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PD Dr. Niels Blaum

University of Potsdam

Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation
Zeppelinstraße 48 A, Room 1.10
14471 Potsdam

Phone: +49 331 977 1959

blaum@uni-potsdam.de

Education

 2012     Habilitation and Venia legend in Biodiversity research and Animal Ecology, University of Potsdam | Thesis: Dynamics of biodiversity in savannas – from genes to communities

2004      PhD in Ecology, University of Frankfurt/ Main

1999      Diploma Degree in Biology, University of Frankfurt/ Main

1995      Licence in Biology, Université Sophia Antipolis Nice, France

Research interests

Biodiversity dynamics

  • Impacts of land use and climate change on biodiversity dynamics in savannas
  • Gene flow in fragmented savanna landscapes under climate change
  • Importance of biodiversity of ecosystem functions

Movement Ecology 

  • Mobile link functions in unpredictable landscapes
  • Linking animal movement with behaviour, physiology and energetics
  • Wildlife resilience under climate warming

Links

Journal Individual-based Ecology

Journal Cambridge Prisms: Drylands

ORYCS - Option for sustainable land use adaptations in savanna systems: Chances and risks of emerging wildlife-based management strategies under regional and global change.

BioMove

BBIB

Individual-based-ecology

OPTIMASS - Options for sustainable geo-biosphere feedback management in savanna systems under regional and global change

BIOTA Africa

Publications

Books, book chapters and other publications (selection)

2026

Alston JM, Fleming CH, Noonan MJ, Tucker MA, Silva I, Folta C, Akre TS, Ali AH, Belant JL, Beyer D, Blaum N, … , Fagan WF, Müller T & Calabrese JM. (2026). Clarifying space use concepts in ecology: range vs. occurrence distributions Ecology 107: e70300. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.70300.

Franke BH, Schipper AM, Avgar T, Börger L, Chatterjee N, Müller T, Smith BJ, Abrahms B, Ali AH, Attias NA, Bartlam-Brooks HL, Belant JL, Beyer DE, Blaum N, Brown MB, Buuveibaatar B, Cagnacci F, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Dejid N, . . .  Tucker MA (2026). Local and Landscape-Level Environmental Conditions Drive Habitat Selection Across Terrestrial Mammal Species. Global Ecology and Biogeography 35: e70212. doi.org/10.1111/geb.70212

Galland W, Cantarel AAM, Barot S, Lata JC, Delort A, … Blaum N, Coetsee C, Geißler K, …, Yé L, Le Roux X & Florio A (2026). The influence of tropical grass species on soil nitrification and denitrification across savanna ecosystems. Geoderma 469: 117788. doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117788.

Rahmanian S, Eisenhauer N, Huang Y … Blaum N, … & Maestre FT (2026). Abiotic and biotic controls of non-native perennial plant success in drylands. Nature Ecology & Evolution 10. doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02971-6

Kürschner T, Blaum N & Kramer-Schadt (2026). Reconciling dynamic epidemiological models with long-term outbreak data: The case of Classical Swine Fever in Germany. Ecosphere 17:e70539. doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70539

2025

Berry P, Kraus AP, Pohle J, Hering R & Blaum N (2025). Applying accelerometer-based behaviour classification to antelope–fence encounters in an African savanna. Cambridge Prisms: Drylands, 2, e18, 1–11 https://doi.org/10.1017/dry.2025.10012

Berry P, Dammhahn M, Hauptfleisch M, Hering R & Blaum N (2025). Environmental cues and individuality shape diel and seasonal antelope behaviour in African drylands. Movement Ecology 13: 77. Doi.org/10.1186/s40462-025-00604-y

Fronville T, Blaum N, Jeltsch F, Kramer-Schadt S & Radchuk V (2025). Considering landscape heterogeneity improves the inference of inter-individual interactions from movement data. Movement Ecology 13:41 doi.org/10.1186/s40462-025-00567-0

Grabow M, Mang S, Blaum N, Tiedemann R, Radchuk V & Kramer-Schadt S (2025). Subtle stressors—Strong responses. Consistent negative effects of avian blood parasites on phenotypic and demographic traits across songbirds. Journal of Animal Ecology 94: 1908-1921. doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.70106

Grabow M, Landgraf C, Niedballa J, Scholz C, Pufelski J, Nathan R, Toledo S, Jeltsch F, Blaum N, Radchuk V, Tiedemann R & Kramer-Schadt S (2025). Pathogen-induced alterations in fine-scale movement behaviour predict impaired reproductive success Proc. R. Soc. B.29220250238. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2025.0238

Hibler S, Kiffner C, König HJ, Blaum N, & Ostermann-Miyashita E-F (2025). Stakeholder-driven management strategies for recovering large herbivores. Conservation Science and Practice 7:e70068. doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70068

Kunkun F, Maestre F, Chuh H, Saez-Sandino T et al. Blaum N, et al. & Delgado-Baquerizo M (accepted). Decoupling of soil and leaf mycobiomes across global drylands. Science Advances.

