University of Passau

23–27 February 2026

#ECTE2026

Thematic Sessions

​1.  Biodiversity monitoring for sustainable wildlife management and peopleLauren Coad1,2, Stephan Funk1,3, Neal Millar1 || 1Centre for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF); 2University of Oxford; 3Nature HeritageAs biodiversity loss accelerates across tropical ecosystems, the need for inclusive, scalable and cost-effective monitoring systems requires urgent attention. This session brings together interdisciplinary perspectives to explore cutting-edge approaches that integrate ethical frameworks, local knowledge, advanced technologies and emerging financial mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on ensuring equity and participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, whose stewardship and Traditional Ecological Knowledge are essential for effective biodiversity outcomes. Discussions will examine how artificial intelligence, co-designed monitoring platforms and biodiversity credit systems can transform conservation practices by making data more accessible, actionable and aligned with global biodiversity goals. By bridging scientific innovation with local realities and global finance, this session aims to chart a path toward more just and resilient biodiversity monitoring systems in tropical ecosystems. 2.  Tropical molecular ecologyUte Radespiel1, Pablo Orozco-terWengel2 || 1University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation, Germany; 2Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, U.KTropical environments are under threat for a variety of reasons including human population expansion and encroachment, habitat loss and fragmentation, and climate change. At the same time, tropical biodiversity often remains poorly understood or completely undescribed, so that many species may go extinct before being discovered. Species living in tropical environments are highly challenged, since they are generally adapted to relatively stable environmental conditions with narrow ecological niches resulting in a need to modify life history strategies and/or change distribution ranges in response to environmental changes. Increasing landscape discontinuities in addition to natural barriers to gene flow (e.g., rivers, mountains) constrain movements, population dynamics and consequently the biogeographic plasticity of most species. Modern genetic and genomic techniques are excellent tools to investigate the evolutionary processes responsible for current patterns of biodiversity and the impacts of anthropogenic challenges (e.g., demographic changes, hybridization, extinction, inbreeding). This is of utmost importance for estimating the viability of populations and entire species and implementing effective conservation measures in the future. We aim to bring together a collection of contributions that address these and related questions in tropical biota from around the world. This session will provide the opportunity to present new data, critically review existing evidence and discuss important avenues for future research in tropical molecular ecology. 3.  Linking environmental change, biodiversity, and ecosystem function through functional traitsEike Lena Neuschulz1, Nina Farwig2, Jörg Bendix2 || 1Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt, Germany; 2University of Marburg, GermanyClimate and land-use changes are reshaping biodiversity and triggering feedback effects on the atmosphere. Predicting the consequences of biodiversity shifts for ecosystem functioning, particularly in biodiversity hotspots, remains a significant challenge. Tropical ecosystems, characterized by pronounced environmental gradients—such as elevational, successional, or land-use gradients—offer natural experiments to explore the complex relationships between environmental change, biodiversity, and ecosystem processes. Trait-based approaches provide powerful tools to capture how gradual environmental changes influence the composition of functional traits, revealing their impacts on species interactions and ecosystem functioning. This session seeks to bring together the latest research on biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functions across environmental gradients. A special emphasis will be placed on leveraging functional traits to predict biotic interactions and ecosystem functionality in the face of environmental change. 4.  Tropical high-mountain ecosystems under increasing climate change and land use pressuresM. Carolina García Lino, Harald Pauli || Austrian Academy of Sciences & BOKU University Vienna, AustriaThe global alpine life zone, i.e. the high-mountain area above the timberline ecotone, covers only around 2.4% of Earth's land surface and just a small fraction of this is located in tropical regions. Tropical high-mountain ecosystems occur in the equatorial aseasonal (northern Andes, southern Central America and isolated spots in Africa, Borneo and New Guinea), and in seasonal tropical climates (Central Andes, Central America, East Africa, on a few islands, and in a transitional position, the southern and southeastern parts of the Himalaya system). They are unique due to their diurnal climate or their tropical seasonality, their