Natalie Palm

Natalie Palm is a researcher at the University of Hohenheim, affiliated with the Institute of Landscape and Plant Ecology. Her work focuses on the aquatic plant species Trapa natans (water caltrop), investigating its dual role as a threatened species in its native habitats and an invasive nuisance in non-native regions. She explores strategies to balance conservation efforts with sustainable agricultural and phytoremediation uses.

Supervised by Jun.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Schweiger and Dr. Jürgen Franzaring, her research combines eco-physiological studies, fieldwork, and literature analysis to identify environmental drivers influencing the species' distribution and utility. This work aims to inform conservation strategies and invasive species management while assessing its potential for food production and environmental cleanup.

Her findings were published in the Journal of Ecology (2024), contributing to understanding the species' spatio-temporal dynamics and functional mechanisms.