Jeltsch F, Roeleke M, Abdelfattah A, Arlinghaus R, Berg G, Blaum N, De Meester L, Dittmann E, Eccard JA, Fournier B, Gaedke U, Gallagher C, Govaert L, Hauber M, Jeschke JM, Kramer-Schadt S, Linstädter A, Lucke U, Mazza V, Metzler R, Nendel C, Radchuk V, Rillig MC, Ryo M, Scheiter K, Tiedemann R, Tietjen B, Voigt CC, Weithoff G, Wolinska J, Zurell D (2025) The need for an individual-based global change ecology. Individual-based Ecology 1: e148200. doi.org/10.3897/ibe.1.148200

Marquart A, Geissler K & Blaum N (2025). Estimation of savanna rangeland productivity: Linking allometric traits to above-ground biomass of palatable grass species in sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Arid Environments 229. doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2025.105380

Smit, IC, le Roux PC, Soliveres D, …, Blaum N, … & Maestre F (2025). Plant Trait Matching Occurs in Facilitative Interactions Across Global Drylands. Global Ecology and Biogeography 34: e70158. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70158.

2024

Berry P, Dammhahn M, Hauptfleisch M, Hering R, Jansen J, Kraus A & Blaum N (2024). African Dryland Antelope Trade-off Behaviours in Response to Heat Extremes. Ecology and Evolution. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11455

Biancari L, Aguiar MR, Eldridge DJ et al., Blaum N et al. & Maestre FT (2024). Drivers of woody dominance across global drylands. Science Advances 10, eadn6007. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn6007

Díaz-Martinez P, Maeste F, Moreno-Jiminéz E, et al. Blaum N, et al., Plaza C. (2024). Vulnerability of mineral-associated soil organic carbon to climate across global drylands. Nature Climate Change: doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02087-y

Eldridge DJ, et al., Blaum N, et al. (2024). Hotspots of biogeochemical activity linked to aridity and plant traits across global drylands. Nature Plants 10: 760-770.

Fronville T, Kramer-Schadt S, Blaum N, Schlägel U & Radchuk V (2024). Performance of five statistical methods to infer interactions among moving individuals in a predator-prey system. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14323

Geißler K, Blaum N, von Maltitz GP, Smith T, Bookhagen B, Wanke H, Hipondoka M, Hamunyelae E, Lohmann D, Lüdtke DU, Mbidzio M, Rauchecker M, Hering R, Irob K, Tietjen B, Marquart A, Shosana FV, Herkenrath T & Uugulu S(2024). Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions in Southern African Savanna Rangelands: Threats, Impacts and Solutions. In: Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change. Editors GP von Maltitz, GF Midgley, J Veitch, C Brümmer, RP Rötter, FA Viehberg, M Veste Springer Ecological Studies 248: 407-438. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5

Grabow M, et al., Blaum N, et al. & Kramer-Schadt S (2024). Sick without signs. Subclinical infections reduce local movements, alter habitat selection, and cause demographic shifts. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07114-4

Gross N, Maestre FT, Liancourt P, et al., Blaum N, et al & Bagousse-Pinguet Y. (2024) Unforeseen plant phenotypic diversity in a dry and grazed world. Nature 632: 808-814. doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07731-3

Hauptfleisch M, Blaum N, Liehr S, Hering R, Kraus R, Tausendfreund M, Cimenti A, Lüdtke D, Rauchecker M & Uiseb K (2024). Trends and Barriers to Wildlife-Based Options for Sustainable Management of Savanna Resources: The Namibian Case. In: Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change. Editors GP von Maltitz, GF Midgley, J Veitch, C Brümmer, RP Rötter, FA Viehberg, M Veste Springer Ecological Studies 248: 499-525. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_18

Herkenrath T, Blaum N, Roth J, Shilula K & Geissler K (2024). Hungry herbivores and thirsty plants: Browsing wildlife shape savanna tree transpiration independently of water use strategies. Functional Ecology. doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14499

Irob K, Blaum N & Tietjen B (2024). Navigating uncertainty: Managing herbivore communities enhances Savanna ecosystem resilience under climate change. Journal of Applied Ecology. doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14573

Kürschner T, Scherer CP, Radchuk V, Blaum N & Kramer-Schadt S. (2024). Resource asynchrony and landscape homogenization as drivers of virulence evolution: the case of a directly transmitted disease in a social host. Ecology and Evolution. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11065

Stiegler J, Gallagher CA, Hering R, Müller T, Tucker M, et al. & Blaum N (2024) Mammals show faster recovery from capture and tagging in human-disturbed landscapes. Nature Communications 15: 8079. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52381-8

