Biogeologie

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.

Learn more about the work we do

Into Forgotten Worlds 

Are you interested in working with us?

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


What's new in July 2025

New team members:
  • New visiting ERASMUS PhD Student: Masoumeh Khoshyar (supervised by Dr. Chris Baumann)
    • Masoumeh is working on stable isotopes of small mammal teeth from 01.07. - 18.07.2025
  • New visiting  PhD Student from the Senckenberg Global fellowship: Kawtar El Mohippe (supervised by Dr. Chris Baumann)
    • Kawtar will work on stable isotopes and paleogenetics of early dogs from Morocco
  • New Bachelor student Nicole Riedinger (supervised by Dr. Chris Baumann and PD Dr. Nils Anthes)
    • Nicole will work on retrospective isotopic monitoring of wildcat behavior
Newest publications:
  • Runge, A.K.W., Niemann, J., Germonpré, M., Drucker, D.G., Bocherens, H., Boxleitner, K., Ramos-Madrigal, J., Linderholm, A., Stanton, D., Kandyba, A., Brecko, J., Broek, M. v. d., Losey, R., Räikkonen, J., Sablin, M., Gopalakrishnan, S., Fedorov, S., Sinding, M.H.S., Gilbert, M.T.P., Wales, N. in press. Multifaceted analysis reveals diet and kinship of Late Pleistocene “Tumat puppies”. Quaternary Research https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2025.10  
  • Merkens, L., Anders, T., Traylor, W., Bocherens, H., Hickler, T., 2025. A simple climate-driven semi-mechanistic vegetation model can explain the pan-Asian extent of the glacial mammoth steppe. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 670: 112962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112962   
  • Panagiotopoulou, T., McCartin, M.J., Münzel, S.C., Drucker, D.G., Starkovich, B.M., Brown, S., Tafelmaier, Y., Baumann. C., 2025. Magdalenian environments and ecosystems of the norther Alpine foreland: the case of Gnirshöhle and Petersfels. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 17: 125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-025-02230-6