Upcoming theses (MSc and BSc) opportunities

PhD in progress:

• Barna, D.:
• Golshani, S.:
• Al Ashoush, A. since 2023: Effects of microplastic, drought and heavy metal contamination on performance of single plant species and soil properties, SAGE project
• Alluozi, M. since 2022: Restoration of degraded rangelands by means of long-lived seed banks/Jordan
• Al-Hmoud, R. since 2022: GIS mapping of urban biodiversity on green roofs in Amman, Jordan (factors that may improve green roof biodiversity), SAGE project
• Ananbeh, Y. since 2022: Developing indicators for tipping points in rangelands in the Jordan River region under climate change and land use change, SAGE project
• Handal, E. since 2022: Developing indicators for tipping points in rangelands in the Jordan River region under climate change and land use change, SAGE project
• Moes, M. since 2022: Plant Community Response to Climate Change and Grazing in Middle Eastern Rangelands, SAGE project
• Mujahed, S. since 2022: Urban green space management under climate change, SAGE project
• Gresse, J. since 2021: Plant traits as determinants of population and community stability
• Braun, L. since 2014: From land management through habitat heterogenity to biodiversity in grassland ecosystems: A combined theoretical and experimental approach
• Hoch, E. M. since 2012: The role of biotic interactions in determining phenotypic and genotypic variation in metal hyperaccumulation and hypertolerance in two model Brassicaceae species.

Completed PhD Theses:

• Amputu, V. 2025: Primary production dynamics along gradients and within the experimental studies using UAV-based remote sensing, NamTip project
• Koch, F. 2025: The paradox of the bryozoans: unravelling the relation between structure and stability of (benthic) competition networks
• Hinneberg, H. 2025: Population Ecology of a Rare Open Forest Butterfly, Limenitis reducta, in Central Europe: Deriving Guidelines for Conservation Management
• Ndamononghenda, H. 2025: Relative importance of sources of plant recruitment and the role of plant-to-plant interactions as early indicators of grazing induced desertification tipping points
• vd Brink, L. 2022: ChileEarthShape: Connecting the green and the grey world - an experimental approach to separate climate, vegetation and geochemical effects on nutrient cycling along a climate gradient
• Ratzbor, R. 2021: Hedge - 2 From land management through habitat heterogenity to biodiversity in grassland ecosystems: A combined theoretical and experimental approach
• Mohiley, A. 2019: The role of biotic interactions in determining phenotypic and genotypic variation in metal hyperaccumulation and hypertolerance in two model Brassicacear species
• Gibson- Forty, E. 2018: Intraspecific variation in plant-animal interactions of the Brassicaceae family along a steep rainfall gradient in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin
• Nesongano, C. 2018: Effects of climate and elevated CO2 on the balance between woody and herbaceous plants in African savannas
• Herberich, M. 2018: Coupled Modelling of Vegetation - Hydrology Dynamics
• Zhang, R. 2017: Intraspecific facilitation: generality, mechanisms and effects
• Shi, J. 2016: Admixture, local adaptation and inbreeding depression in invasive plants
• Hänel, S. 2014: Rapid in situ adaptation to changed precipitation in annual plant species.
• Hanoteaux, S. 2014: The role of indirect plant-plant interactions via shared pollinators: a combined experimental and theoretical study in species-rich temperate grasslands.
• Rysavy, A. 2013: Biotic and abiotic effects on species interactions in a water stressed ecosystem: the effect of precipitation and grazing on the survival and establishment of the Mediterranean dwarf shrub Sarcopoterium spinosum.
• Tomiolo, S. 2013: Investigating the role of biotic interactions in determining the degree of local adaptation and thus the potential response of plants to climatic change.
• Segev, U. 2012: The effect of granivory by harvester ants on response of plant communities to climate change: an experimental approach. In cooperation with Prof.s J. Kigel (HUJI, Israel) and Y. Lubin (Ben Gurion, Israel)
• Joshi, S. 2011. The danger of re-introduction of invasive plants: A novel experimental test with Lythrum salicaria from introduced and native range.
• Lampei, C. 2010. Annual plant populations under global climate change: their adaptations to aridity and potential for evolution.
• Metz, J. 2010: The sensitivity of Eastern Mediterranean plant communities to variations in rainfall and their vulnerability to global climate change.
• Schiffers, K. 2008: Plant community response to small-scale disturbances - lessons from a molehill meadow.
• Tschöpe, O. 2007: Managing open habitats for species conservation: the role of wild ungulate grazing, small-scale disturbances, and scale.
• Petrů, M. 2006: Life history expressions of annual plants in unpredictable environments: from theoretical models to empirical tests.

