Our research group focuses on the dynamics, functioning and diversity of vegetation at various temporal and spatial scales. Our main research areas are: 

- Ecosystem ecology, which focuses on biomass production and nutrients allocation especially in grassland ecosystems. The main methodology is field experiments modulating environmental conditions, e.g. nutrients input and precipitation.

- Vegetation science, which focuses on the classification and ecology of wetland, grassland and forest vegetation. The main methodology is phytosociology in the sense of the Zurich-Montpellier school.

- Historical ecology, which focuses on historical human influences on woodlands. This interdisciplinary research uses the sources and approaches of the humanities as well as the natural sciences.

- Palaeoecology, which focuses on the Holocene and Quaternary development of vegetation. The main methodology is the analysis of pollen and humolite profiles.


Our research is facilitated by a palynological laboratory and a laboratory for plant and soil material analyses.