high degree of endemism and highly specialised life forms.Understanding ecological patterns and processes in tropical high-mountain ecosystems is key to anticipating and adapting to the impacts of human interference including anthropogenic climate change. Current evidence already shows upward shifts in species distributions and altered community compositions for plants as well as animals. Progressing temperature rise, changes in water availability, combined with increased human land use pressure and exotic species invasions, therefore, can lead to accelerated rates of habitat loss and critical biodiversity losses.This session invites contributions that address tropical high-mountain ecology and biodiversity research in the context of human-induced interventions, ranging from climate change to land-use impacts and species introductions. We particularly encourage studies that deal with the role of altitudinal connectivity, long-term biodiversity monitoring and contributions that integrate ecological, socio-economic and nature conservation perspectives. By gathering insights across continents and disciplines, this session aims to better understand the vulnerability and resilience of tropical high mountain ecosystems in a rapidly changing biosphere. 5.  The use of camera traps in tropical ecosystems studiesRaphaelle Abensur || Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, FranceAutomatic camera traps have become increasingly prevalent in recent years for studying natural populations and characterizing biodiversity, particularly in tropical ecosystems. Camera trapping is a non-invasive method that minimizes the need for continuous human presence in the field while enabling long-term, continuous monitoring of wildlife. This approach provides rich and diverse information on animal communities, including taxonomic diversity, species occupancy and occurrence, community structure, and activity patterns. In tropical forest ecology, camera traps are widely used to improve our understanding of ecological processes such as seed dispersal, species interactions, and animal movement. They also serve as valuable tools for monitoring species distributions, especially in the context of increasing human-wildlife conflict. The datasets generated through this method contribute significantly to conservation strategies and biodiversity assessments in tropical environments. 6.  Interdisciplinary perspectives on agrobiodiversity and ecosystem restorationJoao de Deus Vidal Junior1, Enrico Ille1, Alexandra Müllner-Riehl1,2, Abubakar Bello1,2 || 1University of Leipzig, Germany; 2German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, GermanyThe restoration of vegetation cover plays a critical role in climate mitigation, adaptation and policy recommendations. However, due to the complexity of processes, impacts, and perspectives involved, interdisciplinary approaches are necessary to document and evaluate restoration efforts and the changes they cause in (agro)biodiversity. This session aims to provide a platform to researchers from different fields of knowledge (such as social sciences, life sciences, geography and geosciences) to discuss different points of view about agrobiodiversity and restoration initiatives in different parts of the globe. We welcome submissions about changes in land, biodiversity, and livelihoods associated with restoration practices, to discuss challenges and opportunities for further research. 7.  Tropical ecosystems through time: What the past tells us about the futureGregor Mathes1, Liesa Cosman1, Hermann Behling2, Antonia Reinhardt2 || 1University of Passau, Germany; 2Georg-August-University Göttingen, GermanyTropical ecosystems hold a large share of global biodiversity and provide essential ecological services. Yet they are highly vulnerable to deforestation, climate shifts, and biodiversity loss. While ecological monitoring over recent decades offers valuable insights, a thorough understanding of present-day dynamics and future trajectories requires much longer temporal perspectives—spanning centuries to millennia and beyond.This session offers an interdisciplinary forum for researchers studying tropical and subtropical ecosystems through a wide range of temporal lenses and methodological approaches. We aim to bring together archaeological, paleoecological, paleontological, and ecological perspectives on tropical biodiversity responses to environmental and human pressures over time. We particularly encourage contributions from early-career researchers and seek to build a diverse group of presenters. Understanding the past is not only a scientific imperative but also a practical tool for anticipating ecological tipping points, guiding conservation efforts, and shaping a more resilient future for tropical ecosystems. 8.  