Media Release

Decrease in growth due to drought stress in 2018 and 2019  › more

Graphical illustration of tree species responses in mixed-species forests to contrasting climatic conditions. Tree species grow differently in dry (year 2) or wet (year 3) years but this asynchronous growth stabilizes the productivity of the forest community. (Picture: Florian Schnabel)
17.12.2021 | Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS

Species richness stabilises forests against extreme climate conditions  › more

The insect was caught by the researchers and students during an excursion to the floodplain forest. (Picture: Lisa Hahn)
13.12.2021 | TOP NEWS, iDiv, Media Release, iDiv Members

Extremely rare insect species discovered during a field trip  › more

Insects are the focus of several Citizen Science projects. The photo shows a European peacock. (Picture: Gabriele Rada / iDiv)
10.12.2021 | Biodiversity and People, Media Release, TOP NEWS

Cross-country study on the motivation of citizen scientists  › more

In the Alps, plant communities on nutrient-poor sites, such as this calcareous grassland, are increasingly pressured by immigrating nitrophilous species but have not yet been displaced. Species numbers are actually increasing here at present. In the long term, however, they will decline, the researchers assume. (Picture: Harald Pauli/ÖAW)
10.12.2021 | sDiv, TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity Conservation

New study shows: Europe's grasslands, forests and mountain summits are becoming increasingly similar in species composition  › more

Relatively young secondary forest in Costa Rica with similar-sized slender stems. (Picture: Robin Chazdon)
09.12.2021 | sDiv, Media Release, Biodiversity Economics, TOP NEWS

Natural restoration of tropical forests provide large short-term benefits for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation  › more

The autumn spawning herring collapsed towards the end of the 16th century as a result of a combination of overfishing and climate change. (Picture: Aquarium GEOMAR, Jan Steffen)
01.12.2021 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity Economics

Historical sources indicate that overfishing of the Baltic herring began over 500 years ago and continues to have an impact today  › more

Scientists are calling for a new start in efforts to safeguard biodiversity. The photo shows a northern flicker lifting off (<em>Colaptes auratus</em> L.). (Picture: Marten Winter, iDiv)
23.11.2021 | Biodiversity Conservation, Biodiversity and People, TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv, iDiv Members

Scientists propose framework for national-level implementation of global biodiversity goals  › more

The Sirente Velino Regional Park in the Abruzzo region of Italy is home to the endangered and therefore protected Marsican brown bear (<em>Ursus arctos marsicanus</em>). (Picture: Francesco Culicelli / Photo archive of Salviamo l'Orso (https://www.salviamolorso.it))
03.11.2021 | Media Release, Theory in Biodiversity Science, TOP NEWS, Research

New software predicts the movements of large land animals  › more

Most flowering plant species rely on pollinators to reproduce. This is true for the annual daisy species that dominate the spring mass flowering displays in South Africa. Species such as <em>Gorteria diffusa</em>, <em>Dimorphotheca sinuata</em> and <em>Dimorphotheca</em> <em>pluvialis</em> are dependent on pollinators, such as the bee-flies pictured here, for seed production, and on seed for persistence in the system, making them vulnerable to pollinator decline. (Picture: Prof Alan Ellis/Stellenbosch University)
14.10.2021 | Species Interaction Ecology, Media Release, TOP NEWS

Global estimate of the importance of pollinators for seed production in plants  › more

Tropical rainforest in Laos, Southeast Asia - a region where geological dynamics led to very high biodiversity. (Picture: Picture: Oskar Hagen/iDiv)
13.10.2021 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, Evolution and Adaptation

New computer model helps to better understand species diversity in rainforests  › more

Research on traffic accidents currently focuses mainly on carnivore mammals, ungulates, marsupials and turtles. (Picture: Pixabay)
05.10.2021 | Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS, Media Release

Traffic probably poses one of the greatest risks to animal populations. However, we currently know very little about this issue.  › more

The experimental site in Torgnon (Italy), a grassland located at about 2100 m in the Western Italian Alps, and belonging to the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) and FLUXNET network.&nbsp; (Picture: Marta Galvagno)
22.09.2021 | Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS

Study helps to better assess the capacity of global ecosystems to adapt to climate and environmental change  › more

Biodiversity has been steadily declining not only in reality but also in western literature since industralisation. (Picture: Gabriele Rada / iDiv)
17.09.2021 | iDiv, Research, Media Release, TOP NEWS

An extensive analysis of literature suggests that people seem to be increasingly diconnected from nature  › more

The three Minister Presidents and the Secretary-General of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) today opened the new iDiv research building in Leipzig. (Picture: Swen Reichhold/iDiv)
15.09.2021 | Media Release, iDiv, TOP NEWS

Three Minister Presidents pay tribute to international biodiversity research “made in Central Germany”. German Chancellor sends her congratulations  › more

Over the last decade, rewilding has emerged as a pragmatic way of restoring natural processes and enabling wildlife to comeback across European landscapes. (Picture: Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe)
13.09.2021 | Media Release, Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS

