Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change

As a living research museum of the Leibniz Association, we research biological diversity and analyse its change and the causes of change. In doing so, we make an important contribution to preserving nature for future generations. Our research connects disciplines and communities, creates knowledge and invites dialogue.

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Keeping pace with climate change: Genetic exchange enables rapid adaptation in songbirds
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Press release
17 October 2025
Exchange of genetic diversity between species accelerates evolutionary adaptation
Possible location for new natural history museum found
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release Knowledge transfer
14 October 2025
Hamburg is to receive a new, forward-looking natural history museum with research laboratories and a scientific collection. This was unanimously decided by the city parliament in 2021. The examination of various locations by the Senate...
Face of the LIB: Simone Rödder
Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Faces of the LIB
08 October 2025
How can science and communication help to overcome the biodiversity and climate crisis? How can the dialogue between science, politics and society be revitalised? These are the questions that the sociologist and ...
Elbe estuary in transition: dramatic changes in the fish fauna over the last 40 years
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release
25 September 2025
A study spanning almost four decades paints a clear picture of the changing fish fauna in the Elbe estuary: Researchers from the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), in cooperation with the University of Hamburg, have analysed data ...
Insects of the night - how AI and art can help them
Research Museum Koenig Bonn Knowledge transfer
19 September 2025
Using newly developed camera traps and artificial intelligence, researchers in the LEPMON project want to determine the population of moths in Germany. LIB researchers are also using other unusual approaches to study and protect nocturnal insects
Research project analyses biodiversity change since 1960 - and the consequences for groundwater
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Knowledge transfer
10 September 2025
How has biodiversity in Germany changed over the past 60 years? And what does this change mean for our future? What influence do land use, climate change and the straightening of watercourses have?
Street art murals make biodiversity visible
Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Press release
04 September 2025
Two juniper thrushes are beautifully enthroned high up on a building façade for everyone to see - in the centre of Hamburg-Eimsbüttel. The street art duo Anna Taut & Pascal "KKade" Flühmann spent over a week working on the large-format mural...
Colourful and sophisticated - that's how diverse sea snails are!
Research Museum Koenig Bonn
28 August 2025
Marine snails not only look fascinating - many can also defend themselves with toxins! An international team of researchers has now discovered two new species of so-called warty snails in North Sulawesi, Indonesia...
Face of the LIB: Thorsten Hermann
Museum Koenig Bonn Faces of the LIB
21 August 2025
As deputy head of the IT department at LIB, he rarely fishes in the mud and finds solutions to our digital problems. In his spare time, Thorsten Hermann is drawn to the local lakes in the Bonn area to cast his line...
New handout for schools on handling human remains in their collections
Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release Knowledge transfer
20 August 2025
The handling of human remains in school biology collections is a sensitive topic - around 40 per cent of secondary schools in Hamburg have such human remains. A new handout now offers guidance for teachers...
Connect, Conserve, Restore: How Research Is Protecting Coral Reefs – and Our Future
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release Knowledge transfer
28 July 2025
July 28 marks World Nature Conservation Day – a moment to focus on especially vulnerable habitats, such as coral reefs. These biodiverse ecosystems are not only fascinating but also vital indicators of environmental health.
Treasure of the Month: A Tiny Tarantula with Great Scientific Importance
Museum of Nature Hamburg Collection Treasure of the Month
22 July 2025
Hidden in the remote Tepui formations of Ecuador, researchers from the LIB came across a small tarantula that differed significantly from all previously known species. What began as an expedition in 2024 to a scarcely explored high plateau ...
What Dinosaur Teeth Reveal About Life 150 Million Years Ago
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release Knowledge transfer
18 July 2025
What did long-necked dinosaurs eat – and where did they roam to satisfy their hunger? A team of researchers has reconstructed the feeding behaviour of sauropods using cutting-edge dental wear analysis. Their findings, published...
Warming seas scare away female angel sharks - with potentially dramatic consequences
Research Museum Koenig Bonn Press release
17 July 2025
Angel sharks, a shark species threatened with extinction, change their mating behaviour in warmer oceans: If the water temperatures become too high, the females avoid their traditional breeding grounds - and rely on cooling instead.