Master theses in progress

• Schmidt, K. 2026:
• Blum, J. 2026:
• Janovsky, L. 2026:
• Dahlhaus, A. 2026: Tangled threads: How synthetic yarn fibers affect soil and plant growth

Completed Diploma / Master theses: 

• Jurda, A. 2025: Effects of light-availability and climate on liana seedling community assembly in tropical forests of Ghana
• Janke, L. 2024: Bet-heging of diaspore traits in heterocarpic Asteraceae plants
• Kirchner, J. 2024: Waldentwicklungsphasen der Bannwälder Baden-Württembergs
• Lotz, J. 2023: Land degradation risk assessment in dryland savannah
• Breit, M. 2022: What determines heavy metal hyper-accumulation efficacy of Arabidopsis halleri more? – Plant or soil biogeochemistry?
• Krüger, L. 2022: Invenstigating the structure-stability relationship in competitive networks with an individual based model
• Schumann, J. 2020: RSR and optimum distances to neighbours in cold environment
• Weyerer, F. 2022: Studying the eco-evolutionary response of plant-pollinator systems to declining pollinator population
• Koch, F. 2021: The complex dance of competition: hierarchy promotes stability in benthic competition networks
• Fauß, J. 2021: Prey selection in metal hyperaccumulating plants
• Weides, S. 2021: Where does the water come from, plant water uptake
• Gotterbarm, S. 2020: Heterospecific plant soil feedback strenght in relation to phylogenetic distance
  in grassland communities
• Mailänder, S. 2020:
• May, A. 2020: Can metal hyperaccumulating plants differentiate between neutral (rocks) vs. green share (competition) for metal hyperaccumulation?
• Nuglisch, C. (Staatsexam) 2020: The effect of activated water on plant performance- a solid experimental assessment
• Schädle, J. (Staatsexam) 2020: The impact of precipitation reduction on soil water content
• Schlücker, V. 2020: Vergleich von Biotopkartierungen in Baden-Württemberg - eine methodische und naturschutzfachliche Analyse
• Tegetmeyer, I. 2020: Unraveling eco-evolutionary responses of heterocarpic plants to fragmentation
• Gelaudie, H. 2019: Herbivory induces clonal foraging for nutrients in plants
• Kühnl, S. 2019: Identifying feedback patterns in empirical vs. randomized systems of interference competition
• Ritter, H. 2019: Observation based spatial modeling of interference competition in benthic bryozoan assemblages
• Hinneberg, H 2019: Response of Perennial Plants and Collembolan Communities from Temperate Grasslands, the Role of Diversity
• Ndunge, C 2017: Assessment of Wood plants and grass responses in savannas using reciprocal transplants along a rainfall gradient
• Ferenc, V 2017: Adaptatipns of mixed mating systems in winter annual crucifers along an emvironmental Gradient
• Leonova, A 2017: The role of soil biota in the invasive success of Impatiens glandulifera.
• Wedegärtner, R. 2017:
• Dornbach, J. 2016:
• Hener, C. 2015: Induced chemical defense in Lythrum salicaria
• Sroka, M. 2015: Einfluss der Habitatheterogenität auf die Artendiversität einer heimischen Wiesengemeinschaft.
• Laaser, T. 2015: Herbivory induced root foraging in the heavy metal hyperaccumulator A. halleri
• Huberty, M. 2015: testing the EICA and SDH below ground for a range expanding invasive species: Rorippa austriaca
• Slowik, F. 2015: Responses of plant Climatic Niche Groups to climate and grazing manipulations in Canada
• Lechner, N. 2015: Influence of habitat heterogeneity on plant species diversity in a native grassland community
• Birkhold, F. 2014: The influence of identity and blossom density of neighbouring species on selfing versus outcrossing in two self-compatible plant species.
• Ratzbor, R. 2014: A population viability analysis and management recommendations for the endangered plant species Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum.
• Herberich, M. 2013: Importance of environmental variation and life history for the spatiothemporal variation of population growth rate in riparian perennials.
