Personal profile
Curriculum
- 1995: Habilitation in "Geobotany and Landscape Ecology", Universities of Kiel and Lüneburg, Germany
- 1990: Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.), Institute of Botany, University of Kiel, Germany
- 1985-1990: Study of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Kiel, minor subject during PhD study
- 1984: Diploma in Biology, Universities of Göttingen and Kiel, Germany
1976: Abitur, Fichte-Gymnasium, Krefeld, Germany - Academic positions
- Since 1997: Professor of Ecology (Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation), Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lüneburg, Germany
- 1994-1997: Assistant Professor of Botany, Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Lüneburg, Germany
- 1992-1994: Assistant Lecturer, Department of Ecology, University of Osnabrück, Germany
- 1986-1992: Research Associate, Department of Vegetation Ecology, University of Kiel, Germany
Research interests
- Forest ecology and dynamics
- Nutrient balance and dynamics of ecoystems (of heathlands and forests)
- Relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
- Forms of land use and their influences on vegetation
Teaching
Ecology, Vegetation ecology, Botany
Hands-on projects for students
- Höltigbaum project E+E "Halboffene Weidelandschaften"
- China project "Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning-Relationships"
Keywords
- Biology
- Forest Ecology
- Heathland ecosystems
- Nutrient balance
- Ecosystems Research
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 15 Life on Land
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- 1 Similar Profiles
Research collaborations from the last five years
Projects
- 19 Finished
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TreeDi: TreeDiversity Interactions (TreeDi): The role of tree-tree interactions in local neighbourhoods in Chinese subtropical forests - International Research Training Group funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
Härdtle, W. (Project manager, academic), von Oheimb, G. (Project manager, academic), Fichtner, A. (Project manager, academic), Perles-García, M. D. (Project staff), Bruelheide, H. (Project manager, academic) & Wang, Y. (Project manager, academic)
01.04.18 → 30.09.22
Project: Research
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Minderung der Barrierewirkung von Agrarflächen mittels halboffener Verbundkorridore
Härdtle, W. (Project manager, academic), Aßmann, T. (Project manager, academic), Drees, C. (Partner), Hein, S. (Project staff) & Grabener, S. (Project staff)
Federal Agency for Nature Conservation
01.09.16 → 30.04.22
Project: Research
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ÖkoKult: Securing the Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity of Extensively Managed Cultural Landscapes (Ökokult): - Subproject 1: Ecosystem Functioning and Services of Cultural Landscapes
Temperton, V. (Project manager, academic), Härdtle, W. (Project manager, academic), Aßmann, T. (Project manager, academic), Walmsley, D. (Coordination) & Schuldt, A. (Project staff)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
01.08.16 → 31.01.23
Project: Research
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Effects of woody species diversity and composition on individual plant growth and demography
Härdtle, W. (Project manager, academic) & Fichtner, A. (Project manager, academic)
19.02.14 → 12.04.19
Project: Research
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TR_Experiment Stickstoffeintrag
Härdtle, W. (Project manager, academic)
02.12.13 → 31.12.17
Project: Transfer (R&D project)
Research output
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Ground beetle fauna of flower strips and forest edges in northern German lowlands’ conventional agricultural landscapes (Coleoptera, Carabidae)
Grabener, S., Boutaud, E., Drees, C., Gürlich, S., Härdtle, W., Husemann, L., Kubiak, M., Laschke, C. J., Remmers, S., Zumstein, P. & Assmann, T., 2025, In: Biodiversity Data Journal. 13, 22 p., e161282.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
How to promote spider diversity of heathlands: impact of management intensity
Matevski, D., Temperton, V. M., Walmsley, D., Haerdtle, W., Daniels, J. & Boutaud, E., 04.2025, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 34, p. 1057-1070 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Interactive effects of nitrogen deposition and climate change on a globally rare forest geophyte
Ohse, B., Jansen, D., Härdtle, W. & Fichtner, A., 03.2025, In: Plant Biology. 27, 2, p. 297-309 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus) -
Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres 2026: Federgras-Steppe (Festucion valesiacae)
Translated title of the contribution :Plant Community of the Year 2026: Feather grass steppe (Festucion valesiacae) Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Proposing a social-ecological framework for successful grassland restoration in Germany—an overview and insights from the Grassworks project
Temperton, V. M., Pătru-Dușe, I. A., Twerski, A., Laeseke, P., Neudert, R., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A., Romero, M. P., Bauer, M., Beckmann, V., Fischer, J., Gray, K., Härdtle, W., Kollmann, J., Kuhn, L., Laschke, C. J., Loos, J., Lutz, L., May, F., Meyer, M. & Martin-Lopez, B. & 11 others, , 09.2025, In: Restoration Ecology. 33, 7, 15 p., e70109.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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Jahrbuch des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für das Fürstentum Lüneburg von 1851 (Journal)
Fichtner, A. (Editor), Härdtle, W. (Editor) & Prüter, J. (Editor)
01.01.2024 → 31.12.2024Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editor of series › Research
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The 15th Anniversary edition of the European heathlands workshop - EHW 2017
Härdtle, W. (Speaker)
20.08.2017 → 25.08.2017Activity: Participating in or organising an academic or articstic event › External workshops, courses, seminars › Research
