Weather data
A large number of automatic weather stations has been implemented in the frame of the BIOTA AFRICA project by the Namibian National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) and the Group "Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology" (BEE) of the University of Hamburg. The website offers hourly updates of data and graphs of a large number of weather parameters.


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Workpackages of Subproject S10

Workpackage WP10.1

Prof. Dr. K. Eduard Linsenmair, Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie und Tropenbiologie (Zoologie III), Biozentrum der Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
ke_lins@biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de
http://www.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/zoo3/linsenmair.htm

Dr. Johannes R. Henschel, Gobabeb Training & Research Centre, P.O. Box 953, Walvis Bay, Namibia
jhenschel@drfn.org.na

Abundance and biodiversity of soil arthropods (ants, termites and tenebrionid beetles) along climatic and land use gradients

Short description: Within this workpackage we want to determine the diversity of ants, termites and tenebrionids at different sites across a climatic gradient. In specific climatic areas we will conduct standardized surveys to study the influence of different land use systems on the diversity and composition of focal taxa. In cooperation with other subprojects we will measure habitat variables to find factors which are correlated with the observed distribution of termites, ants and tenebrionids.

Workpackage WP10.2

Prof. Dr. K. Eduard Linsenmair, Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie und Tropenbiologie (Zoologie III), Biozentrum der Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
ke_lins@biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de
http://www.biozentrum.uni-wuerzburg.de/zoo3/linsenmair.htm

Dr. Johannes R. Henschel, Gobabeb Training & Research Centre, P.O. Box 953, Walvis Bay, Namibia
jhenschel@drfn.org.na

Ants and Termites as ecosystem engineers

Short description: We want to study the importance of ants and termites for ecosystem functioning, especially their impact on soil properties and vegetation and the consequences for decomposition of organic matter. Another focus lies on the ecosystematic effects of their intra- and interspecific interactions, for example the role of termites and ants as seed-dispersers and the importance of the predation of termites by ants. The final goal of our study is to identify applications of termites and ants for improved and sustainable land use and as indicator organisms.