Hermann Behling

Hermann Behling is Professor of Botany at the University of Göttingen and head of the Department of Palynology and Climate Dynamics since October 2005, with extensive research experience in tropical and subtropical regions across South America, Asia, and Africa.

Education:

• Biology (Diplom), University of Göttingen
• PhD in Biology, University of Göttingen

Research Interests: Behling specializes in late Quaternary Palaeoenvironmental studies focusing on terrestrial and marine Palynology, Palaeoecology, and Palaeoclimatology. His work examines biodiversity dynamics, fire history, and human settlement impacts across rainforests, savannas, mangroves, and mountain ecosystems. He investigates land-ocean interactions and natural versus anthropogenic environmental changes through pollen analysis and sediment records.

Grants and Scholarships: Funded by a DAAD PhD scholarship during research at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2 years), followed by postdoctoral support from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama (2 years), the University of Amsterdam (3 years), and a DFG-Habilitation Scholarship at the Centre for Marine Tropical Ecology, University of Bremen (2 years).

Professional Activities: Serves on editorial boards for Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology and Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, leading departmental research in palynology and climate dynamics while directing international field studies in neotropical ecosystems.