I work in the field of agroecology and ecosystem services, with a particular focus on pollination and biological pest control. A central theme of my work is finding smart, sustainable solutions to the often-conflicting demands of biodiversity conservation and agricultural production.
During my PhD (2019 – 2025) I investigated the effects of semi-natural habitats, altitude, orchard layout, and management interventions on pollination and biocontrol in macadamia orchards in Limpopo, South Africa. My research focused on wild honeybees as pollinators and bats and birds as providers of biological pest control. Through exclusion experiments and visual and acoustic recordings, I quantified their contribution to increased nut set and nut quality.
Since May 2025, I have been involved in the BioIntAkt project (www.biointakt.de), which aims to develop an AI-supported digital system for monitoring insects based on acoustic signatures. Biodiversity is a key indicator of ecosystem resilience, and the widespread decline of insect populations has become an urgent concern for science and society. Reliable monitoring of insect biodiversity in flowering areas and agroecosystems is essential to protecting pollinators and ensuring sustainable land management.Traditional insect identification methods are labor-intensive, costly, and require specialist expertise - often covering only a limited range of species groups. BioIntAkt addresses this by developing and testing sensor systems, conducting extensive field studies, and calibrating acoustic detection technology. Additionally, the project integrates citizen science through a smartphone app, enabling broader data collection and increasing public awareness about biodiversity at both regional and national scales.