Heinz Ellenberg
Encyclopedia
Heinz Ellenberg was a German
biologist
, botanist and ecologist. Ellenberg was an advocate of viewing ecological systems through holistic means.
in 1914. From 1920 to 1932 Ellenberg studied in Hanover
, where his interest in local flora and fauna was established, and where he came in contact with Reinhold Tüxen.
In 1932 he moved to Montpellier
, where he started his studies of ecology under the direction of Swiss
ecologist Josias Braun-Blanquet
. Later he studied botany, zoology, chemistry and geology in Heidelberg
, Hanover and Göttingen
, where he obtained a doctorate in 1938 in Göttingen under Franz Firbas.
After completing his doctorate he worked at the central office for vegetation mapping in Hannover under the direction of Reinhold Tüxen and during World War II
served in a "research relay". Ellenberg successfully worked on developing roof plantings of bunkers that would allow them to blend in with landscape and deceive hostile airplanes. These proceeded from layers of earth up to two meters thick, which are still visible today.
After the war he served as an assistant of Heinrich Walter in Stuttgart
. In 1953 he became a professor at the University of Hamburg
. From 1958 he was a director at Department of Botany at the ETH Zurich
.
Heinz Ellenberg was among the first to experimentally show the importance of a distinction between fundamental niche and realized niche for plants. He experimentally grew two species of Bromus
along a moisture gradient and showed that, in monoculture,both species were able to inhabitat the entire range. Nevertheless, in mixture, the two species dissociated and showed clear preference for either the dry or the moist end of the gradient
In 1966 he moved to the University of Göttingen, where he established the Neuer Botanischer Garten der Universität Göttingen
. He became emeritus
in 1981. From 1982 to 1986, he served as president of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS).
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
, botanist and ecologist. Ellenberg was an advocate of viewing ecological systems through holistic means.
Life
Ellenberg's father (a school teacher) died during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1914. From 1920 to 1932 Ellenberg studied in Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, where his interest in local flora and fauna was established, and where he came in contact with Reinhold Tüxen.
In 1932 he moved to Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, where he started his studies of ecology under the direction of Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
ecologist Josias Braun-Blanquet
Josias Braun-Blanquet
Josias Braun-Blanquet was an influential phytosociologist and botanist. Braun-Blanquet was born in Chur, Switzerland and died in Montpellier, France.-Phytosociology:...
. Later he studied botany, zoology, chemistry and geology in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, Hanover and Göttingen
Georg-August University of Göttingen
The University of Göttingen , known informally as Georgia Augusta, is a university in the city of Göttingen, Germany.Founded in 1734 by King George II of Great Britain and the Elector of Hanover, it opened for classes in 1737. The University of Göttingen soon grew in size and popularity...
, where he obtained a doctorate in 1938 in Göttingen under Franz Firbas.
After completing his doctorate he worked at the central office for vegetation mapping in Hannover under the direction of Reinhold Tüxen and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
served in a "research relay". Ellenberg successfully worked on developing roof plantings of bunkers that would allow them to blend in with landscape and deceive hostile airplanes. These proceeded from layers of earth up to two meters thick, which are still visible today.
After the war he served as an assistant of Heinrich Walter in Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
. In 1953 he became a professor at the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
. From 1958 he was a director at Department of Botany at the ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
.
Heinz Ellenberg was among the first to experimentally show the importance of a distinction between fundamental niche and realized niche for plants. He experimentally grew two species of Bromus
Bromus
Bromus is a large genus of the grass family . Estimates in the scientific literature of the number of species have ranged from 100 to 400, but plant taxonomists currently recognize around 160–170 species...
along a moisture gradient and showed that, in monoculture,both species were able to inhabitat the entire range. Nevertheless, in mixture, the two species dissociated and showed clear preference for either the dry or the moist end of the gradient
In 1966 he moved to the University of Göttingen, where he established the Neuer Botanischer Garten der Universität Göttingen
Neuer Botanischer Garten der Universität Göttingen
The Neuer Botanischer Garten der Universität Göttingen , also known as the Experimenteller Botanischer Garten, is a research botanical garden maintained by the University of Göttingen...
. He became emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
in 1981. From 1982 to 1986, he served as president of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS).
Personal life
In 1941 he married Charlotte Metelmann. After retiring, he ran a farmhouse and wrote a revised edition of "Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen in ökologischer, dynamischer und historischer Sicht".External links
- http://dispatch.opac.d-nb.de/DB=4.1/REL?PPN=118688723Catalog from the German National LibraryGerman National LibraryThe German National Library is the central archival library and national bibliographic centre for the Federal Republic of Germany...
] - Heinz Ellenberg - "Eine ungemein anregende Persönlichkeit"