Dear Colleagues,

In 2012, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg will host the Annual Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology (Gesellschaft für Tropenökologie, gtö), focusing on the Islands in land- and seascape. The conference (www.gtoe-conference.de) will run from February 22 to 25, 2012 in Erlangen, Germany. The conference aims at maximizing interactions among scientists of all disciplines and backgrounds who are interested in tropical biogeography and biodiversity.

The fragmentation of habitats and ecosystems around the tropics poses tremendous problems for maintaining ecosystem functions. Natural islands may serve as model ecosystems in terms of biogeographic patterns and processes in population dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Future climate change, land use changes and increasing pressure by growing local populations land impose additional challenges for the development of successful mitigation and adaptation strategies. The annual conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology (gtö) will provide an interdisciplinary platform for discussion, particularly on the following topics:


Further topics may follow.

We are happy to announce that the following keynote speakers have agreed to join our meeting:

Dr. Marife D. Corre
Soil Science of Tropical and Subtropical Ecosystems, Georg-August University Goettingen, Germany
Impact of elevated N input on net primary production and soil trace gas fluxes in tropical forests

Prof. Dr. Olivier Hardy
Campus du Solbosch, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Phylogeographic patterns and gene flow in Central African rain forest plants

Prof. Beth Kaplin (USA)
Center for Tropical Ecology & Conservation, Antioch University New England, Keene, USA
The importance of buffer zones in mediating edge effects on ecological processes in forest islands surrounded by a sea of agriculture

Dr. Meine van Noordwijk
ICRAF (World Agroforestry Centre), Indonesia
Resource Management in tropical forest ecosystems, human dimensions of biodiversity and conservation

Dr. Ingrid Parmentier
Campus du Solbosch, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Organization of plant diversity in tropical Africa: spatial patterns and causality

Dr. Ivette Perfecto (USA)
School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, USA
Biodiversity in Tropical Agricultural Landscapes

Prof. Dr. Matthias Wolff
Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenökologie, Bremen, Germany
Challenges for the conservation of the Galapagos Islands

Public evening lecture (Elisabeth-Kalko-Memorial Lecture, in German language):
Christian Ziegler
Nature - and Wildlife Photographer
Von Fledermäusen, Wickelbären und verführenden Orchideen - eine Reise durch die Regenwälder der Welt

We are looking forward to arranging a stimulating conference and hope that you will be able to participate. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our conference office at:


We look forward to welcoming you to Erlangen!


With kind regards,

Professor Dr Manfred Niekisch
President of the Society for Tropical Ecology (gtö)

Local organizers

Prof. Dr. Achim Bräuning, President of the Association for Tree-Ring Research (ATR)
Dr. Thorsten Peters
Prof. Dr. Michael Richter

Contact conference office:

The Society for Tropical Ecology (gtö)

The Society for Tropical Ecology (Gesellschaft für Tropenökologie, gtö), founded in 1987, is Europe's largest scientific association in the field of tropical ecology. It aims to enhance the understanding of the biodiversity and function of tropical ecosystems, and to drive decision making and management at all levels. The society also aims to promote the conservation and rehabilitation of tropical biodiversity and ecosystems through research and its application. It is with these missions in mind that gtö, in collaboration with the Goethe University of Frankfurt, has organized its 2011 conference focusing on the status and future of tropical biodiversity.