Theses offered
Bachelor's Theses offered | |
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 Language: English Start: anytime Location: N Bavaria/ Germany Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Methods: Modelling, Remote Sensing Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
Spatial statistics Aims: Analyzing spatial forest structure in order to reveal relationships that take place between different tree species - species mingling. Method: point pattern analysis Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, B.Sc./ M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversity & Ökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: English Start: anytime Location: N Bavaria/ Germany Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
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 Language: English Start: anytime Location: Europe Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
Global analysis of tree structure in protected areas Aims: Forest structure is a key driver of ecosystem diversity. Here we aim to identify forest structure patterns between IUCN protected categories. Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, B.Sc./ M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversity & Ökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: English Start: anytime Location: Globally Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
Landscape fragmentation inside protected areas Aims: Habitat loss and fragmentation are causing an unprecedented decline in global biodiversity. Protected areas (PAs) are meant to counteract loss and fragmentation. Yet, even inside PAs ecosystems are fragmented. Our goal is to understand the patterns in which fragmentation occur inside and around PAs. Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Germany / Europe Skills needed: GIS, R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Alexandra Lawrence | |
The Geography of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Aims: Identify and analyse drivers of global freshwater biodiversity by using open data. Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, B.Sc. Geographie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Europe Skills needed: GIS, R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Samuel Hoffmann | |
Human Impacts on Marine Protected Areas Aims: Geographical analysis of anthropogenic factors (e.g. shipping traffic, fishing quota, water pollution) affecting marine protected areas using open data. Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, B.Sc. Geographie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Global Skills needed: Basic knowledge in R and GIS Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Samuel Hoffmann | |
Biodiversitätsmuster in der Kulturlandschaft Ziele: Es ist viel die Rede von Biodiversitätsverlust und der Notwendigkeit Biodiversität zu erfassen, doch gibt es zu wenig praktische Arbeiten hierzu. In dieser Arbeit (evtl. mehrere) wird Pflanzen-Artenvielfalt kartiert und auf Landschaftsstrukturen bezogen. Hierzu ist die Identität einzelner Arten nicht zwingend erforderlich. Studiengänge: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie. Sprache: Deutsch/English Beginn: April/Mai 2021 Ort: Nähe Bayreuth (Frankenalb/Fichtelgebirge) Vorkenntnisse: Artkenntnisse, Pflanzenbestimmung, R für M.Sc. Methodik: Feldarbeit, Remote Sensing, Botanik Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Frank Weiser | |
Auswirkungen der Dürre auf Quellfluren Ziele: In den Dürreperioden der Jahre 2018 und 2019 fielen zahlreiche sonst kontinuierlich schüttende Waldquellen trocken. Durch einen Vergleich vorher / nachher soll der Einfluss dieser außergewöhnlichen Ereignisse auf die Artenzusammensetzung und Diversität von Waldquellfluren untersucht werden. Studiengänge: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie Sprache: Deutsch/English Beginn: April/Mai 2021 Ort: Frankenwald und Fichtelgebirge Vorkenntnisse: Artkenntnisse, Pflanzenbestimmung, R für M.Sc. Methodik: Feldarbeit, Zeitreihen, Botanik Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Timothy Smith |
Master's Theses offered | |
The Significance of Protected Areas in Species Conservation Aims: Analyse and compare the spatial distribution of threatened species (e.g. Red List, Natura 2000) inside and outside protected areas by using open data. Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, B.Sc. Geographie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Any, but preferrably Europe Skills needed: Basic knowledge in R and GIS Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Samuel Hoffmann | |
Human Impacts on Marine Protected Areas Aims: Geographical analysis of anthropogenic factors (e.g. shipping traffic, fishing quota, water pollution) affecting marine protected areas using open data. Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, B.Sc. Geographie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Global Skills needed: Basic knowledge in R and GIS Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Samuel Hoffmann | |
Shrink or shift: distribution of Rhodostrophia jacularia (Lepidoptera:Geometridae) Aims: If temperature keep rising, how species of steppe and desert will react to it? Since species richness of moths in central Asia was negatively correlated with temperature, it is a crucial question to answer. Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE Language: English Start: Palearctic Location: Europe Skills needed: GIS Contact: Khishigdelger Enkhtur, Martin Pfeiffer | |
rought damage and recovery of grasslands in European Natura 2000 areas Aims: Analysis of drought damage and subsequent recovery of grasslands after the drought years 2018/2019 using Remote Sensing data (e.g. Sentinel-2) Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Central Europe or focus on Germany Skills needed: Remote Sensing, GIS, R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining, Remote Sensing Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Frank Weiser | |
