Biogeologie

AG Biogeology

Research focus

Ongoing Projects

Diversity and palaeoecology of the latest Cretaceous vertebrates from Transylvania
Drill a little bit deeper
Monitoring of Vertebrate Use of Caves
Exzellenzcluster TERRA
Exzellenzcluster HUMAN ORIGINS
Powerful Plants
Ökologische Entwicklung des ehemaligen Gipsbruchs Entringen/Breitenholz
From Ornaments to Ecosystems
Isotopenökologie des Wolfs in der Lausitz
Stable Isotope Analysis of Prehistoric Aquatic Resource Use at Hohle Fels

We are the Biogeology Research Group

Our group explores how organisms have adapted to and influenced their environments over time, with a particular focus on hominid-related periods in Earth’s history. We investigate the ecological roles of both extinct and extant species, using isotopic analyses of ancient remains to reconstruct diets, habitats, and ecological niches. Our research spans a wide temporal and taxonomic range, from the woolly mammoths of the Siberian steppes to the great dinosaurs of deep time.

By reconstructing past ecosystems and analyzing long-term ecological dynamics, we contribute to a deeper understanding of biodiversity and environmental change. Our guiding principle: 

Learning from the Past to Preserve the Future.

Are you interested in working with us?

You can find the current Bachelor's and Master`s thesis opportunities here.

What's new in August 2026

New team members and guests:
  • Kawtar El Mohippe will visit us in August for her research on Moroccan canids.
New achievements:
Newest publications:
  • Amanova, M., Drucker, D.G., Fontana, F., 2026. Insights into red deer ecology during the Late Epigravettian: New isotopic evidence from Riparo Tagliente (Italian prealps). Journal of Quaternary Science 41(5): 716-731. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70069
  • Bettermann, A., Csiki-Sava, Z., Bocherens, H., Augustin, F., 2026. Not only boring issues: bioerosion on bones from the Upper Cretaceous of the Hateg Basin (Romania) and the implications for carcass decomposition on Hateg Island. Fossil Record 29(2): 675-705. https://doi.org/10.3897/fr.29.189421   
  • Drucker, D.G., Bridault, A., Ducrocq, T., Valentin, F., 2026. Mesolithic subsistence strategies in the Paris Basin during the late Preboreal and Boreal chronozones (10.3-9.0 ka). Isotopic insights from human and faunal remains in the Île-de-France region. Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française 123: 203-231. https://www.prehistoire.org/offres/doc_inline_src/515/0-BSPF_2026_2_ARTICLE_DRUCKER.pdf
  • Ershova, K., Ponomarenko, E., Krenke, N., Krivokorin, I., Bakumenko, V., Pimenov, V., in press. A comparison of pollen indicators of slash-en-burn agriculture in forest soils and peatlands: a case study of Zvenigorod biological station (Moscow region, Russia). Environmental Archaeology https://doi.org/10.1080/14614103.2026.2667614
  • Feldman, M., Arauna, L.R., Carlhoff, S.M., Naegle, K., Radzeviciute, R., Drucker, D.G., … Krause, J., Posth, C., 2026. Ancient genomes reveal distinct human dispersals and social stratification in the settlement history of western Remote Oceania. Cell https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2026.07.044
  • Moots, H.M., Larsdotter, J., Oteo-Garcia, G., Dehasque, M., Tubbesing, F., Thorpe, J.A.T., Xenikoudakis, G., di Paolo, F., Selvatici, S., Chacón-Duque, C., Sharif, M.B., Moreland, K., Pecnerova, P., Kanelidou, F., Baumann, C., Collins, A., Druckenmiller, P., Paijmans, J.L.A., Barlow, A., Fewlass, H., Gühlich, U.B., Heintzmann, P.D., Kwiatkowski, A., Pavlyukov, G., den Ouden, N., van den Hoek Ostende, L., Barnes, I., Tikhonov, A., Protopopov, A., Westbury, M.V., Shapiro, B., Lister, A.M., Lougas, L., Termes, L., Richards, M.P., Nikolsky, P., Angerbjornm A., Dnilov, G., Vartanyan, S., Pasda, K., Roblickova, M., Laznickova-Galetova, M., Drucker, D.G., Novak, M., Hercikova, S., Pryor, A.J.E., van der Valk, T., Germonpré, M., Hofreiter, M., Wooller, M.J., Händel, M., Wilczynski, J., Dalen, L., Diez-Del-Molino, D., 2026. Paleogenomic sex inference of mammoth remains sheds light on the anthropogenic nature of bone accumulations. Current Biology 36(16): 4233-4242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2026.07.023
Newest public outreach:
  • Dr. Chris Baumann gave an interview to SWR about the dietary behavior of modern wildcats (Felis silvestris)
  • Dr. Dorothée Drucker was interviewed by Valérie Gillet for Horizon, the EU Research &  Innovation Magazine on her research on mammoth bones in the frame of the ERC-funded project MAMBA
Biogeology Group 2026