2023

Berry P, Dammhahn M & Blaum N (2023). Keeping cool on hot days: Activity responses of African antelope to heat extremes. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1172303

Hendler R, Herkenrath T, Shikangalah R, Blaum N & Geissler K (2023). Allometric relationships between sapwood area and shrub dimensions for 6 common Southern African savanna bush encroachers: universal or species-specific? Ecohydrology. doi.org/10.1002/eco.2609

Irob K, Blaum N, Weiss-Aparicio A, Hauptfleisch M, Hering R, Uiseb K, Tietjen B (2023). Savanna resilience to droughts increases with the proportion of browsing wild herbivores and plant functional diversity. Journal of Applied Ecology 60: 251-262. doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.14351.

Luetkemeier R Kraus RA, Mbidzo M, Hauptfleisch M, Liehr S & Blaum N (2023). A qualitative exploration of conflicts in human-wildlife interactions in Namibia’s Kunene Region. Diversity 15: 440. doi.org/10.3390/d15030440

Meyer PG, Cherstvy AG, Seckler H, Hering R, Blaum N, Jeltsch F & Metzler R (2023). Directedness, correlations, and daily cycles in springbok motion: From data via stochastic models to movement prediction. Physical Review Research 5, 043129

Stiegler J, Pahl J, Guillen RA, Ullmann W & Blaum N (2023). The Heat is On: Impacts of Rising Temperature on the Activity of a Common European Mammal. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1193861

Tucker M, Schipper AM, Adams TSF, et al Blaum N, et al & Müller T (2023) Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns. Science 380: 1059-1064. doi: 10.1126/science.abo6499

Ullmann W, Fischer C, Kramer-Schadt S, Pirhofer-Walzl K, Eccard JA, Wevers JP, Hadert A, Sliwinski K, Crawford MS, Glemnitz M & Blaum N (2023). The secret life of wild animals revealed by accelerometer data: how landscape diversity and seasonality influence the behavioural types of European hares. Landscape Ecology. doi.org/10.1007/s10980-023-01765-0

2022

Maestre FT, Bagousse-Pinguet YL, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Eldridge DJ, Saiz H, Berdugo M, Gozalo B, Ochoa V, Guirado E, García-Gómez M, Valencia E, Gaitán JJ, Asensio S, Mendoza BJ, Plaza C, Díaz-Martínez P, Rey A, Hu HW, He JZ, Wang JT, Lehmann A, Rillig MC, Cesarz S, Eisenhauer N, Martínez-Valderrama J, Moreno-Jiménez E, Sala O, Abedi M, Ahmadian N, Alados CL, Aramayo V, Amghar F, Arredondo T, Ahumada RJ, Bahalkeh K, Salem FB, Blaum N, Boldgiv B, Bowker MA, Bran D, Bu C, Canessa R, Castillo-Monroy AP, Castro H, Castro I, Castro-Quezada P, Chibani R, Conceição AA, Currier CM, Darrouzet-Nardi A, Deák B, Donoso DA, Dougill AJ, Durán J, Erdenetsetseg B, Espinosa CI, Fajardo A, Farzam M, Ferrante D, Frank ASK, Fraser LH, Gherardi LA, Greenville AC, Guerra CA, Gusmán-Montalvan E, Hernández-Hernández RM, Hölzel N, Huber-Sannwald E, Hughes FM, Jadán-Maza O, Jeltsch F, Jentsch A, Kaseke KF, Köbel M, Koopman JE, Leder CV, Linstädter A, Liu J, Louw MA, Maggs-Kölling G, Makhalanyane TP, Issa OM, Manzaneda AJ, Marais E, Mora JP, Moreno G, Munson SM, Nunes A, Oliva G, Oñatibia GR, Peter G, Pivari MOD, Pueyo Y, Quiroga RE, Rahmanian S, Reed SC, Rey PJ, Richard B, Rodríguez A, Rolo V, Rubalcaba JG, Ruppert JC, Salah A, Schuchardt MA, Spann A, Stavi I, Stephens CRA, Swemmer AM, Teixido AL, Thomas AD, Throop HL, Tielbörger K, Travers A, Val J, Valkó O, Wamiti W, Wang D, Wang L, Wardle GM, Yahdjian L, Zaady E, Zhang Y, Zhou X, Singh BK, & Gross N. (2022). Grazing and ecosystem service delivery in global drylands. Science 387: 915-920.

Mayer M, Fischer C & Blaum N & Sunde P & Ullmann W (2022). Influence of roads on space use by European hares in different landscapes. Landscape Ecology doi: 10.1007/s10980-022-01552-3.

