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African antelopes seeking for shady places during phases of extreme heat

Keeping cool – how African antelopes respond to the climate crisis

The climate crisis is turning the temperature up all over the world, but in southern Africa, the rise has been particularly concerning. Scientists …
The walk-in sample chamber from the "DynaTrait" project.

Diversity Provides Stability – In the Priority Program “DynaTrait”, biologists combine mathematical models, field studies, and laboratory experiments to explore how nature works

It is comfortably warm and bright in the climate chamber. At first glance, you don’t see that the numerous glass flasks filling the illuminated …
Behavioral experiment with wild rodents.

“We Recognize Animals as Individuals” – Researchers of the University of Potsdam investigate the personalities of wild animals

Jana Anja Eccard knows her mice well. For 27 years, she has been researching the behavior of small rodents in numerous experiments, both in the …
“The three phases of exceptional dynamics: (1) Predation on the unprotected bacteria by predators, (2) toxin formation as cooperative defence and recovery of the bacterial population, (3) filament formation as individual defence through evolution and stabilisation of densities”.

In the end, it’s the individual advantage that counts – Bacteria rely on cooperation and evolution in order to defend themselves against predatory protists

Eating and being eaten is a normal process in nature. These predator–prey dynamics help to stabilise ecosystems. It ensures that individual species do …
Installation of a solar-powered telemetry base station.

With Kudu, Eland, and Springbok – How Wildlife Management Can Help the Savanna

The savanna: individual groups of trees stand picturesquely on wide plains, large herds of wild animals pass by, watched vigilantly by prides of lions …
Prof. Michael Lenhard in the Botanical Garden

To the left or to the right? – Geneticist Prof. Michael Lenhard investigates how plants can tell left from right

In the course of evolution, plants have developed various strategies to prevent self-pollination. The marsh butterfly lily, which originates from …
Data collection with a field spectrometer

Understanding Tipping Points in Savannas – Ecologist Prof. Anja Linstädter Researches How Humans Affect the Development of African Savannas and Grassland

 

Since September 2020, Anja Linstädter has been Professor for Biodiversity Research and Systematic Botany at the University of Potsdam and Director of …
By helicopter through the Canadian Arctic.

When it gets warmer – Species extinction in the Arctic - 9,000 years ago and today

The tundra is turning green. As climate change proceeds, bushes and shrubs are advancing into the barren Arctic regions. It is the same everywhere, …
Prof. Dr. Carsten Beta

Cell Physics in the Land of the Rising Sun – Japanese Research Professorship for Carsten Beta

End of September, Prof. Carsten Beta, biophysicist at the Institute of Physics and Astronomy, will leave for a research stay of several weeks at the …
Prof. Michael Hofreiter

AlterEco – Tracing the Ecological Footprint of the Neanderthal

Humans live large. The rainforest, which is so important for the world, is dwindling, as are the polar caps and the permafrost. The goal, agreed upon …