Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE Georg-August-University Göttingen Contact: PD Dr. Dirk Gansert e-mail: dganser@gwdg.de

www.biodiversitaet.gwdg.de

Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE GCBE Goals Research into the evolution, functions and management of biodiversity in ecosystems Education in Bachelor, Master, and PhD programmes Science & Technology transfer into practice Transfer of ecological knowledge to the public GCBE Research Biodiversity analysis, evolution, systematics and taxonomy Global distribution of biodiversity and investigation of biodiversity hotspots Temporal dynamics of biodiversity at historical and geological time scales Ecological functions of biodiversity Development of strategies for the conservation of biodiversity

Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE GCBE Structure 29 Institutes out of 4 Faculties: Biology, Agricultural Sciences, Forest Sciences & Forest Ecology, Geosciences & Geography Leading Faculty: Faculty of Biology Steering Committee, Speaker: Prof. Dr. S. Scheu, Dept. of Animal Ecology 3 Examination boards for: Bachelor, Master and PhD study programmes Coordinator and students advisor: PD Dr. D. Gansert, Dept. of Ecology and Ecosystem Research Present student capacity: 20 B.Sc. (rise to 30) 40 M.Sc. > 60 Ph.D. Journals: Biodiversity and Ecology Series, GCBE Bulletin

GCBE 29 participating institutes Biology Animal Ecology Anthropology & Human Ecology Didactics of Biology Environmental history Ethology Ecosystem Modelling Nature Conservation Palynology Phycology Plant Ecology Sociobiology / Anthropology Systematic Botany & Evolution Vegetation Analysis & Phytodiversity Zoology, Morphology & Evolution 14 Agricultural Sciences Agricultural Ecology Agricultural Entomology Biodiversity Economy 3 Forest Sciences & Forest Ecology Bioclimatology Ecological informatics Forest ecology Nature Conservation & Environmental policy Soil Sciences Stress Physiology of Woody Plants Wood Biology 7 Geosciences & Geography Biogeochemistry Landscape Ecology Marine Biodiversity Palaeoecology 4 German Primate Center Primate Ecology 1

Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE Major Teaching and Research Fields: 1. Assessment and analysis of biodiversity Systematic Botany and Zoology, Morphology, Taxonomy, Evolution, Phylogeny etc...

Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields 2. Spatial distribution of biodiversity (e.g.: „hotspots“) Systematic Botany and Zoology, Marine Biodiversity, Primate Ecology, Phytodiversity, Landscape Ecology, Palaeoecology...

Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields 3. Significance of biodiversity for ecosystems Plant and Animal Ecology, Agroecology, Forest Ecology, Landscape Ecology, Agricultural Entomology...

Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields 4. Change of biodiversity over time Palaeoecology, Palynology, Environmental history ... (Kirleis 2004)

Biological Diversity and Ecology – Major Teaching and Research Fields 5. Maintenance of biodiversity Biological nature conservation, Sustainable management, Didactics of biology

Investigation of ecosystems around the globe Current focus: Research in the functions of biodiversity: What are the multiple effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning and ecosystem change over time? Field research in a mixed deciduous broad-leaved forest

Investigation of belowground biodiversity Food webs: organismic interactions between roots, microbes, fungi, soil animals Nutrient and organic matter cycling Coupling between above- and belowground biodiversity Significance of belowground biodiversity on climate change

Investigation of biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide Research in tropical rain forests Stability of Tropical Rainforest Margins (Indonesia) Sustainable Management Ecological gradients in Tropical Mountain Forests (Ecuador) Species inventaries Structure and Functioning along climatic and edaphic gradients

Georg-August University School of Natural Sciences GAUSS 3 - 4 years 2 years 8 - 9 years 3 years

Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology Bachelor‘s Programme (3 Years = 6 Semester)  Academic Qualification: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Master‘s Programme (2 Years = 4 Semester)

Masterprogramme Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution (M.Sc.) Biodiversity: obligatory covering module 12 ECTS 18 ECTS Plant Ecology: Ecophysiology, Phytodiversity, Ecosystem Research Animal Ecology: Food webs, Interactions, Communication, Genetics Plant Systematics, Phylogeny, Evolution Year 1 Major studies Animal Systematics, Phylogeny, Evolution, Behaviour Evolution: Botany; Zoology, Anthropology, Primatology; Geobiology Nature Conservation: conservation policy, biology, education Forensic Biology Complementary studies across faculties pool of 20 modules of different categories: exploration, functions, dynamics, and maintenance of biodiversity 30 ECTS 12 ECTS Key competences: scientific English, self organisation etc. 12 ECTS Year 2 Project management & Research methods 6 ECTS Master's thesis 30 ECTS

Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology Bachelor‘s Programme (3 Years = 6 Semester)  Academic Qualification: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Master‘s Programme (2 Years = 4 Semester)  Academic Qualification: Master of Science (M.Sc.) Doctor‘s Programme (3 Years = 6 Semester)

Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology Doctor‘s Programme (3 - 4 years = 6 - 8 semester) • open for students with a Master‘s degree or equivalency in biology or environmental sciences related to ecology, biodiversity, evolution, nature conservation, etc. • Third-Party-Funding of the PhD project is required: salary, fellowships or governmental fundings of the native or the guest country, e.g. DAAD or others. • Proof of Scientific English language skills. • 20 ECTS points required during the study period. • PhD thesis: cumulative, written in ENGLISH. • Thesis Committee: 3 professors as supporting group. • Doctor's degree: Dr. rer. nat. or PhD

Study programmes in Biological Diversity and Ecology Fast Track Option from Master to PhD • for excellent students, who will continue their M.Sc. research towards the PhD degree. • The M.Sc. thesis is done during the PhD study. • The M.Sc. thesis must be accepted before delivery of the dissertation. Major advantage: continuity of research from Master to PhD without loss of time. Prerequisite: third-party-funding for PhD must be acquired.

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