Carsten Eichberg

Dr. Carsten Eichberg is a Lecturer in the Department of Geobotany within Faculty VI Spatial and Environmental Sciences at the University of Trier, Germany. He has held this position since October 2008 and maintains his office in Room H 113 on Campus II at Behringstr. 21, D-54296 Trier. His academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to plant ecology and conservation biology.

Dr. Eichberg earned his PhD in Geobotany/Vegetation Ecology from the Technical University of Darmstadt in 2005 with a dissertation titled 'Plant-diaspora pools and processes in inland sand ecosystems: soil seed banks, epi- and endozoochory.' Prior to this, he completed his Diploma in Geobotany from Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg in 2000, focusing on rabbit-mediated seed dispersal. His educational background includes biology studies with a philosophy minor from 1992-2000 at universities in Potsdam and Freiburg.

His research focuses on grassland and agroecology, nature conservation and restoration ecology, seed ecology, plant-animal interactions, experimental plant ecology, and effects of agricultural chemicals on non-target organisms. Dr. Eichberg investigates how livestock grazing, dung beetles, and other ecological processes influence plant community dynamics, particularly in vulnerable sand ecosystems. His work bridges theoretical ecology with practical conservation applications, examining how management practices can enhance biodiversity while maintaining agricultural productivity.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on ecotoxicological impacts of veterinary pharmaceuticals (particularly anthelmintics) on grassland ecosystems, with numerous studies examining how moxidectin and other chemicals affect seed germination and plant establishment. His research also spans restoration techniques for sandy grasslands, seed dispersal mechanisms, and the ecological consequences of livestock management. The interdisciplinary nature of his work connects plant ecology, conservation biology, and environmental toxicology, with increasing attention to climate change interactions.

• Highlighted by European Commission in Science for Environment Policy 486 (2017) for research demonstrating how livestock worming treatments reduce seed germination in grassland species
• Editor's Choice recognition in Oikos (2015) for meta-analysis on seed dispersal by ungulates

Dr. Eichberg has secured significant research funding, including a DFG project (2020-2023) investigating effects of macrocyclic lactone anthelmintics on grassland species, and has collaborated on multi-site international experiments examining dung beetle ecology across the Western Palaearctic. He serves on the editorial board of Tuexenia and reviews for numerous prestigious journals including PLoS ONE, Restoration Ecology, and Plant Biology. His teaching responsibilities include courses on vascular plant identification, plant ecophysiology, physiological plant ecology, vegetation of Central Europe, and chemical substances in biology.

Dr. Eichberg's laboratory work centers on experimental plant ecology, particularly seed germination studies and field experiments examining plant-animal interactions in sand ecosystems. His research group investigates how agricultural chemicals impact non-target plant species and how traditional grazing practices can be optimized for biodiversity conservation in grassland habitats.