Hering R, Hauptfleisch M, Kramer-Schadt S, Stiegler J & Blaum N (2022). Effects of fences and fence-gaps on the movement behavior of three southern African antelope species. Frontiers in Conservation Science. doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2022.959423

Stiegler J, Lins A, Dammhahn M, Kramer-Schadt S, Ortmann S & Blaum N (2022). Personality drives activity and space use in a mammalian herbivore. Movement Ecology 10:33.

Heinze J, Krumpholz L, Blaum N, Hoefgen R & Ogden M (2022). Shoot herbivory by grasshoppers has stronger effects on root morphology than clipping. Plant Ecology. doi: 10.1007/s11258-022-01259-0

Hering R, Hauptfleisch M, Jago M, Smith T, Kramer-Schadt S, Stiegler J & Blaum N (2022). Don't stop me now: Managed fence gaps could allow migratory ungulates to track dynamic resources and reduce fence related energy loss. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2022.907079

Reinhard J, Geissler K & Blaum N (2022). Grass and ground dwelling beetle community responses to holistic and wildlife grazing management using a cross-fence comparison in Western Kalahari rangeland, Namibia. Journal of Insect Conservation 26: 711-720. doi: 10.1007/s10841-022-00410-6

Broekman MJE, Hilbers JP, Mark A. J. Huijbregts, Mueller T, Ali AH, Andrén H, Altmann J, Aronsson M, Attias N, Bartlam-Brooks HLA, van Beest FM, Belant JL, Beyer DE, Bidner L, Blaum N, Boone RB, Boyce MS, Brown MB, Cagnacci F, Černe R, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Dejid N, Dekker J, Desbiez ALJ, Díaz-Muñoz SL, Fennessy J, Fichtel C, Fischer C, Fisher JT, Fischhoff I, Ford AT, Fryxell JM, Gehr B, Goheen JR, Hauptfleisch M, Hewison AJM, Hering R, Heurich M, Isbell LA, Janssen R, Jeltsch F, Kaczensky P, Kappeler PM, Krofel M, LaPoint S, Latham ADM, Linnell JDC, Markham AC, Mattisson J, Medici EP, de Miranda Mourão G, Van Moorter B, Morato RG, Morellet N, Mysterud A, Mwiu S, Odden J, Olson KA, Ornicāns A, Pagon N, Panzacchi M, Persson J, Petroelje T, Rolandsen CM, Roshier D, Rubenstein DI, Saïd S, Salemgareyev AR, Sawyer H, Schmidt NM, Selva N, Sergiel A, Stabach J, Stacy-Dawes J, Stewart FEC, Stiegler J, Strand O, Sundaresan S, Svoboda NJ, Ullmann W, Voigt U, Wall J, Wikelski M, Wilmers CC, Zięba F, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Schipper AM &Tucker MA(2022). Evaluating expert-based habitat suitability information of terrestrial mammals with GPS-tracking data. Global Ecology and Biogeography 31: 1526-1541. doi: 10.1111/geb.13523

Irob K, Blaum N, Baldauf S, Kerger L, Kanduvarisa A, Strohbach B, Lohmann D, TietjenB (2022). Browsing herbivores improve the state and functioning of savannas: a model assessment of alternative land use strategies. Ecology and Evolution. doi/10.1002/ece3.8715

2021

Kuerschner T, Scherer C, Radchuk V, Blaum N, & Kramer-Schadt S (2021). Movement can mediate temporal mismatches between resource availability and biological events in host-pathogen interactions. Ecology and Evolution 10: 5728-5741.

Stiegler J, Kiemel K, Eccard J, Fischer C, Hering R, Ortmann S, Strigl L, Tiedemann R, Ullmann W & Blaum N (2021). Seed traits matter – endozoochoric dispersal through a pervasive mobile linker. Ecology and Evolution 11: 18477-18491. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8440

2020

Marquart A, Eldridge DJ, Geissler K, Lobas C & Blaum N (2020). Interconnected effects of shrubs, invertebrate‐derived macropores and soil texture on water infiltration in a semi‐arid savanna rangeland. Land Degradation and Development. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.3598.

Marquart A, Geissler K, Heblack J, Lobas C, Münch E & Blaum N (2020). Individual shrubs, large scale grass cover and seasonal rainfall explain invertebrate-derived macropore density in a semi-arid Namibian savanna. Journal of Arid Environments 176: 104101.

