Knowledge about insect die-off shows how nature conservation limited to protected areas cannot halt a loss of species diversity in the modern cultural landscape. Besides the traditional focus of species and habitat protection, managed forests, forest edges, hedges, grassland, field fringes and urban green are also needed as habitats, corridors and buffer zones for numerous animal and plant species.
This doctoral project deals with the vegetation from these little noticed ecosystems.
Based on existing data on fauna as well as our own field surveys, we investigate under which usage intensity plant communities are most influenced by the climate, what importance woods have as micro climatic refuges, and to what extent common plants exhibit intra-species climate adaptations. The influence of local and regional plant composition on insect fauna is also examined as part of the doctoral thesis.
Recommendations for targeted optimisation of green infrastructure, landscape conservation, agri-environmental measures and green space design can also be derived from the results.