"The Museum Makers" continues: a look behind the scenes of our collections
Museum of Nature Hamburg Collection
14 July 2025
Our museums are an experience for visitors — but natural history doesn’t stop there. Beyond the permanent exhibitions, many minds work on research projects, prepare specimens, or develop educational programmes. The Museum Makers takes a closer ...
Face of the LIB: Timo Moritz
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Collection
27 June 2025
Even at the age of twelve, Timo Moritz wanted to know everything about sharks. More and more questions eventually led him into science. As the new curator of the fish collection at the LIB's Museum der Natur Hamburg, he is now researching the diversity of ...
How biodiversity research benefits from the dismantling of heteronormative perspectives
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Knowledge transfer
26 June 2025
In biology, one theory has long been considered irrefutable: animals mate primarily to reproduce - preferably heterosexually, male-dominant, female-passive. Does this view of the world really reflect nature in a value-free way or has it been...
New record - Over 20,500 guests at the Museum Mile Festival in the Museum Koenig Bonn
Museum Koenig Bonn Knowledge transfer
13 June 2025
On May 31 and June 1, 2025, the Museum Koenig Bonn opened its doors, cabinets, chests, and museum park to young and old, as it does every year. The festival of Bonn's five major museums on the Museum Mile featured live music from the stage ...
How "supergenes" in fish help to develop new species
Research Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Knowledge transfer
12 June 2025
One of the big questions in biology is how new species arise and how the incredible diversity of nature comes about. A new paper, which has now been published in the journal "Science" by an international team, provides us with...
"We need an agriculture that destroys less"
Research Knowledge transfer
11 June 2025
With the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence - Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production, the University of Bonn is breaking new ground: robotics, sensor technology and ecological research are to work together to make agriculture fit for the ...
"You can't just focus on your own research here" - An interview with Livia Schäffler
Research Knowledge transfer
27 May 2025
Our closest relatives in the animal kingdom are acutely threatened: every two years a new Top 25 list of the world's most endangered primates is published. Compiled by a group of members of the nature conservation organisations International Union...
Museum on the Move: Ein Interview mit Katrin Vohland und Bernhard Misof
Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn LIB Magazine
20 May 2025
The institution of the Natural History Museum is undergoing radical change. Collecting, preserving, researching, exhibiting - all that remains. However, the perspective, the methods, the discourse, the management are changing. At the interface between scientific ...
Magical sea creatures in new special exhibition "Corals - a play of colours in art and science" at the Maritime Museum
Museum of Nature Hamburg Collection
15 May 2025
Colourful biodiversity is not only found on land, but also in the water. The International Maritime Museum in Hamburg is currently dedicating an entire special exhibition to corals and is also showing exhibits from our treasure troves...
Practical programme for Ukrainian biology students
Press release Knowledge transfer
12 May 2025
It was an event with a vision for the future, a course that was more than just a learning unit for students from Ukraine. As co-initiator, the LIB supported a practical programme for Ukrainian biology students from Kharkiv.
5057 Night owls between crab igami and butterfly treasures
Museum of Nature Hamburg Knowledge transfer
28 April 2025
Do jellyfish and worms have sex? And how do you make crab igami? Many hands-on activities such as upcycling and gold panning, lectures and guided tours attracted 5057 night owls to the Museum der Natur Hamburg on Saturday for the Long Night of ...
Treasure of the month: Eggs and nests at Museum Koenig Bonn
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Treasure of the Month
17 April 2025
We are in the starting blocks for the egg hunt: it's only a matter of hours until the Easter bunny fills his hiding places. The search for real eggs - that aren't made of delicious chocolate - is a real passion for researchers too...
Face of the LIB: Alexandra Hostert
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn
04 April 2025
Here at the LIB, Alexandra Hostert wants to inspire people about nature and show how socially relevant our research is. When she's not scrambling up mountains, she goes to concerts or enjoys the proximity to Bonn's lifeline: the Rhine.
Illegal trade in Galapagos iguanas - study uncovers international network
Research Museum Koenig Bonn
02 April 2025
A study involving the LIB now shows how an international network illegally trades in iguanas that are only found on this archipelago.
Digitising museums faster with a smartphone
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Collection
27 March 2025
A team from the LIB has published tutorials that can be used to quickly and cost-effectively read out collection data from natural history museums using a smartphone.