• Köhl, S. 2012: Testing the shifting defence hypothesis with Lythrum salicaria.
• Hirth, A. 2012: The effect of molehill disturbance on the species composition of calcareaus grasslands under different management types.
• Hofmann, E. 2012: The effect of patch-grazing on carbon and nitrogen fluxes in a moderately species rich grassland. In cooperation with Prof. J. Isselstein (Göttingen).
• Hoch, E.M. 2012: The influence of density and spatial pattern on the „Magnet Species Effect“ (Facilitation) in two pollination Systems.
• Lutz, M. T. 2011: The economic value of mesic Mediterranean landscape under global climate change: a case study in the Jordan River basin.
• Wegerer , R. 2011: Is resistance to herbivory in invasive Lythrum salicaria maternally inherited?
• Pehl, A.K. 2011: Evaluating the genetic basis of invasiveness in Impatiens glandulifera from the native and invasive range.
• Mund, E. E. 2010: Effects of land use intensity on soil carbon storage in riparian forests in Brazil.
• Seyfang , H. 2010: The role of indirect facilitation via pollinators on selected plant species in calcareous grasslands along a productivity gradient.
• Gaul, N. 2010: Evaluierung von Managementmaßnahmen zum Erhalt der pflanzlichen Biodiversität in Kalkmagerrasen auf der Schwäbischen Alb.
• Wiedmann , A. 2009: Populationsgefährdungsanalyse der seltenen und bedrohten Pflanzenart Pedicularis sceptrum-carolinum (Karlszepter) am Federsee.
• Obergfell, T. 2009: Simulationsstudie zum Einfluss der globalen Erwärmung auf die Populationsdynamik des Neohpyts Helianthus tuberosus L.
• Jochum, T. 2009: Climate change in the arctic: an experimental assessment of temperature increase on selected tundra plant species. In cooperation with Prof. B. Graae, Schweden).
• Horstmann, H. 2008: Is there facilitation in central European grasslands? A search for patterns.
• Zapf , S. 2008: Ist naturschutzfachliche Bewertung objektivierbar? Evaluierung für Halbtrockenrasen im Regierungsbezirk Tübingen.
• Siewert , W. 2008: The dispersal dormancy trade-off in annual plants: putting model predictions to the test.
• Schmid, A. 2007. Die Dynamik europäischer Wiesengemeinschaften entland eines Produktivitätsgradienten – der Einfluss individueller Wechselbeziehungen, Düngung und der Artenherkunft. In cooperation with Prof. R. Hampp, Tübingen.
• Finkenbein, P. 2007: Comparative demography of Lythrum salicaria in its native and introduced range: a test of conceptual models of invasion success.
• Eberhart , A. 2006: Do siblings avoid each other? An empirical test of the sibling competition hypothesis along a steep climatic gradient.
• Fehling , B. 2006: Modellierung des Wachstums von Gerste und Mais in einer Hochoase im zentralen Hohen Atlas (Süd-Marokko) mit DSSATv.4.0.
• Häckel , D. 2006: Gefährdungsanalyse von Primula farinosa im Donauried.
• Schloz-Murer, D. 2005. Effect of small-scale disturbances on European grassland community dynamics along a productivity gradient: molehills as a case study.
• Daniel, F. 2003: Einfluss von Maulwurfshügeln auf die Pflanzendiversität im Auengrünland.
• Schiffers, K. 2003: Interactions of annual plants: empirical investigations along a climatic gradient in Israel.
• Seifert, B. 2003: Methodenerprobung und experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Konkurrenz zwischen Grünlandarten verschiedener Wuchsform.
• Hoth, D. 2002: Populationsbiologische und -ökologische Untersuchungen am Lungen-Enzian (Gentiana pneumonanthe) auf ausgewählten Feuchtstandorten im Land Brandenburg.
• Deutschewitz, K. 2001: Landschaftsstruktur und Verbreitungsmuster invasiver Pflanzengruppen-Untersuchungen zu Beziehungen zwischen Landschaftsstrukturparametern und dem Vorkommen fremdländischer Pflanzenartengruppen im mesoskaligen Bereich mit Methoden der Geoinformation und Statistik..
• Troppens, A. 2001: Der Einfluss von Beweidung und Mahd auf die saisonale Vegetationsdynamik in Phalaris arundinacea / Agrostis stolonifera-Mosaiken an der unteren Havel.

