Plant ecology

Plant Ecology

Most of our research is concerned with drivers and functional consequences of biodiversity change, with the ecology and evolution of rare and invasive plants, with Alpine ecology, with Botanical Gardens (Botanical Garden of the University of Bern), and with conservation biology.

Research topics

  • Evolutionary Ecology

  • Functional Biodiversity Research

  • Conservation Biology

  • Invasion Biology

  • Alpine Ecology

Interdisciplinary

Often in the framework of several larger research units in Switzerland, Germany, China and Africa we collaborate with

  • molecular biologists

  • population geneticists and biologists

  • biodiversity and ecosystem researchers of all kinds

  • modelers, mostly on plant interactions with other organisms.

Contact Person

Prof. Dr. Markus Fischer

University of Bern
Institute of Plant Sciences and Botanical Garden
Website
markus.fischer-at-ips.unibe.ch
+41 (0)31 631 49 43


Recent publications

  • Title: Alien plant species with a wider global distribution are better able to capitalize on increased resource availability
    Author(s): Dawson, Wayne; Rohr, Rudolf P.; van Kleunen, Mark; et al.
    Source: NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 194 (3): 859-867 MAY 2012
    Document type: Article (Details)
  • Title: Adaptation of Poa alpina to altitude and land use in the Swiss Alps
    Author(s): Fischer, Markus; Weyand, Anne; Rudmann-Maurer, Katrin; et al.
    Source: ALPINE BOTANY, 121 (2): 91-105 OCT 2011
    Document type: Article (Details)
  • Title: Are Gastropods, Rather than Ants, Important Dispersers of Seeds of Myrmecochorous Forest Herbs?
    Author(s): Tuerke, Manfred; Andreas, Kerstin; Gossner, Martin M.; et al.
    Source: AMERICAN NATURALIST, 179 (1): 124-131 JAN 2012
    Document type: Article (Details)
  • Title: Nutrient concentrations and fibre contents of plant community biomass reflect species richness patterns along a broad range of land-use intensities among agricultural grasslands
    Author(s): Klaus, Valentin H.; Kleinebecker, Till; Hoelzel, Norbert; et al.
    Source: PERSPECTIVES IN PLANT ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS, 13 (4): 287-295 2011
    Document type: Article (Details)
  • Title: NIRS meets Ellenberg's indicator values: Prediction of moisture and nitrogen values of agricultural grassland vegetation by means of near-infrared spectral characteristics
    Author(s): Klaus, Valentin H.; Kleinebecker, Till; Boch, Steffen; et al.
    Source: ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS, 14 (1): 82-86 MAR 2012
    Document type: Article (Details)