The LIB Magazine: an inspiring journey into the world of biodiversity
Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Knowledge transfer LIB Magazine
06 March 2025
With our LIB magazine, we address the core topics of our research museum and show how relevant science is to our everyday lives.
Strengthening cooperation with research institutes in Ghana
Research Knowledge transfer
24 February 2025
It was the start of a strategic partnership. A delegation of LIB researchers recently traveled to Ghana with the aim of identifying fields for joint research projects.
LIB establishes Centre for biodiversity research in Ecuador
Research Press release
18 February 2025
The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change is working with the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE) in Quito to establish a scientific center for biodiversity research in Ecuador.
"SciXit": Withdrawal from Platform X:
Knowledge transfer
17 February 2025
Numerous academic institutions left Platform X in January 2025 following a widely recognised public appeal. By now, more than 120 universities and research institutes have joined the call to cease communication on X, including the LIB.
Pesticides have greater impacts on animals, plants, and microorganisms than previously thought
Research Press release
13 February 2025
Pesticides are used primarily in agriculture to control pests. However, they can also harm many beneficial animal, plant and fungal species.
Insight and exchange: New rooms and exhibition opened at the Museum der Natur Hamburg
Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release
12 February 2025
Since 12 February, two newly designed rooms in the zoological exhibition at the Museum der Natur Hamburg have been inviting visitors to linger, marvel, discover and join in.
Museum Koenig Bonn opens special exhibition ‘Meadow habitat’
Museum Koenig Bonn Press release
06 February 2025
The Museum Koenig Bonn is presenting her impressive photographs in the special exhibition ‘Habitat Meadow’, which opens on 19 February.
Quarries, sand and gravel pits as habitats: how the building materials industry can promote biodiversity
Research Press release
29 January 2025
With funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the ‘Holistic Biodiversity Management in the Building Materials Industry’ (GiBBS) project has produced a handbook to help raw materials companies implement species ...
Scientists Resolve “Identity Crisis” for Australia’s Deadliest Spider
Research Press release
13 January 2025
An international team of scientists has revised the classification of Australia’s most famous spider.
Art meets science on insect protection at the ‘UN Campus’ railway station
Press release Knowledge transfer
17 December 2024
Beetles, butterflies and other insects have recently been hanging around the UN Campus railway station in oversized graffiti. What looks beautiful has a larger goal: the graffiti draws attention to the threat posed to insects by light pollution.
Elbtower: option for new natural history museum in Hamburg
Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release
16 December 2024
The discussion about the location for the new natural history museum in Hamburg is gathering pace. As confirmed by the Senate of the City of Hamburg, proposals for housing the ‘Evolutioneum’ in the new building on the Elbe bridges are being ...
Decoding the world’s largest animal genome
Research Press release
14 August 2024
Thirty times the size of the human genome: An international team of researchers led by Konstanz evolutionary biologist Axel Meyer and Würzburg biochemist Manfred Schartl, including researchers from the LIB has sequenced the largest genome of all ...
Bronze of the "Bundesgiraffe" on board the MS Wissenschaft
Museum Koenig Bonn Knowledge transfer
30 July 2024
"Freedom" is the motto of the Science Year 2024, which the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has proclaimed to mark the 75th anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany. With a wide range of activities to take part in, a swimming
Science meets street art
Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Knowledge transfer
09 July 2024
InUrFaCE (Initiative of Urban Facades Creature Exposition) aims to create facade artworks on biodiversity that "jump out at you". Internationally renowned street artists create the so-called murals together with
Wanted: Butterflies in Hamburg - Who's in?
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Knowledge transfer
01 July 2024
We don't have to travel far to find rare species. There are many places in Hamburg where we can find rare or even endangered animals. Even in densely populated areas such as Hamburg, there is a lack of constant biomonitoring in order to find rare ...
Over 10,000 visitors at the Museum Mile Festival at Museum Koenig Bonn
Museum Koenig Bonn Knowledge transfer
27 June 2024
For two days from 22 to 23 June 2024, Museum Koenig Bonn opened its doors as well as the Museum Park to young and old at the legendary Museum Mile Festival of the five major museums on the Museum Mile. In addition to live music from Klassik
Face of the LIB: Marie Herberstein
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg
27 May 2024
Marie Herberstein is looking for a different perspective, a fresh look at fixed structures and the creative side of change. On 15 April, the Australian with Austrian roots took over the management of the ztm at the LIB.
