:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/0f84f01615d08078fd91697dcebcb550.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Sektionen/ZBM/Naturschutzoekologie_BN/Hilgartner_x00008-5.jpg%3F1772620924)
Understanding the changes in biodiversity is the basis for developing solutions for species conservation and sound policy resommendations. In the section Conservation Ecology at the Centre for Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation Science (zbm), we focus on species-focused research to gain insights into the causes and consequences of biodiversity decline.
The Conservation Ecology Section focusses on the following approaches:
- Documentation of biodiversity change in context with human land use and climate change
- Development and application of innovative biodiversity monitoring methods
- Research on the ecological structure of species assemblages and communities across trophic levels
- Investigating causes and consequences of population decline and species loss
- Evidence-based development of solutions for the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity
- Capacity building and awareness raising through cooperation with local people, responsible authorities and through interdisciplinary research
Biodiversity research Madagascar
Since 2022, research in the Section Conservation Ecology focusses on biodiversity research in Madagascar, reflecting the original scientific background of section head Livia Schäffler. Field work always involves local people which helps them to generate income and build capacity. Results relevant to protected area management and species conservation are made available to competent authorities and disseminated on an international level to the scientific community. With the insights from our research, we contribute to updating Red List assessments and regularly contribute to the selection of the World's Top 25 Most Endangered Primates.
:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/25816fd8472fa66bbaecd19406b49461.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/News/2025-05-27_Interview_Livia_Schaeffler_02.jpg%3F1748331650)
"You can't just focus on your own research here" - An interview with Livia Schäffler
Causes and consequences of biodiversity change
Between 2018 and 2021, we have implemented joint interdisciplinary research projects with partners from the Leibniz Association and beyond, such as SustainCBW (obstacles to nature conservation and sustainable development in biodiversity hotspots), INPEDIV (causes and consequences of species decline in German protected areas), and DINA (agricultural impact on German protected areas and implications for spatial planning). Those large third-party funded collaborative research projects also aimed at understanding causes and consequences of biodiversity change as well as at providing policy recommendations.
Contact person
/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Ueber_das_LIB/Mitarbeitende/Bonn/01_20250317_MKB_Portraits_SchaefflerLivia_FBunjoch_7332.JPG%3F1743502534)
- Head of section Conservation Ecology at the Center for Biodiversity Monitoring
- Research networks, international cooperation & science policy
Phone: +49 228 9122 352
E-Mail: l.schaeffler@leibniz-lib.de
Projects
:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/c5e45f464f2fc06ffb660972180c63cf.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Projekte/2025-PXL_20251124_164513274_small.jpg%3F1772537876)
What do mouse lemurs feed on - and who feeds on them?
Management: Dr. Livia Schäffler
:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/0f84f01615d08078fd91697dcebcb550.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Projekte/2023-Microcebus_Hilgartner_Tsi00001-11.jpg%3F1772534293)
What causes the disappearance of Mme. Berthe's mouse lemur from dry deciduous forests in Western Madagascar?
Management: Dr. Livia Schäffler
:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/c5e45f464f2fc06ffb660972180c63cf.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Projekte/2022-PXL_20251117_124931636_small.jpg%3F1772536507)
(Re-)discovery of threatened vertebrates in western Madagascar by eDNA metabarcoding
Management: Dr. Livia Schäffler
:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/0f84f01615d08078fd91697dcebcb550.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Projekte/2022-Microcebus_Hilgartner_Tsi1-Mbe00011-4.jpg%3F1772531046)
Is Madame Berthe's Mouse lemur extinct?