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Jahrbuch des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für das Fürstentum Lüneburg von 1851 (Journal)
Härdtle, W. (Editor)
01.01.2016 → 31.12.2016Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editor of journals › Research
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Jahrbuch des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für das Fürstentum Lüneburg von 1851 (Journal)
Härdtle, W. (Editorial Board) & Prüter, J. (Editorial Board)
01.01.2016 → 31.12.2016Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work › Editor of series › Research
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Zur Wirkung von Feuer und anderen Pflegemaßnahmen auf den Nährstoffhaushalt von Heidelandschaften
Härdtle, W. (Speaker) & Niemeyer, T. (Speaker)
01.01.2015 → 31.12.2015Activity: Talk or presentation › Guest lectures › Education
File
Prizes
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Most Cited Researcher of the Year 2008 der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg (3. Platz)
Härdtle, W. (Recipient), 2009
Prize: Leuphana internal Prize, Scholaships, distinctions, appointments › Research
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Most Cited Researcher of the Year 2009 der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg (3. Platz)
Härdtle, W. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Leuphana internal Prize, Scholaships, distinctions, appointments › Research
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Most Cited Researcher of the Year 2010 der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg (2. Platz)
Härdtle, W. (Recipient), 2011
Prize: Leuphana internal Prize, Scholaships, distinctions, appointments › Research
Press/Media
Datasets
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Figure 3 from: Zumstein P, Bruelheide H, Fichtner A, Schuldt A, Staab M, Härdtle W, Zhou H, Assmann T (2021) What shapes ground beetle assemblages in a tree species-rich subtropical forest? In: Spence J, Casale A, Assmann T, Liebherr JК, Penev L (Eds) Systematic Zoology and Biodiversity Science: A tribute to Terry Erwin (1940-2020). ZooKeys 1044: 907-927. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1044.63803
Zumstein, P. (Creator), Bruelheide, H. (Creator), Fichtner, A. (Creator), Schuldt, A. (Creator), Staab, M. (Creator), Härdtle, W. (Creator), Zhou, H. (Creator) & Assmann, T. (Creator), ZENODO, 16.06.2021
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1044.63803.figure3, https://zenodo.org/record/5023380
Dataset
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Figure 2 from: Zumstein P, Bruelheide H, Fichtner A, Schuldt A, Staab M, Härdtle W, Zhou H, Assmann T (2021) What shapes ground beetle assemblages in a tree species-rich subtropical forest? In: Spence J, Casale A, Assmann T, Liebherr JК, Penev L (Eds) Systematic Zoology and Biodiversity Science: A tribute to Terry Erwin (1940-2020). ZooKeys 1044: 907-927. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1044.63803
Zumstein, P. (Creator), Bruelheide, H. (Creator), Fichtner, A. (Creator), Schuldt, A. (Creator), Staab, M. (Creator), Härdtle, W. (Creator), Zhou, H. (Creator) & Assmann, T. (Creator), ZENODO, 24.06.2021
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1044.63803.figure2, https://zenodo.org/record/5023378
Dataset
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Data from: Impacts of drought and nitrogen addition on Calluna-heathlands differ with plant life-history stage
Meyer-Grünefeldt, M. (Contributor), Calvo, L. (Contributor), Marcos, E. (Contributor), Von Oheimb, G. (Contributor), Härdtle, W. (Contributor) & Calvo Galván, L. (Contributor), ZENODO, 24.06.2016
DOI: 10.5061/dryad.k7d23, https://zenodo.org/records/4991892
Dataset
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Data from: Impacts of species richness on productivity in a large-scale subtropical forest experiment
Huang, Y. (Creator), Chen, Y. (Creator), Castro-Izaguirre, N. (Creator), Baruffol, M. (Creator), Brezzi, M. (Creator), Lange, A. (Creator), Li, Y. (Creator), Härdtle, W. (Creator), von Oheimb, G. (Creator), Yang, X. (Creator), Liu, X. (Creator), Pei, K. (Creator), Both, S. (Creator), Yang, B. (Creator), Eichenberg, D. (Creator), Aßmann, T. (Creator), Bauhus, J. (Creator), Behrens, T. (Creator), Buscot, F. (Creator), Chen, X.-Y. (Creator), Chesters, D. (Creator), Ding, B.-Y. (Creator), Durka, W. (Creator), Erfmeier, A. (Creator), Fang, J. (Creator), Fischer, M. (Creator), Guo, L.-D. (Creator), Guo, D. (Creator), Gutknecht, J. L. M. (Creator), He, J.-S. (Creator), He, C.-L. (Creator), Hector, A. (Creator), Hönig, L. (Creator), Hu, R.-Y. (Creator), Klein, A.-M. (Creator), Kühn, P. (Creator), Liang, Y. (Creator), Li, S. (Creator), Michalski, S. G. (Creator), Scherer-Lorenzen, M. (Creator), Schmidt, K. (Creator), Scholten, T. (Creator), Schuldt, A. (Creator), Shi, X. (Creator), Tan, M.-Z. (Creator), Tang, Z. (Creator), Trogisch, S. (Creator), Wang, Z. (Creator), Welk, E. (Creator), Wirth, C. (Creator), Wubet, T. (Creator), Xiang, W. (Creator), Yu, M. (Creator), Yu, X.-D. (Creator), Zhang, J. (Creator), Zhang, S. (Creator), Zhang, N. (Creator), Zhou, H. Z. (Creator), Zhu, C.-D. (Creator), Zhu, L. (Creator), Bruelheide, H. (Creator), Ma, K. (Creator), Niklaus, P. A. (Creator) & Schmid, B. (Creator), DRYAD, 05.10.2018
Dataset
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Figure 1 from: Matern A, Drees C, Hardtle W, von Oheimb G, Assmann T (2011) Historical ecology meets conservation and evolutionary genetics: a secondary contact zone between Carabus violaceus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) populations inhabiting ancient and recent woodlands in north-western Germany. ZooKeys 100: 545-563. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.100.1546
Matern, A. (Contributor), Drees, C. (Contributor), Hardtle, W. (Contributor), von Oheimb, G. (Contributor) & Assmann, T. (Contributor), ZENODO, 20.05.2011
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.100.1546.figure1, https://zenodo.org/record/925416
Dataset