CURRICULUM VITAE

06/2012 High school diploma Wilhelmine Gymnasium Mengen
09/2012-04/2016 University of Ulm, study course biology with focus on neurobiology and ecology
04/2014-10/2015 Scientific assistant in the project NecroPig
05/2016-07/2016 Internship in the project BioKlim in the Bavarian Forest National Park
04/2017-02/2020 TU Munich, study course ecology engineering and environmental planning, master thesis at the chair of renaturation ecology.
Since 09/2019 Scientific assistant at the LfL Freising in the projects "Green Topping Starter" and "Green Topping 2".

Green Topping: Planting and establishing locally adapted seed mixtures to increase multi-functionality of medium intensively used grassland

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Johannes Kollmann & Dr. Stephan Hartmann

Green Topping: Planting and establishing locally adapted seed mixtures to increase multi-functionality of medium intensively used grassland

The project aims to increase desirable herbs in medium-intensive grassland and maintaining them in the stand for as long as possible with 3 - 4 cuts per year. Optimization of the two goals, productivity and species diversity has been poorly explored, as species-rich grasslands are generally considered to be low-yielding. Species-rich stands, however, could have higher utilisation elasticities and represent a good compromise between yield, digestibility, energy and protein contents. Beyond the agronomic objectives, flowering duration and pollen supply for honeybees and other wild insects are increased and the landscape attractiveness (especially of recreational areas) is enhanced. In the Green Topping Starter project, appropriate mixtures ('toppings') were developed, the germination capabilities of herbaceous seeds were tested, and mesocosm and field trials were implemented. The four toppings developed contained species of varying rarity and increasing legume content.

Establishment of the seeded species is surveyed annually and evaluated over the three-year project period. In addition, forage value, biomass and soil analyses are collected to evaluate agronomic aspect, and species diversity, development of the whole stand and insect activity in the experimental plots are monitored as biological components. The plots are managed with different cutting and fertilization regimes, which gives an overview of the possible range and flexibility of the mixtures. As a result, a mixture is determined that fulfills all set goals, i.e., qualitatively enhances species-poor stands, can be incorporated into the agricultural process, and creates interconnected species-rich stands.

This thesis is financed by the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry and is carried out in cooperation with the LfL State Institute of Agriculture Freising, the Chair of Renaturation Ecology of the TUM, the Zugspitzregion GmbH, the Nature Park Ammergauer Alpen e.V. and the Bauernverband Werdenfelser Land.