Marquart A, Goldbach L & Blaum N (2020) Soil-texture affects the influence of termite macropores on soil water infiltration in a semi-arid savanna. Ecohydrology. DOI: 10.1002/eco.2249

Noonan MJ, Fleming CH,Tucker MA, Kays R, Harrison AL, Crofoot MC, Abrahms B, Alberts CS, Ali AH, Altmann J, Antunes PC, Attias N, Belant JL, Beyer Jr DE, Bidner LR, Blaum N, Boone RB, Caillaud D, de Paula CR, de la Torre JA, Dekker J, DePerno CS, Farhadinia M, Fennessy J, Fichtel C, Fischer C, Ford A, Goheen JR, Havmøller RW, Hirsch BT, Hurtado C, Isbell LA, Janssen R, Jeltsch F, Kaczensky P, Kaneko Y, Kappeler P, Katna A, Kauffman M, Koch F, Kulkarni A, LaPoint S, Leimgruber P, Macdonald DW, Markham AC, McMahon L, Mertes K, Moorman CE, Morato RG, Moßbrucker AM, Mourão G, O’Connor D, Oliveira-Santos LGR, Pastorini J, Patterson BD, Rachlow J, Ranglack DH, Reid N, Scantlebury DW, Scott DM, Selva N, Sergiel A, Songer M, Songsasen N, Stabach JA, Stacy-Dawes J, Swingen MB, Thompson JJ, Ullmann W, Vanak AT, Thaker M, Wilson JW, Yamazaki K, Yarnell RW, Zieba F, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Fagan WF, Mueller T, & Calabrese JM (2020). Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements. Conservation Biology DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13495

Schlägel UE, Grimm V, Blaum N, Colangeli P, Dammhahn M, Eccard JA, Hausmann SL, Herde A, Hofer H, Joshi J, Kramer‐Schadt S, Litwin M, Lozada‐Gobilard SD, Müller MEH, Müller T, Nathan R, Petermann JA, Pirhofer‐Walzl K, Radchuk V, Rillig MC, Roeleke M, Schäfer M, Scherer C, Schiro G, Scholz C, Teckentrup L, Tiedemann R, Ullmann W, Voigt C, Weithoff G & Jeltsch F (2020). Movement‐mediated community assembly and coexistence. Biological Reviews 96: 1073-1096.

Ullmann W, Fischer C, Kramer-Schadt S, Pirhofer-Walzl K, Glemnitz M & Blaum N (2020). How do agricultural practices affect the movement behaviour of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus)? Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 292: 106819.

2019

Mayer M, Ullmann W, Fischer C & Blaum N & Sunde P (2019). Seasonal effects of habitat structure and weather on the habitat selection and home range size of a mammal in agricultural landscapes. Landscape Ecology 34: 2279-2294.

Marquart A, Eldridge DJ, Travers SK, Val J & Blaum N (2019). Large shrubs partly compensate negative effects of grazing on hydrological function in a semi-arid savanna. Basic and Applied Ecology 38: 58-68.

Geissler K, Hahn C, Joubert D & Blaum N (2019). Functional responses of the herbaceous plant community explain ecohydrological impacts of savanna shrub encroachment. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 39: 10.1016/j.ppees.2019.125458.

Geissler K, Heblack J, Uugulu S, Wanke H & Blaum N (2019). Partitioning of water between differently sized shrubs and potential groundwater recharge in a semiarid savanna in Namibia. Frontiers in Plant Science. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01411

Noonan MJ, Tucker MA, Fleming CH, Akre T, Alberts SC, Ali AH, Altmann J, Antunes PC, Belant JL, Berens D, Beyer D, Blaum N, Böhning-Gaese K, Cullen Jr L, de Paula CH, Dekker J, Drescher-Lehman J, Farwig N, Fichtel C, Fischer C, Ford A, Goheen JR, Janssen R, Jeltsch F, Kauman M, Kappeler P, Koch F, LaPoint S, Markham AC, Medici EP, Morato RG, Nathan R, Gustavo L Oliveira-Santos R, Olson KR, Patterson BD, Paviolo A, Ramalho EE, Roesner S, Selva N, Sergiel A, Silva MC, Spiegel O, Thompson P, Ullmann W, Zieba F, Zwijacz-Kozica T, Fagan WF, Mueller T, Calabrese JM (2019). A comprehensive analysis of autocorrelation and bias in home range estimation. Ecological Monographs 89: e01344.

Hering R, Hauptfleisch M, Geißler K, Marquart A, Schoenen M & Blaum N (2019). Shrub encroachment is not always land degradation: Insights from ground dwelling beetle species niches along a shrub cover gradient in a semi-arid Namibian savanna. Land Degradation and Development 30: 14-27.

Reinhard J, Geissler K & Blaum N (2019). Short-term responses of darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to the effects of fire and grazing in savannah rangeland. Insect Conservation and Diversity 12: 39-48.

Scherer C, Radchuk V Staubach C, Mueller S, Blaum N, Thulke HH & Kramer-Schadt S (2019). Seasonal host life-history processes fuel disease dynamics at different spatial scales. Journal of Animal Ecology: doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13070.

2018

Mayer M, Ullmann W, Sunde P, Fischer C. & Blaum N (2018). Habitat selection by the European hare in arable landscapes: The importance of small-scale habitat structure for conservation. Ecology and Evolution 23:11619-11633.