Scientists have developed a new way of evaluating rewilding progress  › more

Picture: Staffan Widstrand (Picture: Staffan Widstrand)
06.09.2021 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity and People

Around the world, wildfires are posing major risks to people and nature. Domestic and wild animals can help prevent them  › more

Chimpanzees are found as four subspecies in 21 African countries from the lowlands to mountainous regions of up to 2800 m altitudes. Their evolution was significantly shaped by the ice ages. (Picture: Pixabay)
31.08.2021 | iDiv Members, Evolution and Adaptation, Evolutionary and Anthropocene Ecology, Media Release, TOP NEWS

New models highlight the important role of glacial refugia for the evolution of chimpanzees  › more

Healthy, grown-up trees of the original spruce clones used for the starving experiment (left) and experimental set-up used for CO2-starving and analyzing the spruce seedlings (right). (Picture: MPI-BGC)
09.08.2021 | Media Release, iDiv Members, Molecular Interaction Ecology, TOP NEWS

Spruces even digest parts of themselves during periods of starvation to ensure long-term survival  › more

Prof Josef Settele (Picture: Björn Kray Iversen)
13.07.2021 | Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS

Taxonomists name a new butterfly genus Setteleia  › more

Countries like Australia and Indonesia with their large coastlines contribute a great deal to global CO2 storage and thus also to mitigating the costs of climate damage. Economically, however, they hardly benefit from this. The main beneficiaries here are India, China and the USA. (Picture: Bwe)
09.07.2021 | iDiv Members, Media Release, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Economics

Climate and ecosystem change lead to a global redistribution of wealth  › more

iDiv scientists investigate global biodiversity change and its consequences. (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt, iDiv)
07.07.2021 | Media Release, iDiv, TOP NEWS

iDiv research centre to receive additional millions  › more

The artist group nachbars garten (from left to right: Kay Zimmermann, Enne Haehnle, Elisabeth Howey) together with Prof. Nicole van Dam (iDiv, FSU). (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt / iDiv)
07.07.2021 | iDiv, Media Release, TOP NEWS

The new forecourt of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) in Leipzig invites us to discover, wonder and linger, and arouses interest in the research centre.  › more

The monitoring missions in the FLOW project are supported by the environmental mobiles of S&auml;chsischen Landesstiftung Natur und Umwelt (LaNU). (Picture: Julia von Gönner)
07.07.2021 | Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity and People

BUND, UFZ and iDiv are starting a citizen science project on stream monitoring  › more

(Picture: )
22.06.2021 | TOP NEWS, iDiv Members, sDiv, Media Release, MLU News

sPlotOpen contains vegetation data from 114 countries of all climate zones  › more

<em>Calopteryx virgo</em> breeds in rivers and streams and has been increasing since 1980 in Germany. This increase is reflecting a recovery from the impacts of past water pollution. (Picture: Andre Günther)
18.06.2021 | iDiv, Research, TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity and People

Some dragonfly and damselfly species suffer from habitat loss and degradation, while many species benefit from improved water quality and warmer climate  › more

(Picture: Gabriele Rada / iDiv)
11.06.2021 | TOP NEWS, Species Interaction Ecology, iDiv, Media Release

Exhibition offers insights into the world of plants and their pollinators.  › more

Global warming is leading to increasing water shortages for animals and plants, including our food and energy crops. (Picture: Bluedesign)
10.06.2021 | Experimental Interaction Ecology, Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members

New workshop report on climate and biodiversity offers guidelines for pioneering policies  › more

The specific traits of a plant's roots determine the climatic conditions under which this plant prevails. (Picture: Fly Dragon Fly / Adobe Stock)
09.06.2021 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv, sDiv

New study challenges the nature of ecological trade-offs  › more

Chimpanzees and other African apes could lose up to 94% of their range in the next 30 years. (Picture: Pascal Gagneux/GMERC)
07.06.2021 | Media Release, iDiv Members, Evolutionary and Anthropocene Ecology, TOP NEWS

Researchers predict massive decline in the range of African great apes over the next 30 years  › more

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) (Picture: Trevor Fristoe)
01.06.2021 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv, Research

Patterns and drivers of alien plant species invasiveness in Europe identified by an international research team  › more

The scarce fritillary (<em>Euphydryas maturna</em>) feeds exclusively on ash trees and needs moist, light forests as a habitat. The species scored lowest among the 158 species studied for urban affinity and is likely to continue to decline in Europe. (Picture: Julia Whittman, @birdingjulia CC BY 4.0)
31.05.2021 | Media Release, Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members

Researchers record adaptability of 158 butterfly species to urbanisation  › more

A macaque eats a palm oil fruit on the edge of the plantation.  (Picture: Anna Holzner)
19.05.2021 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv Members

Researchers spent months observing groups of southern pig-tailed macaques  › more

Landscapes such as this multiply used and highly structured agricultural landscape in the Weser Valley, Lower Saxony, fulfil many of the features that are necessary from a scientific perspective. Arable farming, livestock management and biodiversity support each other. (Picture: Sebastian Lakner)
18.05.2021 | Biodiversity and People, Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members

