Scientist

Faculty of Biology
Aquatic Ecology
Universitätsstrasse 5
D-45141 Essen
Germany

Room S05T03B02
Phone: +49.201.18.33113
Fax: +49.201.18.32179

Franziska.struller@uni-due.de

PhD thesis: Influence of lateral connectivity on species assemblage and dispersion patterns of ground beetles in floodplains

The (re-)creation of river-floodplain-connectivity is a central measure taken in many restoration projects. It is hardly studied whether an increased lateral (structural) connectivity, i.e. the hydrological, morphological interconnection of habitats, comes with an increased ecological (functional) connectivity, i.e. dispersion and reintroduction of animal and plant species.

The research project “ElBiota” studies how lateral connectivity influences plant and animal communities and distribution of pollutants in river-bank-floodplain-systems using the example of the river Elbe.

The project is conducted in cooperation of the Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG), Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ) and the University Duisburg-Essen.

My doctorate will be researching the influence of lateral connectivity on species assemblage and dispersion patterns of ground beetles (Carabidae) in floodplains along the central Elbe.