August 2025
We have completed data collection for our field experiment investigating how streetlight color affects insect-mediated ecosystem services, specifically plant pollination and insect community composition. This study is part of the SPOTLIGHT project and aims to provide insights into how lighting design can reduce ecological impacts while meeting human needs.
Nicola's second PhD publication was accepted! He investigated the effects of various LED light characteristics on flight-active and ground-dwelling arthropods, to find ways to mitigate the impacts of artificial light at night. He found that 91% less arthropods were attracted by streetlight when the light was turned off at night compared to lit streetlight. Dimming the light and using focused luminaires caused a reduction of 22% and 42%, respectively. Light color influenced arthropod responses only when combined with dimming.
July 2025
During our annual group excursion, we went to observe the flora and fauna in the Areuse gorges between Champ-du-Moulin and Boudry in the Canton of Neuchâtel.
May 2025
We initiated a project to study how drought legacy effects in mature trees might impact leaf bacterial communities and herbivores through changes in phytochemistry. The fieldwork was conducted at the KROOF site, in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, the University of Jena, and the Helmholtz Institute.
Old news ¶
Call to participate in a global experiment ¶
We propose a global protocol to assess human impacts on forest ecosystems using experimental microcosms. The main question we aim to address is:
How do current and future climatic conditions, forest habitat degradation and management, influence biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in water filled microcosms worldwide?
Interested? Please contact Martin Gossner
The field season has started! ¶
In March, the insect traps for the Lothar projectwere installed so that early flying insects could also be detected.
The larch tortrix is back ¶
Nearly 40 year after the last major outbreak of the larch tortix (Zeiraphera griseana) in the Upper Engadine, large-scale defoliation of larches due to the larvae of the larch tortrix could be observed this year. Beat Wermelinger reported in Swiss television (in German).