Management: Dr. Livia Schäffler
:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/a122d80de5b0f6ecc17838167ce2601d.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Projekte/SynMon.jpg%3F1724069012 "Schmetterling")
SynMon
Management: MSc Niklas W. Noll
:watermark(leibniz-lib.de/typo3temp/assets/images/watermark-copyright/c5e45f464f2fc06ffb660972180c63cf.png,3,10,0)/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Sektionen/ZBM/Naturschutzoekologie_BN/dsc_4731_0.jpg%3F1733397721)
Integrative Analysis of the influence of pesticides and land use on biodiversity in Germany
Management: Dr. Livia Schäffler
Publications
| of
2025/03
Identifying conservation hotspots and assessing species commonness and rarity: Baseline arthropod diversity in German nature reserves via national Malaise trap monitoring
Insect Conservation and Diversity
2024/10
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur (Microcebus berthae). In Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2024–2025, pp. 9-11. IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, Int. Primatological Society, Re:wild, Washington, DC
2024/10
Coquerel’s Giant Mouse Lemur (Mirza coquereli). In Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2024–2025, pp. 17-19. IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, Int. Primatological Society, Re:wild, Washington, DC
2023/12
taxalogue: a toolkit to create comprehensive CO1 reference databases
PeerJ, 11
2023/11
Monitoring der Biodiversität flugaktiver Insekten in NRW
Nat NRW, 2023, 3
2023/11
Recommendations for effective insect conservation in nature protected areas based on a transdisciplinary project in Germany
Environmental Sciences Europe, 1, 35
2022/12
Spatial, temporal and taxonomic patterns of insect extinction in Germany
bioRxiv
2022/12
Improving insect conservation management through insect monitoring and stakeholder involvement
2, 32
2022/09
Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur Microcebus berthae.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
2022/04
Developing a novel bioacoustic monitoring for Garden Dormice using passive sound recorders and machine learning
ARPHA Conference Abstracts, 5
2022/01
Recommendations for tissue homogenisation and extraction in DNA metabarcoding of Malaise trap samples
2022/01
A universal insect trait tool (ITT, v1.0) for statistical analysis and evaluation of biodiversity research data
2021/03
Mouse Lemurs in an Assemblage of Cheirogaleid Primates in Menabe Central, Western Madagascar – Three Reasons to Coexist
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9
2020/10
Langfristige Biodiversitätsveränderungen in Deutschland erkennen - mit Hilfe der Vergangenheit in die Zukunft schauen
Natur und Landschaft : Zeitschrift für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege, 11, 95
2020/02
Microcebus berthae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Microcebus berthae–published in 2020
6
2019/10
Identifying Key Knowledge Gaps to Better Protect Biodiversity and Simultaneously Secure Livelihoods in a Priority Conservation Area
20, 11
2016/01
Green Paper Citizen Science Strategy 2020 for Germany
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4964.0563
2016/01
Grünbuch Citizen Science Strategie 2020 für Deutschland
2015/03
Agent-mediated spatial storage effect in heterogeneous habitat stabilizes competitive mouse lemur coexistence in Menabe Central, Western Madagascar
1, 15
2015/02
NBS Indikator "Dauer der Vegetationsperiode"
2014/12
Distribution and abundance of three cheirogaleid species in Menabe Central, Western Madagascar
Lemur News, 18
2014/03
Distribution and Abundance of the World's Smallest Primate, Microcebus berthae, in Central Western Madagascar
2, 35
2014/01
Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur
2013/00
Indicators of climate change impacts on biodiversity – A concept for the national level
Climate Change and Nature Conservation in Europe – an ecological, policy and economic perspective
2012/01
Determinants of Population Structure in the World's Smallest Primate, Microcebus Berthae, across its Global Range in Menabe Central, Western Madagascar
2009/00
Rapid lemur survey in northern Menabe
Lemur News, 14
2007/12
The lemur syndrome unresolved: extreme male reproductive skew in sifakas (Propithecus verreauxi), a sexually monomorphic primate with female dominance
6, 62
2002/05
Short Communication: Lack of Plasticity in the Behavior of Queens of the Ant Leptothorax rugatulus Emery (Formicidae: Hymenoptera)
Journal of Insect Behavior, 3, 15
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2009
2007
2002
Employees
/leibniz-lib.de/_assets/7abd6609c3f3f81d637bf3fde8bba50e/Standard/Images/specialized-image-default.svg%3F1723800834)
MSc Niklas W. Noll
zbm Nature conservation ecology Doctoral candidatePhone: +49 228 9122 459
E-mail: n.noll@leibniz-lib.de/leibniz-lib.de/fileadmin/user_upload/home/Bilder/LIB/Ueber_das_LIB/Mitarbeitende/Bonn/01_20250317_MKB_Portraits_SchaefflerLivia_FBunjoch_7332.JPG%3F1743502534)
Dr. Livia Schäffler
zbm Nature conservation ecology ScientistPhone: +49 228 9122 352
E-mail: l.schaeffler@leibniz-lib.de