Painted democracy: 75 years of the Basic Law in pictures by Markus Lüpertz
Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Knowledge transfer
03 May 2024
To mark the 75th anniversary, the Museum Koenig Bonn is showing the exhibition "Painted Democracy - 75 Years of the Basic Law in Paintings by Markus Lüpertz."
Unique "Elmshorn" meteorite now on display at the Museum der Natur Hamburg
Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release Collection
25 April 2024
It is a meteorite of superlatives that fell from the sky in Elmshorn near Hamburg on 25 April 2023: from a scientific and cultural-historical point of view, it represents a globally unique piece. At 3.7 kilograms, it is also the largest in
What medicine can learn from ants...
Research Press release
05 April 2024
Mixing livestock farming and arable farming, integrating flower strips and trees, water and soil conservation and much more: diverse agriculture not only benefits nature, but also secures the food base and the agricultural sector for us humans.
What medicine can learn from ants...
Research Collection
27 February 2024
When biology and technology intersect, we usually talk about bionics. The mouthparts of ants could, for example, help to improve needle holders during endoscopic procedures. Dr Benjamin Wipfler, together with colleagues from various disciplines
FOGS database against illegal wildlife trade launched
Research Press release Knowledge transfer
22 February 2024
The global illegal wildlife trade threatens around 6,000 protected species and their populations. With the FOGS reference database and new analytical methods, the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) supports authorities and species conservation organisations in their efforts to combat this ...
Biomorphic worlds: Where art and science merge
Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Knowledge transfer
09 January 2024
Exciting and flowing at the same time, close to nature and abstract: Bielefeld artist Henning Bock interprets specimens from the mammal collection at Museum Koenig Bonn, combining art and science. From 25 January to 3 March 20
Women in Herpetology - 50 stories from around the world
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn
22 November 2023
Umilaela Arifin works as a herpetologist at the Museum der Natur Hamburg and has already experienced a great deal in her career as a researcher. Now she has teamed up with 49 other female experts from the world of science to publish the book "Women in ...
Foundation stone laid for multinational research centre in the Caucasus
Research Press release
26 October 2023
The freely accessible database is up and running, the laboratory infrastructure is functioning. The Caucasus Barcode of Life (CaBOL) cooperation project has laid the foundations for a multinational research centre in the Caucasus. However, it is still unclear how the ...
Solve puzzles from the world of pollinators in our new escape game
Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Knowledge transfer
25 October 2023
Make an entire city liveable again for insects: Players can now immerse themselves in the fascinating and colourful world of "PROJECT POLLINATION: A BUZZING RESCUE". The educational escape game raises awareness in a playful way.
Expedition Schneeleo" exhibition now at the Museum der Natur Hamburg
Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release Knowledge transfer
11 October 2023
Look a snow leopard in the eye, guess its voice, catch prey on a monitor: NABU's "Expedition Snow Leopard" exhibition follows the endangered "spirit of the mountains" with a mixture of analogue and digital hands-on activities.
"It's not the weather - we humans are causing insect mortality"
Research Press release
28 September 2023
Can the weather really be the main cause of insect mortality? A recent STUDY in the scientific journal Nature blames (changing) weather conditions for the sharp decline in insects. Christoph Scherber, Deputy Director
Highlights of nature photography 2023
Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Knowledge transfer
12 September 2023
The "Highlights of Nature Photography" were sought for the 25th time.
Mixed crop cultivation offers insect protection without loss of yield
Research Press release
04 September 2023
How can we stop the drastic decline in biodiversity? A recent STUDY led by the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) shows possible solutions for agricultural landscapes. The investigations prove
75 years of the Parliamentary Council: Ceremony at Museum Koenig Bonn
Museum Koenig Bonn Press release
01 September 2023
75 years ago, Museum Koenig Bonn wrote a piece of German democratic and parliamentary history. On 1 September 1948, the Parliamentary Council met here in the atrium for its constituent session. Today, the German Bundestag is celebrating this
Face of the LIB: Alexander Suh
Research Museum Koenig Bonn
29 August 2023
Curious, eager to experiment, connecting: these are the signs with which Alexander Suh took over the management of the Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research (zmb) at the LIB in April 2023.
