Climate Change and Biodiversity Adaptations

Prof. Dr. Imke Schmitt, imke.schmitt@senckenberg.de , Phone +49 69 75421855

Members of the Schmitt Lab


Module information

This course will introduce biology and geography students to current research in the area of climate and biodiversity change. It will overview major global ecosystems (primarily defined by climate) and their vulnerabilities to human-induced climate change. We address how climate change may influence species, species interactions, and communities. We will go on half-day field trips to illustrate some of the lecture topics and collect material for molecular study. The laboratory will provide a hands-on introduction to molecular methods of assessing biodiversity, such as DNA barcoding and metabarcoding, and analyses of metagenomic DNA.

A large part of the lab will deal with computer-based analyses of molecular data. This course is supported by several researchers from the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), who will introduce students to their field of study in guest lectures. All parts of the course will be taught in English.


Time slot of the module – first half of the winter semester


Number of participants – 10


Special features - The class is open to students in the masters' courses “Ecology and Evolution", “Environmental Sciences" (Umweltwissenschaften) and ERASMUS students. All parts of the course will be taught in English.



Webpage Schmitt lab 

Coordinator of the master programme

Dr. Sabrina Schiwy

Biologicum, Campus Riedberg

Flügel C, Raum3.318
Max-von-Laue-Str. 13
60438 Frankfurt am Main

F +49 69 798-42173

Office hour:

by arrangement

E-Mail schiwy@bio.uni-frankfurt.de

Examination office

Sandra Luckert

Biozentrum, Campus Riedberg
Gebäude N 101, Raum 1.07
Max-von-Laue-Str. 9
60438 Frankfurt am Main

T +49 69 798-46475

F +49 69 798-46470 

Office hours:  

Tuesday and thursday from 12-14 o'clock and by arrangement

E-Mail pabio2@bio.uni-frankfurt.de