Thesis topics
We would like to supervise your thesis - just contact us. We are happy to support your own ideas and suggestions, but you will also find a selection of topics that we have ready for you:
Topic: Muntjacs - invading Europe?
Aims: Small dear ( Muntiacus reevesi ) have become a serious invader in Great Britain. They are vectors for diseases, cause traffic accidents and compete with local deer species. We want to model the potential distribution of the species in Europe.
Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: GIS, R
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Anna Walentowitz, Jan-Christopher Fischer
Topic: Biodiversity and Vector-Borne Diseases
Aims: Invasive vectors and emerging diseases are increasingly appearing in Europe. Climate change drivers have been identified. The role of biodiversity to regulate these threats is not addressed, yet.
Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: Remote sensing, R
Supervisors: Stephanie Thomas, Carl Beierkuhnlein
Topic: Global Biomes - Towards a Unifying Concept
Aims: Biome concepts are important references for global studies. However, there is not one single approach that is generally accepted. Here, we analyse the climatic conditions within biomes.
Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: GIS, R
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Jan-Christopher Fischer
Topic: Long- term trends in Biodiversity Climate interactions
Aims: In this experiment that is running since 1996 interactions between biodiversity / climate change / and productivity will be disentangled.
Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: Species knowledge, Plant identification, R (for M.Sc)
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Reinhold Stahlmann
Topic: Springs as indicator ecosystems for climate change
Aims: Spring ecosystems are highly adapted to specific temperatures and water quality. Changes in their catchments are expected to be reflected in their development.
Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: Plant species knowledge, Kryptogams (M.Sc.), R (M.Sc.)
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Timothy Smith
Topic: Drought effects on Bavarian grasslands
Aims: 2018 and 2019 were extremely dry years. Grassland is very sensitive to drought. We will compare based on Remote Sensing grasslands that were differently affected by drought.
Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: Species knowledge, Remote sensing (M.Sc.), R (M.Sc.)
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Frank Weiser
Topic: Drought effects on Bavarian forests
Aims: 2018 and 2019 were extremely dry years. Forests show strong responses and are partly declining. We analyse the spatial patterns of these responses forest edges, slope, bedrock) with Sentinel 2 data.
Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: Remote sensing, R
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Frank Weiser
Topic: Functional traits of threatened plant species
Aims: Threatened species are not stochatically distributed and are expected to exhibit characteristic traits.
Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE
Requirements: Species knowledge, R (for M.Sc.)
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Reinhold Stahlmann
Topic: Research Needs, Gaps, Challenges in European Mountains
Aims: European mountains are very diverse in landscapes, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Research priorities need to be identified based on a thorough literature review.
Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography
Requirements: Familiar with WoS
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Claramunt-Lopez (Barcelona)
Topic: Forest response to drought stress
Aims: Drought episodes are predicted to increase their intensity and frequency globally, which will have a particular impact on forest vitality, productivity, and species distribution This study aims to assess the impact of tree species interaction on forest vulnerability to drought.
Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, B.Sc./M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversity & Ökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography
Requirements: Basic knowledge of R
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu
Topic: Tree regeneration patterns in deciduous forests
Aims: Tree regeneration and species composition are driven by numerous biotic and abiotic variables with varying degrees of overlapping influence Understanding the conditions that promote certain spatial patterns of natural regeneration are important for forest productivity, ecological stability, and biodiversity.
Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, B.Sc./M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversity & Ökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography
Requirements: Basic knowledge of R
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu
Topic: Global analysis of tree density and disturbances in protected areas.
Aims: Forest provide habitat for over half of the world’s known terrestrial plant and animal species and only 16.3% of this is protected. However, primary forest area declined over time (1990-2015) and the rates of forest loss are highest in low income countries. The density and disturbance of forests can give us a perfect view of the state of forests in protected areas around the world. This study will contribute to better management of protected areas, which in turn will support local biodiversity.
Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, B.Sc./M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversity & Ökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography
Requirements: Basic knowledge of R
Supervisors: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu
Topic: Climate Change Impact on the Indo Burma Biodiversity Hotspot
Aims: Geographical climate change analysis.
Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, B.Sc. Geographie, B.Sc. Biologie, M.Sc., Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE, M.Sc. Environmental Geography
Requirements: Basic knowledge in R and GIS
Supervisor: Samuel Hoffmann
Further topics can be found on the links below:
Bachelor's degree program:
Master's degree program:
