Phone: +49 551 39 25725
Fax: +49 551 39 33556
e-mail: lkoehle@gwdg.de
Research interests
Ecology of tropical montane forests
Epiphyte vegetation in primary and secondary forests
Biomass and water storage dynamics of epiphytes
Aboveground water and nutrient fluxes
Curriculum vitae
Work experience
2014 - dato: Curator, Experimental Botanical Garden, University of Göttingen, Germany.
2013 - 2014: Project coordinator, Graduiertenkolleg 1086 "Die Bedeutung der Biodiversität für Stoffkreisläufe und Biotische Interaktionen in Temperaten Laubwäldern", Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research, University of Göttingen, Germany.
2008 - 2013: Project coordinator, Cluster of Excellence “Functional Biodiversity Research”, Department of Plant Ecology and Ecosystem Research and Department of Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
2003 - 2008: Freelance nature guide in Costa Rica.
2003: Freelance scientist in the project „hydrological impacts of converting tropical montane cloud forest to pasture, with initial reference to northern Costa Rica”, Free University Amsterdam.
Education
1999 - 2002: PhD study at the Universities of Kassel and Göttingen, Germany. Degree obtained: Dr. rer. nat. Thesis title: Die Bedeutung der Epiphyten im ökosystemaren Wasser- und Nährstoffumsatz verschiedener Altersstadien eines Bergregenwaldes in Costa Rica.
1990 - 1997: Study of biology at the University of Göttingen, Germany. Degree obtained: Diplom Biologe. Thesis title: Vegetation, Bestandesmikroklima und Bodenwasserregime entlang eines Höhengradienten am Teide auf Teneriffa.
1974 - 1988: School in Germany. High school graduation: Allgemeine Hochschulreife
Publications
Peer-reviewed publications
Rembold K, Aas G, Bayer C, Berg C, Burkart M, Fechtler T, Fischer M, Friesen N, Gliniars R, Gröger A, Hoffmann MH, Kehl A, Köhler L, König A, Kusber W-H, Lauerer M, Pietsch S, Pietzarka U, Rudolph K, Schepker H, Schlumpberger BO, Schmidt M, Schwerdtfeger M, Spaethe J, Steinecke H, Vogg G, von Hagen KB, Zippel E, Obermaier E (2023). Botanische Gärten als Orte urbaner Biodiversität. Natur und Landschaft 98(1): 10-18. DOI: 10.19217/NuL2023-01-02.
Yang N, Butenschoen O, Rana R, Köhler L, Hertel D, Leuschner C, Scheu S, Polle A, Pena R (2018). Leaf litter species identity influences biochemical composition of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza: DOI 10.1007/s00572-018-0876-2
Coners H, Babel W, Willinghöfer S, Biermann T, Köhler L, Seeber E, Foken T, Ma Y, Yang Y, Miehe G, Leuschner C (2016). Evapotranspiration and water balance of high-elevation grassland on the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Hydrology 533: 557-566.
Köhler L, Leuschner C, Hauck M, Hertel D (2015). Cloud water interception and element deposition differ largely between Norway spruce stands along an elevation transect in Harz Mountains, Germany. Ecohydrology 8: 1048-1064.
Zhang C, Vornam B, Volmer K, Prinz K, Kleemann F, Köhler L, Polle A, Finkeldey R (2015). Genetic diversity in aspen and its relation to arthropod abundance. Frontiers in Plant Science 5. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00806.
Hoeber S, Leuschner C, Köhler L, Arias Aguilar D, Schuldt B (2014). The importance of hydraulic conductivity and wood density to growth performance in eight tree species from a tropical semi-dry climate. Forest Ecology and Management 330: 126-136.
Petersen U, Wrage N, Köhler L, Leuschner C, Isselstein J (2012). Manipulating the species composition of permanent grasslands - A new approach to biodiversity experiments. Basic and Applied Ecology 13: 1-9.
Hertel D, Köhler L, Rillig M (2011). Mycorrhizal, endophytic and ectomorphological status of tree roots in the canopy of a montane rain forest. Biotropica 43: 401-404.
Hertel D & Köhler L (2010). Are tree roots in the canopy ecologically important? A critical reassessment from a case study in a tropical montane rainforest. Plant Ecology & Diversity 3: 141-150.
