Doctoral candidate
Participatory landscape design for biodiversity and multifunctionality
Tel: +49 (0)711 / 459-23605
e-mail: marit.kasten@uni-hohenheim.de
Research project
For my PhD project (2023-2026), I am investigating the relative importance of different habitats and ecosystems for biodiversity in mosaic landscapes. The goal of my research is to determine the composition of "ideal" landscapes in terms of their composition and configuration. My project is part of the PhD program HABIT, jointly organized by the University of Hohenheim and the Nürtingen - Geislingen University of Applied Sciences (HfWU), where 12 PhD students are conducting research in different sub-disciplines. HABIT stands for "Levers for Biodiversity Enhancement in Agricultural Landscapes" and seeks to find ways to reverse the trend of progressive biodiversity loss in agricultural landscapes. The research is interdisciplinary - focusing on both ecological and social science aspects.
The landscapes to be studied have been selected along a complexity gradient and range from agricultural dominated landscapes to more complex landscapes encompassing forest, orchard, cropland and grassland habitats. For the ecological point of view, selected species groups such as birds or bats and their ecosystem services will be studied. Various tools will be used for this in 2023: audio recorders to record birds and bats, and yellow pan traps to collect insects as an indication of food resources for birds. In three rounds (March-July), equipment will be placed in the study landscapes for 48 hours each. The social science research will be conducted in 2024 in the form of interviews and discussions with various stakeholders such as conservationists, farmers, residents, and tourists.
The main research questions are:
- What is the ideal composition of a landscape from an ecological and sociological point of view?
- Are there synergies or conflicts between these aspects regarding the ideal composition of a landscape?
At the end of the thesis (2025-2026), recommendations for actions will be developed.
Short CV
In my bachelor's degree, I studied agricultural economics at HfWU, where I discovered my interest in the interface between agriculture and nature conservation. To further expand my knowledge of nature conservation, I transferred to the University of Hohenheim for my master's degree in Landscape Ecology. During my master's degree, I spent one semester at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, where I was able to further deepen my knowledge of insects and nature conservation. Finally, I wrote my master thesis within the NOcsPS project on the topic "Ecological-economic performance of conventional, organic and mineral-ecological cropping systems".