Species interaction and ecological networks across varying abiotic and biotic contextsAgnes Dellinger1, Elisa Barreto2 || 1University of Vienna, Austria; 2Federal Swiss Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, WSLStudying interactions between organisms is challenging, particularly in diverse tropical ecosystems. Whether interaction networks are shaped in their structure and function by extrinsic factors, such as the sheer diversity of species, or by intrinsic factors, such as the traits of interacting partners, remains a major field of study. In addition, the extent to which interaction networks vary across environmental contexts generated through i.e., habitat heterogeneity, climatic conditions, or biotic factors like competition and facilitation within communities, remains largely unexplored at broad spatial and temporal scales.In this symposium, we aim to unite researchers working on ecological interaction networks of all types (i.e., mutualistic, antagonistic, plant-pollinator, plant-disperser, ant-plant, and mycorrhizal systems), with a focus on exploring the drivers of network structure. We welcome contributions on fundamental network theory, trait-matching models for interaction partners, as well as attempts to quantify generalities in network and species interaction patterns across abiotic or biotic environmental gradients. 9.  Recovery and restoration of tropical forests following anthropogenic disturbancesMartin Ehbrecht1, John Paul Okimat1,2 || 1University of Göttingen, Germany; 2Budongo Conservation Field Station, UgandaTropical forests provide crucial ecosystem services, support local livelihoods, and are essential for biodiversity conservation. Anthropogenic disturbances, such as logging, can impair their functioning and capability to deliver important ecosystem services. Depending on the level of degradation, tropical forests may either recover naturally or need active restoration interventions to revive essential ecosystem functions and services. Strategies for restoring specific ecosystem functions and services can occur at the species, stand, or landscape level, depending on the particular functions or services that need restoration. The session aims to offer a platform for presenting recent advancements in the research field of tropical forest recovery and restoration across various spatial scales. Submissions on active and passive restoration approaches, and how they aid the recovery or restoration of specific ecosystem functions or services at the species, stand, or landscape level, are welcome. In this context, contributions that consider the natural dynamics, resilience, and successional trajectories of tropical forests, and their implications for restoration strategies, are also encouraged. 10. Advancements in wildlife malaria research in tropical ecosystemsKasun Bodawatta || University of Copenhagen, DenmarkVector-transmitted haemosporidian blood parasites (agents of malaria) infect vertebrates globally and have important consequences for host health and fitness. Vertebrate hosts and malaria parasites have a long co-evolutionary history, with parasite specializations within haemosporidian genera and parasite lineages ranging from generalists to specialists on a diverse array of hosts. The distributions and prevalences of specific haemosporidians are dictated by a series of biotic and abiotic factors, making these associations vulnerable to habitat degradation and changing climates. Consequently, novel host-parasite associations and mismatches in specificity could arise, with potential consequences for host communities. Understanding the dynamics of interactions and factors affecting associations between hosts, parasites, and their dipteran vectors are imperative, particularly in the tropics, where human influence threatens a diversity of ecosystems. This symposium will highlight a diversity of recent studies on vertebrate-haemosporidian-vector associations in tropical ecosystem across the globe. 11. Pathways Towards Positive Land Futures for Biodiversity in Tropical EcosystemsClaudia Capitani1, Robert Marchant2 || 1EC Joint Research Centre, Italy; 2University of York, UKThe escalating global biodiversity crisis demands a paradigm shift towards proactive, solutions-oriented conservation, specifically through envisioning and achieving positive, sustainable land use futures for tropical ecosystems. In response to conservation community calls to explore nature positive futures and engage indigenous people and local communities, this session will illustrate the transformative potential of participatory scenario planning to develop forward-looking and systemic responses, bridging scientific rigor with local knowledge. Our focus is on building "plausible positive futures for nature" through interdisciplinary exchange and empowering local voices in land-use decisions. We will emphasise the development, use and application of the ‘KESHO’ tool, an integrated approach applied across Africa and beyond, which uniquely combines community participation with quantitative modeling using insights from the distant past, earth observation time series, and climate change projections for co-producing spatially explicit scenarios and potential impacts on ecosystems, people and species. Participants will gain an understanding of the KESHO framework and the relevance of stakeholder-led approaches in shaping sustainable futures by improving land use planning, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. 12. Habitability – interrogating land in transition from an interdisciplinary
