Integrating mechanisms into macroecology

8th Annual Meeting of the Specialist Group for Macroecology of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (GfÖ)

When? 4th - 6th March 2014

Where? Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Biology, Department Geobotany & Botanical Garden, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany


Linking processes and mechanistic approaches (e.g., from physiology, experimental ecology, demography, and evolution) with macroecological approaches, scales, and methods has long been discussed among macroecologists. Still, only few steps toward implementing such links have been taken, yet. With the 8th Annual Meeting of the Specialist Group for Macroecology of the GfÖ, we want to offer a forum for presenting and discussing both tested approaches and new ideas to make these links. Additionally, in order to move beyond discussion, we invite all participants to join the conference workshop on the 2nd day. Here, we plan to intensively discuss gaps in existing approaches and possible ways for bridging these gaps in several discussion groups and to take first steps towards publishing the summarized workshop results. 


Presentations will take place March 4th and in the morning of March 5th. Presenters will have the possibility to choose between two kinds of presentation slots: 

  • "Standard" with 10 minutes of presentation + 5 minutes of discussion
  • "Impulse" with 5 minutes of presentation + 10 minutes of discussion


"Impulse" presentations are supposed to offer the chance for deeper discussion among all participants and are not meant as an elongated time for questions to the presenter. We especially encourage young researchers to present and discuss their work and to actively participate in the breakout groups. Talks on work-in-progress, calls for collaborative project ideas, or even on ideas in a very early stage are welcome. 


The afternoon and evening of March 5th will be reserved for the breakout discussion groups. We expect that everyone who is interested in adding to the planned paper(s) will not only participate in the breakout groups but substantially work on the paper after the conference as well.



Macroecology meets IPBES

March 6th will provide the opportunity to discuss how macroecology can contribute to IPBES, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. This part of the 8th Annual Meeting of the Specialist Group for Macroecology of the GfÖ is organised by Katrin Böhning-Gaese and Christian Hof (Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre - BiK-F) and supported by NeFo, the German Network-Forum for Biodiversity Research (www.biodiversity.de).

This workshop will consist of talks by invited speakers combined with room for discussion and interaction. Participation at this workshop is free of charge.

NeFo   BIK-F   Senckenberg


To enable intense discussions and due to limited space, the number of participants that can join the 8th Annual Meeting of the Specialist Group for Macroecology of the GfÖ is limited to 75 people.


On behalf of all organizers,
Sonja Knapp, Ingolf Kühn, Matthias Liess, Erik Welk, Marten Winter