Natural and semi-natural inland saline vegetation occurs in central, eastern, and southern Europe. In line with the increasing homogeneity of Europe's landscapes, the area of European inland saline vegetation has declined in recent decades due to its susceptibility to land-use change and is of conservation concern. In Germany, salt-affected vegetation occurs in almost all federal states, with a center of distribution and diversity in Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, and Lower Saxony. 

• Floristic inventories (field work)
• Compilation and processing of floristic inventory data (computer work)
• Greenhouse experiments

• Data handling and visualization of floristic inventories (BSc)
• Description of diversity patterns to salinity (e.g., plant-functional groups) (BSc, MSc)
• Analysis of diversity patterns to salinity or site size (descriptive or slightly advanced statistics, spatial visualisation with GIS) (BSc, MSc)
• Analysis of plant niches to edaphic factors (slightly advanced statistics) (MSc)

• Discussing results with respect to the habitat's ecology, site conditions, or nature conservation
• Development of management strategies based on own results

The fieldwork will be done in protected areas or areas of high nature conservation interest. 

Please note: The exact focus of the work will be defined together during an initial meeting. This proposed topic thus provides an opportunity to incorporate your own scientific ideas and areas of interest.

Interest in the subject and commitment to independent field and computer work