Auswirkungen der Dürre auf Quellfluren Ziele: In den Dürreperioden der Jahre 2018 und 2019 fielen zahlreiche sonst kontinuierlich schüttende Waldquellen trocken. Durch einen Vergleich vorher / nachher soll der Einfluss dieser außergewöhnlichen Ereignisse auf die Artenzusammensetzung und Diversität von Waldquellfluren untersucht werden. Studiengänge: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie Sprache: Deutsch/English Beginn: April/Mai 2021 Ort: Frankenwald und Fichtelgebirge Vorkenntnisse: Artkenntnisse, Pflanzenbestimmung, R für M.Sc. Methodik: Feldarbeit, Zeitreihen, Botanik Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Timothy Smith | |
Biodiversitätsmuster in der Kulturlandschaft Ziele: Es ist viel die Rede von Biodiversitätsverlust und der Notwendigkeit Biodiversität zu erfassen, doch gibt es zu wenig praktische Arbeiten hierzu. In dieser Arbeit (evtl. mehrere) wird Pflanzen-Artenvielfalt kartiert und auf Landschaftsstrukturen bezogen. Hierzu ist die Identität einzelner Arten nicht zwingend erforderlich. Studiengänge: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie. Sprache: Deutsch/English Beginn: April/Mai 2021 Ort: Nähe Bayreuth (Frankenalb/Fichtelgebirge) Vorkenntnisse: Artkenntnisse, Pflanzenbestimmung, R für M.Sc. Methodik: Feldarbeit, Remote Sensing, Botanik Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Frank Weiser | |
Animal diversity in human diet Aims: Animals are sources of zoonoses that can affect human health. Animal diversity is well documented, but biodiversity patterns related to human diet are not available yet. Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology Language: German or English Start: anytime Location: Global Skills needed: GIS, R Methods: Data Mining, Zoology Contact: Stephanie Thomas, Carl Beierkuhnlein | |
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 Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Europe Skills needed: GIS, R Methods: Modelling, Literature screening, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Anna Walentowitz, Jan-Christopher Fischer | |
Global diversity in bat Aims: Bats represent a very large proportion of biodiversity in animals. They are known as original hosts of pathogens. However, there is no solid current biogeographical overview on their global diversity related to biomes. Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology Language: German or English Start: anytime Location: Global Skills needed: GIS, R Methods: Data Mining, Zoology Contact: Stephanie Thomas, Carl Beierkuhnlein | |
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. Global Change Ecology Language: English Start: anytime Location: Europe Skills needed: R (Remote Sensing) Methods: Modelling, Data Mining, Remote Sensing, Zoology Contact: Stephanie Thomas, Carl Beierkuhnlein | |
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 Language: English Start: anytime Location: N Bavaria/ Germany Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Methods: Modelling, Remote Sensing Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
Wind may prevent invasion of disease vector Aims: Invasive disease vector – Asian Tiger Mosquito – is currently spreading into Germany. Wind seems to play an interesting role in whether this tropical species can establish itself or not. Little is known about this. Study programs: M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology Language: English Start: anytime Location: Europe Skills needed: Enjoy working in the laboratory and provide statistical analyses. Partners: DiMoC (BiodivERsA) Methods: Experimental, Zoology Contact: Stephanie Thomas, Carl Beierkuhnlein | |
Spatial statistics Aims: Analyzing spatial forest structure in order to reveal relationships that take place between different tree species - species mingling. Method: point pattern analysis Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, B.Sc./ M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversity & Ökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: English Start: anytime Location: N Bavaria/ Germany Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
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 Language: English Start: anytime Location: Europe Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
Global analysis of tree structure in protected areas Aims: Forest structure is a key driver of ecosystem diversity. Here we aim to identify forest structure patterns between IUCN protected categories. Study programs: M.Sc. GCE, B.Sc./ M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversity & Ökologie, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: English Start: anytime Location: Globally Skills needed: Basic knowledge of R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Mirela Beloiu | |
Landscape fragmentation inside protected areas Aims: Habitat loss and fragmentation are causing an unprecedented decline in global biodiversity. Protected areas (PAs) are meant to counteract loss and fragmentation. Yet, even inside PAs ecosystems are fragmented. Our goal is to understand the patterns in which fragmentation occur inside and around PAs. Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. GCE Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Germany / Europe Skills needed: GIS, R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Alexandra Lawrence | |
The Geography of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Aims: Identify and analyse drivers of global freshwater biodiversity by using open data. Study programs: B.Sc. / M.Sc. Geoökologie, B.Sc. Geographie, M.Sc. Biodiversität & Ökologie, M.Sc. Global Change Ecology, M.Sc. Environmental Geography Language: Deutsch/English Start: anytime Location: Europe Skills needed: GIS, R Methods: Modelling, Data Mining Contact: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Samuel Hoffmann |