Hölscher D, Köhler L, Kappelle M, Leuschner C (2010). Ecology and use of old-growth and recovering montane oak forest in the Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. In: Bruijnzeel, L.A., Scatena, F.N., Hamilton, L.S. (eds.). Tropical montane cloud forests: Science for conservation and management. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 610-617.
Köhler L, Hölscher D, Bruijnzeel LA, Leuschner C (2010). Epiphyte biomass in Costa Rican old-growth and secondary montane rain forests and its hydrological significance. In: Bruijnzeel, L.A., Scatena, F.N., Hamilton, L.S. (eds.). Tropical montane cloud forests: Science for conservation and management. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 268-274.
Tobón-Marin C, Köhler L, Schmid S, Burkard R, Frumau A, Bruijnzeel LA (2010). Water dynamics of epiphytic vegetation in a lower montane cloud forest: fog interception, storage, and evaporation. In: Bruijnzeel, L.A., Scatena, F.N., Hamilton, L.S. (eds.). Tropical montane cloud forests: Science for conservation and management. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK, pp. 261-267.
Köhler L, Hölscher D, Leuschner C (2008). High litterfall in old-growth and secondary upper montane forest of Costa Rica. Plant Ecology 199: 163-173.
Köhler L, Tobón C, Frumau KFA, Bruijnzeel LA (2007). Biomass and water storage dynamics of epiphytes in old-growth and secondary montane cloud forest stands in Costa Rica. Plant Ecology 193: 171-184.
Köhler L, Gieger T, Leuschner C (2006). Altitudinal change in soil and foliar nutrient concentrations and in microclimate across the tree line on the subtropical island mountain Mt. Teide (Canary Islands). Flora 201: 202-214.
Köhler L, Hölscher D, Leuschner C (2006). Above-ground water and nutrient fluxes in three successional stages of Costa Rican montane oak forest with contrasting epiphyte abundance. In: Kappelle, M. (ed.): Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Montane Oak Forests, Ecological Studies 185: 271-282.
Hertel D, Hölscher D, Köhler L, Leuschner C (2006). Changes in fine root system size and structure during secondary succession in a Costa Rican montane oak forest. In: Kappelle, M. (ed.): Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Montane Oak Forests. Ecological Studies 185: 283-297.
Hölscher D, Köhler L, Van Dijk AIJM, Bruijnzeel LA (2004). The importance of epiphytes to total rainfall interception by a tropical montane rain forest in Costa Rica. Journal of Hydrology 292: 308-322.
Hölscher D, Köhler L, Leuschner C, Kappelle M (2003). Nutrient fluxes in stemflow and throughfall in three successional stages of an upper montane rain forest in Costa Rica. Journal of Tropical Ecology 19: 557-565.
Köhler L (2019). Auf Humboldts Spuren im Tal der Riesenpalmen. Exkursionsbericht aus dem Toche-Tal in Kolumbien. Ulmer, Gartenpraxis 8/2019: 52-54.
Köhler L, Leuschner C (2017). Experimenteller Botanischer Garten. Ein Rundgang durch den wissenschaftlichen Versuchsgarten der Universität Göttingen. Universität Göttingen, 54 pp.
Bruijnzeel LA, Burkard R, Carvajal A, Frumau KFA, Köhler L, Mulligan M, Schellekens J, Schmid S, Tobón-Marin C (2006). Hydrological impacts of converting tropical montane cloud forest to pasture, with initial reference to northern Costa Rica. Final Technical Report DFID-FRP Project R7991. Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, and Forestry Research Programme of the U.K. Department for International Development, London, 52 pp.
Köhler L (2002). Die Bedeutung der Epiphyten im ökosystemaren Wasser- und Nährstoffumsatz verschiedener Altersstadien eines Bergregenwaldes in Costa Rica. Berichte des Forschungszentrums Waldökosysteme, Reihe A, Band 181, Universität Göttingen, 134 pp.
Köhler L (1997). Vegetation, Bestandesmikroklima und Bodenwasserregime entlang eines Höhengradienten am Teide auf Teneriffa. Diplomarbeit an der Georg-August Universität Göttingen, 93 pp.