perspectiveMartina Padmanabhan, Gerhard Rainer || University of Passau, GermanyFor ecologists, habitat is a fundamental term referring to the biotic and abiotic factors in a designated area, which favor and supports the life of a specific species. It thus focuses on the interrelationship between a species and its surroundings and thus moves beyond a sole focus on flora, fauna or the environment. Applying the term to homo sapiens, the debate evolves around living conditions for humans, in recent decades with a focus on the impact of climate-change and consequences like migration and displacement. However, the assessment of habitability is prone to the historical influences of colonialism as Fleetwood (2023) shows, when distinguishing the inhabitable from the habitable, differentiating habitability conditions for different human groups and the malleability of these limits for better and worse. Based on work highlighting postcolonial, intersectional and locally differentiated assessments of (in)habitability, we aim to explore the fruitful tensions of habitat as a concept situated between and across the natural and the social sciences. 13. Tropical freshwater biodiversity: from monitoring to conservationAlexandra Zieritz1, Thomas von Rintelen2 || 1University of Nottingham, United Kingdom; 2Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, GermanyFor ecologists, habitat is a fundamental term referring to the biotic and abiotic factors in a designated area, which favor and supports the life of a specific species. It thus focuses on the interrelationship between a species and its surroundings and thus moves beyond a sole focus on flora, fauna or the environment. Applying the term to homo sapiens, the debate evolves around living conditions for humans, in recent decades with a focus on the impact of climate-change and consequences like migration and displacement. However, the assessment of habitability is prone to the historical influences of colonialism as Fleetwood (2023) shows, when distinguishing the inhabitable from the habitable, differentiating habitability conditions for different human groups and the malleability of these limits for better and worse. Based on work highlighting postcolonial, intersectional and locally differentiated assessments of (in)habitability, we aim to explore the fruitful tensions of habitat as a concept situated between and across the natural and the social sciences. 14. Multi-trophic interactions and food websMassimo Martini1, Haikuo Zhang2, Finn Rehling1 || 1University of Freiburg, Germany; 2University of TübingenA central challenge in ecology is understanding how biotic interactions shape ecosystems and influence their functioning and stability. While many studies have examined individual interactions or processes in isolation, ecosystems are structured by networks of trophic interactions that span multiple levels, from primary producers to top consumers. Food web structure plays a central role in mediating how biodiversity is maintained and how it affects ecosystem functions such as productivity, nutrient cycling, herbivory, and predation. These mediating effects are often context-dependent, varying across spatial and temporal scales and along environmental gradients. Therefore, it is essential to understand trophic web structure and dynamics to predict the consequences of habitat degradation or biodiversity loss on ecosystem functioning.This session aims to bring together researchers investigating multi-trophic interactions and food webs across a range of tropical ecosystems, including both above-ground and below-ground systems. We welcome contributions that advance our understanding of the complexity and dynamics of multi-trophic biodiversity and interactions, and their role in ecosystem functioning. These may include experimental, observational, or simulation studies that integrate multiple trophic levels and scales, linking empirical data with theory. This session seeks to foster new insights into how multi-trophic diversity and interactions can support resilient ecosystems in the tropics. 15. Uncovering the mechanisms driving population declines in tropical forest understory birdsGladys Nyakeru Kung'u1, Luc Lens2, Beate Apfelbeck1 || 1University of Salzburg, Austria; 2Ghent University, BelgiumTropical understory birds are among the most vulnerable species within forest ecosystems, with many undergoing poorly understood population declines, even in forests that appear to be largely undisturbed. Therefore, it is crucial to identify the underlying mechanisms responsible for these losses. This session highlights novel research examining the behavioural and physiological processes linking environmental change to the decline of understorey birds. Topics will include how habitat fragmentation, degradation and climate change trigger cascading impacts on understory birds through changes in prey, parasite and predator communities or alterations in vegetation structure and microclimate on habitat use, dispersal, physiological stress, altered metabolic rates and energy budgets, and reproductive failure. Contributors will also discuss how such mechanistic knowledge can inform more effective forest management actions. The ultimate aim of this session is to bridge the gap between science and conservation