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The Department of Ecology

The Earth system is at the heart of ecology. Our activities focus on deepening knowledge of ecological relationships and training students in both basic and applied science.

The Institute of Ecology was founded in 2006 and emerged from the merger of scientists from the ecological research areas at the Institutes of Botany, Zoology and Limnology.

Interdisciplinarity has always been a central feature of activities at the Institute and the focus of all research activities is placed on the investigation of the natural balance and its biotic components, their mutual interactions and their interactions with society. 

Our basic and applied research is based on a broad methodological spectrum and covers spatial scales from the molecular to the landscape level and temporal scales from seconds to millennia.

The geographically favoured location of the University of Innsbruck in the Alps provides the ideal basis for the
research focus on the Alpine region and its fascinating diversity of ecosystems.

A broadly diversified curriculum offers students the best conditions for acquiring comprehensive knowledge of ecology and related disciplines. Theory-based and experimental approaches in the laboratory and in the field are used to address issues relating to ecology, biodiversity and evolution.

Research at the Institute of Ecology is divided into three strategic areas:

• Alpine Freshwater Ecology
• Ecosystem Research and Landscape Ecology
• Animal and Molekular Ecology

The Advisory Board of the Institute of Ecology acts as an advisory body to the management of the Institute in accordance with the organisational plan of the University of Innsbruck.