Harald Auge

Dr. Harald Auge is the Head of Research Group for Experimental Population and Community Ecology at the Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Halle, Germany. His research focuses on plant population ecology and community ecology, particularly investigating how species interactions mediate ecosystem responses to global change drivers like climate change, land use, and biological invasions. He leads the 'Ecosystems of the Future' team, which studies topics including tree diversity effects on forest ecosystems and grassland resilience under climate stressors.

Dr. Auge's work integrates experimental approaches with long-term ecological monitoring, exemplified by contributions to the Global Change Experimental Facility (GCEF) and Tree Diversity Network (TreeDivNet). He has published extensively on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, functional traits of plant species, and the impacts of extreme climatic events on ecosystem multifunctionality. His research often emphasizes the interplay between biotic interactions (e.g., herbivory, plant-soil feedbacks) and abiotic factors (e.g., drought, nutrient availability).

Key research themes include: (1) climate change effects on species interactions and ecosystem processes, (2) invasive species dynamics in grassland ecosystems, and (3) the role of tree diversity in stabilizing forest productivity and resilience. His team collaborates internationally on large-scale experiments addressing global ecological challenges.

Dr. Auge has advised numerous collaborative projects but no listed students. His work has been supported by grants focused on ecological resilience and sustainable land management, reflecting his commitment to applied ecological solutions for future ecosystems.