Bachelor theses in progress:

• Woepe, D. (2025):
• Krüger, K. (2025):
• Hillermeier, H. (2025):

Completed Bachelor theses:

• Krimmel, J. (2025):
• Eisele, C. (2023): Comparing short- vs. long-term effects of different plastic fragment concentrations and soil types on plant performance.
• Geisbusch, M. (2023): Evaluating the vegetation development of restored peatlands located in the Nationalpark Bavarian Forest, Germany.
• Shcherbinina, E. (2023): Cadmium-Microplastic Interaction: Impacts on Arabidopsis halleri and Arabidopsis thaliana Performance
• Wagner, A. (2023):
• Werner, S. (2023): The influence of three different microplastic sizes on root and plant growth using the example of Biscutella didyma
• Barth, L. (2022): Land degradation assessment using Residual Trend Analysis of Enhanced Vegetation Index(EVI), soil moisture and rainfall in Great Waterberg Landscape.
• Benedikt, J. (2022): HEDGE 2: Long-term effects of habitat heterogeneity on species diversity
• Draiijer, S. (2022):
• Ebenslander, M. (2022): The interaction of experimental drought and herbivory on plants along a climate gradient.
• Groß, K. (2022): Experimental test of the area-heterogeneity trade-off in grassland communities.
• Heckhorn, C. (2022): The influence of different microplastic fiber types on plants and two soils using the example of Arabidopsis thaliana
• Hummler, A.-L. (2022): Adaptation of local herbivores on the invasive plant, Senecio inaequidens (DC.) with time since introduction.
• Regen, A. (2022): HEDGE Project 2: The role of beta diversity in ecosystem functioning.
• Schreiner, P. (2022): Changes in the diaspore-ratio in response to drought in three heterocarpic annuals from an aridity gradient.
• Block, L. (2021): Phenology of five grassland species under competition – focusing the biotic impact of global change.
• Drohm, M. (2021): Evaluation of the Bunte Wiese meadows.
• Heckhorn, C. (2021): The influence of different microplastic fiber types on two soils using the example of Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Kelemen, A. (2021): Nutrient limitation of plants along a climate gradient in the chilean coastal cordillera.
• Kramp, R. (2021): Functional responses of plant communities to extreme climate events.
• Krehl, A. (2021): How is the ability of soil to retain water under drought conditions affected by different concentrations of microplastic?
• Saul, L. (2021): Resistance and resilience of grasslands to extreme drought – the role of clonality.
• Sautter, L. (2021): Do different sizes of micro-mesoplastic affect growth of Arabidopsis under drought?
• Schoellkopf, U.-M. (2021): Do different sizes of micro-mesoplastic affect growth of Arabidopsis under drought?
• Schubert, J. (2021):
• Stroetmann, S. (2021): Seed and seedling responses to parental drought exposure of grassland species from the Swabian Alb, Germany.
• Merkle, M. (2020): Effect of competition on plant phenology
• Palmer, M. (2020): Hydrological niche differentiation increases stability of plant communities in the face of extreme drought through asynchrony in population responses.
• Schuster, E. (2020): Resistance and resilience of the forest herb layer to extreme drought as a function of light.
• Fiedler, S. (2019): The insurance hypothesis - a matter of response variable.
• Fink, L. (2019): Recilience after extreme drought in forests and grasslands on the Swabian Alb.
• Hämmerle, C.L. (2019): Resistance of plant community productivity and composition towards extreme drought in forests and grasslands.
• Mengel, A. (2019): Historische und Landnutzungseffekte auf Grünlanddiversität - eine Pilotstudie am Spitzberg.
• Merkens, L. (2019): Wiesendrusch als Alternative zu Einsaat? Ein experimenteller Test.
• Rein, T. (2019): Can plants remember their future?
• Roller, S. (2019): Priming in plants - a method for increasing resistance to pathogens?
• Schratt, K. (2019): Larch tree stand dynamics along environmental gradients at the North-Eastern treeline in Siberia.
• Weides, S. (2019).: Functional vegetation responses along grazing gradients in drylands.
• Wesenberg, L. (2019): Effects of stimuli on Voldrox aureus and Euglena gracilis as basis for future Pavlovian experiments.
• Hillenbrand, S. (2018): Associative learning in Arabidopsis thaliana: Coupling of gravitational stimulus and light induced stomatal opening.
• Reußwig, M. (2018): Wachstumscharakteristika von Graslandarten unter verschiedenen Habitatbedingunen.