planning for tropical understory birds by linking empirical evidence and practical applications from different tropical regions.16. Climate change impacts on tropical forests across spatial and temporal scalesAchim Bräuning1, Aster Gebrekirstos2 || 1Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; 2World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Nairobi, KenyaClimate change impacts tropical trees and forests across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Spatially, these effects manifest at the level of plant organs, individual trees, forest stands and entire ecosystems. Temporally, they span from short-term modulations of physiological activity, such as, photosynthetic activity or stomatal conductance, to mid-term changes in tree growth, carbon allocation and phenology, and long-term shifts, including species turnover and evolutionary adaptation. For each of the mentioned temporal and spatial scales, specific methodologies exist, including empirical data acquisition methods and modelling techniques. However, integrating findings across these scales remains a key challenge, particularly when attempting to upscale from organs to individuals, or from individuals to ecosystems. This session welcomes contributions addressing climate change impacts on tropical trees and forests across any of these spatial and temporal dimensions. We particularly encourage studies employing physiological, phenological, dendroecological, remote sensing, or modelling approaches. Of special interest are studies that include multiple spatiotermporal scales, trying to assess climate change effects of tropical trees and forest ecosystems, including tropical humid forests, dry forests, savannas, and agroforestry systems.17. Human legacies in tropical forests: the role of land use historyMajoi Nascimento1, Nina Witteveen2 || 1University of Southampton, United Kingdom; 2Wageningen University & ResearchTropical forests, known for their incredible biodiversity, are highly threatened by agricultural expansion, deforestation, and climate change. Although many secondary forests regenerate naturally, the resilience and recovery of tropical forests varies widely and are influenced by land use history and human legacies. This session sheds light on the role of human land use on tropical forests across timescales and successional stages and calls for inclusive conservation.Human legacies refer to the short-term and long-term influence that human societies – both past and present - have on the functioning, composition and structure of tropical forests. People have inhabited tropical forests for millennia and their practices have shaped modern tropical forests. Numerous modern forests still bear the marks of past land use from agroforestry, shifting cultivation, soil modifications, domestication, and fire management. Indigenous and traditional practices often enhanced biodiversity, and influenced carbon dynamics. These dynamics are subjective by the frequency, extent, and intensity of the forest’s past land use and by the time of the most recent disturbance.Land use history – on various timescales – is an important driver of the successional trajectories of tropical forests, as it determines the starting conditions for recovery. Previous high frequency and intensity land uses, such as cattle grazing, can deplete the seed bank and favor resprouting, leading to a slower or halted succession and reduced tree species richness. Previous low frequency and intensity land uses, on another hand, may result in faster recovery, and possible forest enrichment with useful species that can be dispersed through human use (e.g., fruit trees). Insight into past land use can be used to make management decisions on natural regeneration or active restoration.This session invites an international audience to reflect on the ways humans interact with tropical forests by providing a historical and modern perspective on land use, forest management and conservation practices, and the role of Indigenous and local communities. 18. How to make forest restoration work: exploring innovative approaches and success factorsClaudia Raedig, Nehren Udo || TH Köln, GermanyIn the context of land degradation and global climate change, the restoration of tropical forests holds great potential for biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk reduction and the provision of important ecosystem services. However, many restoration projects fail for various reasons and the best strategies to promote forest landscape restoration on the ground are still unclear. The aim of this session is to bring together actors from science and practice to present and discuss their approaches to successful restoration of tropical forests with the involvement of local stakeholders. The focus is on approaches that show how different actors such as local communities, academics and business can be involved in forest restoration to raise awareness of the importance of restored ecosystems, empower local people, finance reforestation and create jobs. In order to compare the different success factors, innovation and unique characteristics of the approaches are essential: What led to local actors becoming active agents of change?