Introduction The Tropical Nature Conservation and Vertebrate Ecology Group performs research and education in community ecology of large herbivores, with particular emphasis on the interactions between herbivores and the vegetation. This is carried out at aggregation levels ranging from plant part to ecosystem, with a geographical focus on Africa. The ecology of mountainous neotropical vegetation is becoming an increasingly important research field. The research approaches include model development, model testing, and experimental hypothesis testing. The main research sites are savannas, grasslands in tropical and temperate regions, and grasslands and forests in mountainous neotropical regions.
Most research is carried out by post-docs and PhD students, supported by faculty.
Results have a strong bearing on nature conservation and management in tropical and temperate areas.