Stanton R Jr, Boone WW IV, Soto-Shoender J, Fletcher RJ Jr, Blaum N & McCleery RM (2018). Shrub encroachment and vertebrate diversity: a global meta-analysis. Global Ecology and Biogeography 27: 368-379.

Synodinos AD, Eldridge D, Geißler K, Jeltsch F, Lohmann D, Midgley G & Blaum N (2018). Remotely sensed canopy height reveals three pantropical ecosystem states: comment. Ecology 99: 231-234.

Tabares X, Mapani B, Blaum N & Herzschuh U (2018). Composition and diversity of vegetation and pollen spectra along gradients of grazing intensity and precipitation in southern Africa. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 253: 88-100.

Tucker M, et al., Blaum N, et al. & Mueller T (2018). Moving in the Anthropocene: Global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements. Science 359: 466-469.

Ullmann W, Fischer C, Pirhofer-Walzl K, Kramer-Schadt S & Blaum N (2018). Spatiotemporal variability in resources affects herbivore home range formation in structurally contrasting and unpredictable agricultural landscapes. Landscape Ecology 33: 1505-1517.

2017

Hauptfleisch ML, Vinte MP & Blaum N (2017). A comparison of the community dynamics of bioturbating small mammals between livestock and wildlife farming areas in the Kalahari, Namibia. Namibian Journal of Environment 1: 34-39.

Shikangalah RN, Mueller EN, Jeltsch F & Blaum N (2017). Quantification of areal extent of soil erosion in dryland urban areas: an example from Windhoek, Namibia. Cities and the Environment (CATE) 10: Article 8.

2016

Shikangalah RN, Jeltsch F, Blaum N & Mueller EN (2016). A review on urban soil water erosion. Journal for studies in humanities and social sciences 5: 163-178.

Scherer C, Jeltsch F, Grimm V & Blaum N (2016). Merging trait-based and individual-based modelling: an animal functional type approach to explore the responses of birds to climatic and land use changes in semi-arid African savannas. Ecological Modelling 326: 75-89.

Luft L, Neumann C, Itzerott S, Lausch A, Doktor D, Freude M, Blaum N & Jeltsch F. (2016). Digital and real-habitat modeling of Hipparchia statilinus based on hyper spectral remote sensing data. Interna­tional Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 13: 187-200.

2014

Luft L, Naumann C, Freude M, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2014). Hyperspectral modeling of ecological indica­tors. A new approach for monitoring former military training areas. Ecological Indicators 46: 264-285.

Lohmann D, Tietjen B, Blaum N, Joubert DF & Jeltsch F (2014). Prescribed fire as a tool for managing shrub encroachment in semi-arid savanna rangelands. Journal of Arid Environments 107: 49-56.

Lohmann D, Falk, T, Geissler K, Blaum N & Jeltsch F. Determinants of semi-arid rangeland management in a land reform setting in Namibia (2014). Journal of Arid Environments 100: 23-30.

2013

Jeltsch F, Bonte D, Pe'er G, Reineking B, Leimgruber P, Balkenhohl N, Schröder B, Buchmann CM, Mueller T, Blaum N, Zurell D, Böhning-Gaese K, Wiegand T, Eccard J, Hofer H, Reeg J, Eggers U & Bauer S (2013). Integrating movement ecology with biodiversity research - exploring new avenues to address spatiotemporal biodiversity dynamics. Movement Ecology 1:6.

Jeltsch F, Blaum N, Brose U, Chipperfield JD, Clough Y, Farwig N, Geissler K, Graham CH, Grimm V, Hickler T, Huth A, May F, Meyer KM, Pagel J, Reineking B, Rillig MC, Shea K, Schurr FM, Schröder B, Tielbörger K, Weiss L, Wiegand K, Wiegand T, Wirth C, Zurell D (2013). How can we bring together empiricists and modellers in functional biodiversity research? Basic and Applied Ecology 14: 93-101.

2012

Lohmann D, Tietjen B, Blaum N, Joubert DF & Jeltsch F (2012) Shifting thresholds and changing degradation patterns: climate change effects on the simulated long-term response of a semi-arid savanna to grazing. Journal of Applied Ecology 49: 814-823.

Blaum N, Schwager M, Wichmann MC & Rossmanith E (2012). Climate induced changes in matrix suitability explain gene flow in a fragmented landscape – the effect of interannual rainfall variability. Ecography 35: 650-660.

Blumröder J, Eccard J & Blaum N (2012). Behavioural flexibility in foraging mode of the spotted sand lizard (Pedioplanis l. lineoocellata) seems to buffer negative impacts of savanna degradation Journal of Arid Environments 77: 149-152.

2011

Jeltsch F, Moloney KA, Schwager M, Körner K & Blaum N (2011). Consequences of correlations between climatic and landscape changes for regional species survival. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 145: 49-58.

