Marit Kasten

Marit Kasten is a doctoral researcher at the University of Hohenheim's Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology of Tropical Agricultural Systems, where she investigates biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Her work focuses on wild bees, birds, and bats across southern German farming ecosystems as part of the HABIT doctoral program (2023-2026).

Her research explores the interface between agricultural production and nature conservation through landscape ecology approaches. Key interests include habitat configuration effects on biodiversity, mineral-ecological cropping systems, and the role of landscape complexity in supporting pollinators and other wildlife. She employs innovative methods including automated audio recording (BirdNET), yellow pan traps for insect collection, and species-habitat network analysis.

Ms. Kasten's publications reveal a strong focus on resolving biodiversity-productivity trade-offs in agriculture, with particular emphasis on how landscape heterogeneity and habitat connectivity influence ecological outcomes. Her work bridges ecological theory with practical agricultural management.

• Landesgraduiertenförderung Baden-Württemberg (2023)
• Deutschlandstipendium (2019)
• Deutschlandstipendium (2018)

As part of the HABIT program's 12-member cohort, she collaborates across disciplines to develop actionable recommendations for enhancing biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Her fieldwork spans 14 landscapes with 224 sampling locations, examining how local habitats and landscape-scale variables interact to support biodiversity.