• Reinhardt, M. (2017):
• Fischer, J. (2017):
• Tiggemann, L.H. (2017): Establishing multispectral imaging techniques to monitor vegetation characteristics in a semi-natural grassland at Heuberger-Tor-Weg.
• Klingenfuß, S.M. (2017): The heterogeneity - diversity relationship in cultivated grasslands and a closer look on agricultural practices and their impact on plant species diversity.
• Peters, R. (2017): Herbivorous Damage Along a Latiduninal Climate Gradient in Chile.
• Nübold, J. (2016): Wurzelbeimpfungen mit VAM-Sporen, Bodenbakterien und organischen Düngemitteln an Mostbirnen im Vergleich.
• Ferenc, V. (2014): Combined Impacts of Water and Nutrients Levels on Mycorrhiza Dependency in Different Plant Species.
• Bruder, J. (2014): Germination experiments with Namibian seed.
• Gebauer, Sarah (2014): Effects of plant population admixture on herbivore resistance and plant performance in the invasive plant Lythrum salicaria.
• Groß, Dorothee (2014): Decision making in plants: Fight or flight in response to light competition.
• Bihler, Nadine (2014): Clonal growth of invasive and native populations of the range expander Rorippa austriaca.
• Schmid, Lisa (2014): Heritability of life history traits in annual plants.
• von Oppen, Jonathan (2013): The interplay of interactions and parental effects on the performance of a semiarid annual plant species along an aridity gradient.
• Roser, Fabian (2013): Ausbreitung von Neophyten aus dem Botanischen Garten Tübingen: Untersuchung der Spontanvegetation der Rosenau und der näheren Umgebung.
• González-Escolano, Flavia (2013): Allelopathy as a plastic response: can it be induced by competition?
• Stutzmann, S. (2012): The influence of neighbours on the self-pollination of Centaurea jacea, Knautia arvensis and Scabiosa columbaria.
• Reck, R. (2012): Bestimmung der Konkurrenzfähigkeit von drei annuellen Pflanzenarten aus Israel nach neun Jahren Regenfeldmanipulation mit HIlfe des spezifischen Blattflächenindex. eine Untersuchung zur plastischen und evolutiven Anpassung von Pflanzen an den Klimawandel.
• Lechner, N. (2012): Phenology shifts in annual plants – distinguishing between plastic response and genetic changes.
• Laaser, T. (2012): Does facilitation promote persistence of maladapted ecotypes in stressful environments? A test with dryland annuals.
• Glöckner, N. (2012): The role of heterospecific flower density in determining reproduction success of two native species in an agricultural landscape.
• Zieger, S. (2012): Mechanisms of plant invasion: allelopathic effects of native and invasive Impatiens glandulifera.
• Huberty, M. (2012): Testing the EICA and the SDH for the example of a range expanding species: Rorippa austriaca.
• Beck, L. I. (2011): The effect of molehill disturbances on grassland diversity of the Swabian Alb under two different management regimes: Mowing and grazing.
• Binder, E. (2011): How molehills affect diversity on the Swabian Alb.
• Eberlein, H. (2011): Adaptation of a specialised herbivore: Celastrina argiolus on Lythrum salicaria.
• Gerschwitz, M.L. (2011): The role of molehill disturbance in maintaining grassland diversitiy under different management regimes.
• Kugler, D. (2011): Der Effekt von Regenmanipulationsexperimenten auf das Keimungsverhalten von mediterranen Pflanzen.
• Schmid, M. (2011): Determining the water use efficiency of three plant species after 9 years of rain manipulation in Israel using the carbon isotope composition.
• Schnee, L. (2011): Plant diversity on public areas in Tübingen.
• Weber, B. (2011): Intraspezifische Unterschiede in Linum strictum und Linum corymbulosum nach neun Jahren Niederschlagsmanipulation?
• Eberhardt, B. (2011): Effect of molehill disturbances on grassland biodiversity under different management regimes.
• Zeug, B. (2010): Lokale Anpassung an verschiedene Standorte bei der invasiven Pflanzenart Impatiens glandulifera.
• Ritter, E. (2010): Pflanzen auf Maulwurfshaufen zeigen aufgrund höherer Lichtverfügbarkeit eine geringere Wuchshöhe.
• Müller, G. (2010): Adaptation to positive interactions in Crithopsis delileana.
• Daum, S. (2010): Pflegekonzeption zur Offenhaltung des Naturschutzgebietes 'Buttenhausener Eichenhalde' mit Ziegen- Folgeuntersuchung zur Entwicklung der Gehölzvegetation.
• Eitel, S. (2010): Productivity, disturbances and the species pool: how molehills affect diversity of grasslands on the Swabian Alb.