The effects of deep-sea mining are unpredictable
Research
08 June 2023
Bizarre-looking creatures cavort in the diffuse light at sea depths of 200 metres and below. Yet we know almost nothing about life in the deep sea, our largest ecosystem. But what we do know: The seabed harbours valuable minerals
The LIB at the Long Day of Urban Nature Hamburg
Museum of Nature Hamburg Knowledge transfer
30 May 2023
We're grabbing our nets, binoculars and wellies - 17 June is once again the LONG DAY OF CITY NATURE in Hamburg. As a close partner of the event, which is initiated by the Loki Schmidt Foundation, the Museum der Natur Hamburg is of course also i
Long Night of Museums: Full house with 4,500 revellers
Museum of Nature Hamburg Knowledge transfer
24 April 2023
What a night it was! Scorpions crawled over researchers' hands, minerals glowed in the dark and our dinosaur researcher told us what dinosaurs did at night to pass the time. Almost 4,500 night owls came to the Long Night on 22 April.
Global database links collections from the world's 73 largest natural history museums
Research Press release Collection
24 March 2023
The LIB's scientific collections, with their 16 million objects, are now part of a global database of the world's largest natural history museums. The digital catalogue links more than one billion objects from scientific collections of
Non-native land snail species are increasing exponentially
Research Press release
19 January 2023
Invasive land snail species can displace native species and harm human health. A recent study by the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) provides an overview of the exponential increase and dy
"Nature can still be saved" - Bernhard Misof on the World Nature Conference
Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn
06 December 2022
The aim is to save the planet and turn the tide of the biodiversity crisis. From 7 December, government representatives from almost 200 countries will meet in Montreal, Canada, with the aim of forging a pact to protect nature. LIB Director General
Frankfurt Declaration: Working together for biodiversity
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn
02 December 2022
One week before the start of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15) in Montreal, an alliance of German scientific and non-governmental organisations calls in its "FRANKFURT DECLARATION", published today, for the protection of biodiversity in the ...
New home for natural history in Hamburg
Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release
29 November 2022
The new building of the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) will be built on construction site 51 in HafenCity. The LEUCHTTURMPROJEKT for the world of science and museums will offer innovative exhibitions as well as space for research and ...
Pan-European genome research to save biodiversity worldwide
Research Press release
28 September 2022
Experts from all over Europe are joining forces today to launch the pan-European consortium "Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE)". The comprehensive application of genomics to the study of biodiversity will revolutionise science.
Reporting portal for alien species extended to northern Germany
Research Press release Collection
28 July 2022
Hamburg's portal for reporting non-native animal species is now available for the whole of northern Germany. On NEOBIOTA-NORD.DE, citizens can now compare and report species that were previously not native to northern Germany. With the Eng
One year of LIB: researching and acting together
Press release
23 June 2022
Joining forces to preserve nature and shape the future: The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) began its work a year ago with this goal against the backdrop of an increasing biodiversity crisis.
Berlin Declaration: For the future of humanity
Research Museum of Nature Hamburg Museum Koenig Bonn Press release Collection
20 May 2022
Thirty years after the first World Summit on Nature in Rio de Janeiro, the loss of biodiversity and global climate change are the greatest and most pressing challenges of the future. Nothing less than our very existence is at stake. U
"Multifaceted insects": Travelling exhibition opens in Hamburg
Museum of Nature Hamburg Press release Knowledge transfer
23 March 2022
Dazzlingly beautiful, successful, useful - and endangered. Although insects do a great deal for us humans, we are responsible for their decline. From today, 23 March 2022, the travelling exhibition "Multifaceted insects: Diversity I G
Face of the LIB: Christoph Scherber
Research Museum Koenig Bonn
30 November 2021
When Christoph Scherber explains his work, he sometimes reaches into the chocolate bag. After all, the quality of the dark delicacy depends very much on the variety of pollinating insects.
A close look at the dinosaurs: What did the prehistoric lizards eat?
Research
10 November 2021
"The Hamburg dinosaurs will play a key role in the project." Humboldt Fellow Emanuel Tschopp wants to find out more about the lifestyle of long-necked dinosaurs through the wear and tear and changing of their teeth. An important part of his ...
Face of the LIB: Bernhard Misof
Research Museum Koenig Bonn
01 July 2021
As Director General, he now holds the highest management position at the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB): Prof Dr Bernhard Misof kicks off our "Faces of the LIB" series.