Blaum N, Mosner E, Schwager M & Jeltsch F (2011). How functional is functional – ecological groupings in terrestrial animal ecology: towards an animal functional type approach. Biodiversity and Conservation 20: 2333-2345.

Wasiolka B & Blaum N (2011). Comparing biodiversity between protected savanna and adjacent non-protected farmland in the southern Kalahari.  Journal of Arid Environments 75: 836-841.

Kuechly H, Mueller JS, Reinfelder VL, Wiedemann S & Blaum N (2011). Rodent mediated dispersal of Acacia seeds in Kalahari savannah rangelands – implications for bush encroachment. African Journal of Ecology 49: 119-121

2010

Wasiolka B, Jeltsch F, Henschel J & Blaum N (2010). Space use of the Spotted Sand Lizard (Pedioplanis l. lineoocellata) under different degradation states. African Journal of Ecology 48: 96-104.

2009

Popp A, Vogel M, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2009). Scaling up ecohydrological processes - the role of source-sink systems in water limited landscapes. Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences 114: 1-10.

Meyer J, Kohnen A, Durka W, Wöstemeyer J, Blaum N, Rossmanith E & Brandl R (2009). Genetic structure in the hairy-footed gerbil Gerbillurus paeba: sex specific dispersal? Mammalian Biology 74: 478-487.

Popp A, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2009). Ecohydrological feedback mechanisms in arid rangelands: Simulating the impacts of topography and land use. Basic & Applied Ecology 10: 319-329.

Blaum N, Seymour C, Rossmanith E, Schwager M & Jeltsch F (2009). Changes in arthropod diversity along a land use driven gradient of shrub cover in the southern Kalahari: Identification of suitable indicators. Biodiversity & Conservation 18:1187-1199.

Wasiolka B, Blaum N, Jeltsch F & Henschel J (2009). Behavioral responses of the lizard Pedioplanis l. lineoocellata to overgrazing. Acta Oecologica 35: 157-162.

Blaum N, Tietjen B & Rossmanith, E (2009). The impact of livestock husbandry on small and medium sized carnivores in Kalahari savannah rangelands. Journal of Wildlife Management 73: 60-67.

Popp A, Domptail S, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2009). Landuse experience does qualify for adaptation to climate change. Ecological Modelling 220: 694-702.

Rossmanith E, Blaum N, Höntsch K, and Jeltsch F (2009). Sex-related parental care strategies in the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor): of flexible mothers and dependable fathers. Journal of Avian Biology 40: 28-33.

2008

Blaum N (2008). Seasonal differences in spatial distribution of small carnivores in fragmented savannah landscapes. African Journal of Ecology 46: 702-705.

Schwager M, Covas R, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2008). Predicting climate change effects across scales - comparing a 'population model' and a 'space for time' approach. Oikos 117: 1417-1427.

Blaum N, Engeman RM, Wasiolka B & Rossmanith E (2008). Indexing small mammalian carnivores in the southern Kalahari, South Africa. Wildlife Research 35: 72-79.

Thiele T, Jeltsch F & Blaum N (2008). Importance of woody vegetation for foraging site selection in the Southern Pied Babbler (Turdoides bicolor) under two different land use regimes. Journal of Arid Environments 72: 471-482.

2007

Blaum N & Wichmann M (2007). Short term transformation of matrix into hospitable habitat facilitates gene flow and mitigates fragmentation. Journal of Animal Ecology 76: 1116-1127.

Popp A, Schwager M, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2007). Structural diversity predicts the occurrence of the yellow mongoose under shrub encroachment in a semi-arid savanna. Ecological Modelling 209: 136-148.

Blaum N, Rossmanith E, Schwager M & Jeltsch F (2007). Responses of mammalian carnivores to land use in arid Kalahari rangelands. Basic & Applied Ecology 8: 552-564.

Rossmanith E, Höntsch K, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2007). Reproductive success and nestling diet in the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Journal of Ornithology 148: 323-332.

Blaum N, Rossmanith E & Jeltsch F (2007). Land use affects rodent communities in Kalahari savannah rangelands. African Journal of Ecology 45: 189-195.

Rossmanith E, Blaum N, Grimm V & Jeltsch F (2007). Pattern-oriented modelling for estimating unknown pre-breeding survival rates: the case of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor). Biological Conservation 135: 571-580.

Blaum N, Rossmanith E, Fleissner G & Jeltsch F (2007). The conflicting importance of shrubby landscape structures for the reproductive success of the yellow mongoose (Cynictis penicillata). Journal of Mammalogy 88: 194-200.

Blaum N, Rossmanith E, Popp A & Jeltsch F (2007). Shrub encroachment affects mammalian carnivore abundance in arid rangelands. Acta Oecologica 31: 86-92.