Scientists have made proposals for how EU agriculture could turn the tide in favour of sustainability within the next six years  › more

The Flora Incognita mobile app can help identify plants in the field. In addition, by gathering information on the locations of identified plant species, valuable datasets are created. (Picture: Jana Wäldchen / MPI-BGC)
11.05.2021 | Media Release, Research, TOP NEWS, iDiv

Plant occurrence data collected with an app uncovers macroecological patterns in Germany  › more

The contribution of tree plantations to biodiversity conservation is limited. (Picture: J. C. Lobo / Adobe Stock)
27.04.2021 | Media Release, iDiv, TOP NEWS

Plantations are home to significantly less beetles than old-growth forests.  › more

Plant roots with associated mycorrhizal fungi. (Picture: Super Organism, visual artist Suzette Bousema)
12.04.2021 | Media Release, iDiv, TOP NEWS, Experimental Interaction Ecology

Award will give research collaboration with iDiv an extra boost.  › more

Rice field in Sumatra. (Picture: Nico Boersen, Pixabay)
08.04.2021 | Research, iDiv, TOP NEWS, Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release

Ensuring sustainability of crop and timber production would mitigate the greatest drivers of terrestrial wildlife decline  › more

Especially in regions that are particularly affected by climate change, studies are often missing, for example in the mountains. The American yellow-bellied marmot is one of the few mammals for which the researchers were able to find relevant data. (Picture: Ben Hulsey)
07.04.2021 | Media Release, Species Interaction Ecology, iDiv Members, sDiv, TOP NEWS

Even with well-studied species groups such as mammals, there are huge data gaps  › more

&nbsp;The higher the number of plant and bird species in a region, the healthier the people who live there. Researchers also showed a positive relation of nearby parks and green space and mental health.&nbsp; (Picture: Stefan Bernhardt / iDiv)
31.03.2021 | iDiv, yDiv, TOP NEWS, Research, Media Release

Study on species diversity and human health in Germany shows positive relation on mental health, but no links to physical health.  › more

Short-lived plant species like grasses and herbs (here <em>Arabis fecunda</em>) are likely to suffer much more from future climatic change than long-lived species - less due to higher temperatures, but rather from a lack of water. (Picture: Radmila Savkovic on Pixabay)
23.03.2021 | Media Release, Species Interaction Ecology, iDiv Members, sDiv, TOP NEWS

Researchers investigate for the first time on a global scale how plant populations react to climate change  › more

The genome of the crop plant barley consists of about five billion nucleotides. When the international research team led by the IPK compared the different assemblies to each other, the HiFi assembly performed best. (Picture: Eva Siebenhühner/IPK)
17.03.2021 | Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members

New publication by iDiv member at IPK Leibniz Institute  › more

Chimpanzees recorded by a PanAf camera trap. As the animals were not habituated to human presence, scat samples were used as sources of DNA for the study. (Picture: PanAf/MPI-EVA)
05.03.2021 | Sustainability and Complexity in Ape Habitat, Media Release, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members

A new large-scale study uncovers recent genetic connectivity between chimpanzee subspecies despite past isolation events  › more

Observing animals obviously belongs to those ecosystem services that directly depend on the presence of species. However, these species provide a number of other services, such as pest control, seed dispersal, etc. (Picture: Pixabay)
05.03.2021 | Media Release, Biodiversity Conservation, TOP NEWS, iDiv Members

Biodiversity doesn’t feature enough in large-scale assessments of ecosystem services  › more

Changes in microbial diversity in soils may affect important ecosystem functions like nutrient cycles. (Picture: S. Piyaset - AdobeStock)
24.02.2021 | Media Release, Experimental Interaction Ecology, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS

Global change alters microbial life in soils - and thereby its ecological functions  › more

Plant responses to climate are more complex than previously appreciated (Picture: David Mark, Pixabay)
22.02.2021 | Species Interaction Ecology, TOP NEWS, Media Release, iDiv

Climate drivers outside of the growing season may have stronger effects on plants than previously assumed.  › more

Franziska Bucher and Christine R&ouml;mermann investigate ageing processes in plants. (Picture: Anne Günther (Universität Jena))
26.01.2021 | Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS

Biologists study autumn phenology of herbaceous plants  › more

The global biodiversity strategy is currently being renegotiated (here at the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, Feb. 2020 in Rome) (Picture: IISD/Mike Muzurakis (enb.iisd.org/biodiv/post2020/oewg/2/24feb.html))
26.01.2021 | Biodiversity Conservation, Media Release, iDiv Members, TOP NEWS

Researchers propose necessary corrections in global biodiversity policy  › more

High density of street trees in cities (like here in Leipzig City centre) may help to improve mental health as well as local climate, air quality and species richness. (Picture: Philipp Kirschner)
25.01.2021 | TOP NEWS, Media Release, Biodiversity and People, iDiv Members

Researchers show positive effect of urban nature on mental health  › more

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