Welcome to

Plant Ecology

Prof. Dr. Bettina Engelbrecht
Functional and Tropical Plant Ecology

The group examines the mechanisms underlying plant population dynamics and species distributions, and thus community composition, diversity, and ecosystem function.

We use integrative approaches, combining ecophysiological measurements, experiments, vegetation surveys, microclimatic and soil analyses, as well as statistical models, and examine patterns and processes on a variety of spatial scales.

Elucidating the relative importance of different environmental factors for the composition, dynamics and diversity of plant communities is a fundamental requirement for a general understanding of the ecology of plant communities. It is necessary for planning effective strategies to protect biodiversity, as well as ecosystems and their function. This is especially important in the context of global change.