Understanding species diversity. Connecting knowledge.
Biodiversity is the foundation of functioning ecosystems. To protect it, we need to know which species exist, how they interact with one another and with their environment, and how their populations are changing. This is where the Center for Biodiversity and Integrative Taxonomy (KomBioTa) comes in. It is jointly run by the Natural History Museum Stuttgart and the University of Hohenheim.
As an interdisciplinary centre for research and knowledge exchange, KomBioTa brings together the museum’s taxonomic expertise and research collection with the university’s renowned agriculture and environmental research.
Researching biodiversity in all its complexity
Taxonomy provides the foundation for biodiversity research: it records, identifies, describes and classifies species. Integrative taxonomy combines different perspectives, ranging from external morphology and genetics to ecology. Traditional field studies are complemented by modern bioinformatics, robotics, high-resolution 3D imaging and AI-based data analysis.
Researchers investigate species diversity and its changes, describe new species, and explore the impacts of human activities and global environmental change on habitats. Joint projects, including biodiversity monitoring, terrestrial ecology and applied conservation, provide the knowledge needed to support decision-making.
A network for biodiversity
KomBioTa unites science, policymakers, practitioners and wider society. Joint research projects, from fundamental taxonomy to applied research, regular network meetings and an annual conference strengthen exchange between different disciplines and institutions.
Another key focus of KomBioTa is training the next generation of biodiversity researchers. Two new professorships have been established for this purpose: Integrative Taxonomy of Insects at the University of Hohenheim, and Biodiversity Monitoring, a joint appointment between the University and the Natural History Museum Stuttgart.
Through the joint doctoral programme “Biodiversity Through Time” and the practice-oriented summer school “Research Meets Conservation Practice”, early career researchers develop their scientific expertise, build networks across disciplinary boundaries, and learn how to communicate their research clearly and effectively.
Working together for the diversity of life
KomBioTa is strengthening biodiversity research in Baden-Württemberg and beyond. As part of the state-wide Integrative Taxonomy initiative, KomBioTa works closely with the Baden-Württemberg Academy for Nature and Environmental Protection to establish and expand links between research, collections and society. In doing so, it aims to improve our understanding of changes in biodiversity and develop effective solutions for its future.