2006 and before

Rossmanith E, Grimm V, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2006). Behavioural flexibility in the mating system buffers population extinction: lessons from the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor). Journal of Animal Ecology 75: 540-548.

Tews J, Blaum N & Jeltsch F (2004). Structural and animal species diversity in arid and semi-arid savannas of the southern Kalahari. Annals of Arid Zone 42: 1-13.2016

Books, book chapters and other publications (selection)

  • Dreber, N & Blaum, N (2016): Verbuschung afrikanischer Savannen: Eine Gefährdung für die Artenvielfalt? In: Lozán, J.L., Breckle, S.-W., Müller, R., Rachor, E. (Eds.): Warnsignal Klima: Die Biodiversität: pp. 210-215. Wissenschaftliche Auswertungen, Hamburg. doi: 10.2312/warnsignal.klima.die-Biodiversität.34.
  • Blaum N & Rossmanith E (2010). Shrub pattern affects reproductive success in the Yellow Mongoose (Cynictis penicillata). – In: Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N. [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale: pp. 184–187, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek.
  • Jeltsch F & Blaum N (2010). The role of models in biodiversity observation schemes. – In: Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N. [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale: pp. 272–273, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek.
  • Blaum N, Rossmanith E, Popp A, Schwager M, Steinhäuser J, Wichmann M & Jeltsch F (2010): Modelling animal responses to changes in climate and landuse. – In: Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N. [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale: pp. 283–288, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek.
  • Blaum N, Lohmann D, Rossmanith E, Schütze S, Schwager M, Steinhäuser J, Tews J, Wichmann M & Jeltsch F (2010). Model-based simulation tools. – In: Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N. [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 2: Patterns and processes at regional scale: pp. 302–306, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek.
  • Geißler K, Blaum N, von Maltitz GP, Smith T, Bookhagen B, Wanke H, Hipondoka M, Hamunyelae E, Lohmann D, Lüdtke DU, Mbidzio M, Rauchecker M, Hering R, Irob K, Tietjen B, Marquart A, Shosana FV, Herkenrath T & Uugulu S (2024). Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions in Southern African Savanna Rangelands: Threats, Impacts and Solutions. In: Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change. Editors GP von Maltitz, GF Midgley, J Veitch, C Brümmer, RP Rötter, FA Viehberg, M Veste Springer Ecological Studies 248: 407-438. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5
  • Hauptfleisch M, Blaum N, Liehr S, Hering R, Kraus R, Tausendfreund M, Cimenti A, Lüdtke D, Rauchecker M & Uiseb K (2024). Trends and Barriers to Wildlife-Based Options for Sustainable Management of Savanna Resources: The Namibian Case. In: Sustainability of Southern African Ecosystems under Global Change. Editors GP von Maltitz, GF Midgley, J Veitch, C Brümmer, RP Rötter, FA Viehberg, M Veste Springer Ecological Studies 248: 499-525. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10948-5_18
  • Jeltsch F, Blaum N, Classen N, Eschenbach A, Grohmann C, Gröngröft A, Joubert DF, Horn A, Lohmann D, Linsenmair KE, Lück-Vogel M, Medinski TV, Meyfarth S, Mills A, Petersen A, Popp A, Poschlod P, Reisch C, Rossmanith E, Rubilar H, Schütze S, Seymour C, Simmons R, Smit GN, Strohbach M, Tews J, Tietjen B, Wesuls D, Wichmann M, Wieczorek M, & Zimmermann I (2010). Impacts of landuse and climate change on the dynamics and biodiversity in the Thornbush Savanna Biome. – In: Hoffman, M. T., Schmiedel, U., Jürgens, N. [Eds.]: Biodiversity in southern Africa. Volume 3: Implications for landuse and management: pp. 33–74, Klaus Hess Publishers, Göttingen & Windhoek.
  • Wasiolka B & Blaum N (2010). Impact of shrub encroachment on Animal diversity (Bird, Reptiles, Mammals) in Namibian savanna rangelands. Spotlight on Agriculture 114, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Tourism, Directorate of Agricultural Research and Training, Namibia.
  • Jeltsch F, Blaum N, Tietjen B & Rossmanith E (2010, invited). Population and ecosystem modeling of land use and climate change impacts on savanna dynamics. In: Ecosystem Function in Global Savannas: Measurement and Modeling at Landscape to Global Scales. Eds.: Hill MJ & Hanan NP.
  • Blaum N, Wasiolka B, Rossmanith E & Jeltsch F. (2008). The effects of grazing-induced shrub encroachment on animal diversity in southern Kalahari rangelands. Spotlight on Agriculture 112, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Tourism, Directorate of Agricultural Research and Training, Namibia.
  • Blaum N (2008) Computer Simulations of the Kalahari. In: Millions of Ways of Life, Research for Biological Diversity (COP 9). Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Department Global Change, Berlin, Bonn.