Biodiversity & Ecology, Master of Science (M.Sc.)

The biological diversity of plants, animals and microorganisms forms the basis of human life. Nevertheless, the majority of all species existing today have not been scientifically recorded. The interaction of organisms within ecosystems is also only partly understood. Human activity is increasingly causing changes in the environment that lead to the loss of biodiversity worldwide, and the loss of regional ecosystem function. Of central importance are the destruction and fragmentation of habitats, such as tropical rainforests, global climate change, the introduction of foreign species, the overexploitation of natural resources and the intensification of agriculture and forestry.