Dr. Jan Thiele

Chair for Terrestrial Ecology

Department of Ecology and Ecosystemmanagement
Technische Universität München
Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2
D-85350 Freising-Weihenstephan

Work address
WWU Münster
Institut für Landschaftsökologie
AG Angewandte Landschaftsökologie und Ökologische Planung
Heisenbergstr. 2
D-48149 Münster

Room: 421
Phone: +49.251.83.30113
Fax:      +49.251.83.38338
E-mail:  jan.thiele[at]tum.de

Curriculum vitae

Since 2017 Postdoctoral researcher, Chair for Terrestrial Ecology, Technische Universität München
2009- 2017 Assistant professor at the University of Münster, Institute of Landscape Ecology, Work Group Applied Landscape Ecology and Ecological Planning
2007- 2008 Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Copenhagen, Department of Agriculture and Ecology, Botany section
2007   PhD in Natural Sciences, University of Giessen
2002- 2006 Research Assistant and PhD student at the University of Giessen, work group Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning
2001   Graduate Assistant at the University of Giessen, work group Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning
2001   Environmental Consultant, surveys of protected habitats according to the EC Habitats Directive
1995- 2001 Diploma in Landscape Ecology, University of Münster

Research interest

  • Diversity and trait composition of communities
  • Habitat-connectivity modelling and regional population dynamics
  • Historical Landscape Ecology
  • Invasion biology; spread of invasive plants and their impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
  • Monitoring of landscape change and spread of invasive species through hyperspectral remote sensing

Project

  • Effects of historical land-use change on species richness and community composition in fragmented and newly created habitats (HiLUCC), DFG grant, SPP 1374 Biodiversity Exploratories, 2017–2020
    Link: www.biodiversity-exploratories.de

  • Quantifying the spatial impact of exotic plant invasion on ecosystem functioning - from the leaf to the landscape level, DFG grant, 2013–2016

  • Survival at the edge? Spatially-explicit modelling of plant diversity in networks of linear landscape elements, 2012–2017

    Intensive agricultural landscapes are important for sustaining biodiversity because they cover more than half of the land area of Germany and, hence, interfere with large-scale ecological processes, such as species survival and spread. Intensification of land-use has triggered a decrease of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, but semi-natural edges between fields, and along roads and rivers (linear landscape elements) may mitigate long-term biodiversity loss by offering refugia and dispersal corridors for non-agrotolerant species. The level of biodiversity in networks of linear landscape elements is hypothesized to depend on local habitat quality and spatial connectivity that facilitates movement of species, but evidence is scarce because few studies have used spatially-explicit models. We want to quantify the potential of linear landscape elements (LLE) in very-intensively managed landscapes to sustain plant species diversity. Specifically, we want to find out 1.) which types of species benefit from LLE, 2.) which local and landscape factors facilitate high diversity, and 3.) which levels of habitat quality and connectivity are needed to reach a certain amount of diversity at the landscape scale? In a random sample of 8 study areas (4 km² squares) in the Münsterland, North-Western Germany, we record plant diversity and habitat quality on 100 sample plots and conduct inventories of the total number of species in the landscape. We construct spatially-explicit models of the study areas based on remote sensing images and cadastral maps to measure connectivity of LLE network. Regression models predict the total plant diversity and the diversity of different functional groups that can be expected to survive in LLE networks depending on connectivity and habitat quality and assess the conductivity of agricultural landscapes for spread of non-agrotolerant species.

Publications

2017

Borchard, F., W. Härdtle, M. Streitberger, G. Stuhldreher, J. Thiele and T. Fartmann. 2017. From deforestation to blossom – large-scale restoration of montane heathland vegetation. Ecological Engineering 101:211-219. PDF

Hellmann, C., A. Große-Stoltenberg, J. Thiele, J. Oldeland and C. Werner. 2017. Heterogeneous environments shape invader impacts: integrating environmental, structural and functional effects by isoscapes and remote sensing. Scientific Reports 7:4118. DOI:4110.1038/s41598-41017-04480-41594. PDF

Lehmann, J. R. K., T. Prinz, S. R. Ziller, J. Thiele, G. Heringer, J. A. A. Meira-Neto and T. K. Buttschardt. 2017. Open-Source Processing and Analysis of Aerial Imagery Acquired with a Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial System to Support Invasive Plant Management. Frontiers in Environmental Science 5:44. DOI:10.3389/fenvs.2017.00044. PDF

Thiele, J., S. Buchholz and J. Schirmel. 2017. Using resistance distance from circuit theory to model dispersal through habitat corridors. Journal of Plant Ecology DOI:10.1093/jpe/rtx004. PDF

2016

Grosse-Stoltenberg, A., C. Hellmann, C. Werner, J. Oldeland and J. Thiele. 2016. Evaluation of Continuous VNIR-SWIR Spectra versus Narrowband Hyperspectral Indices to Discriminate the Invasive Acacia longifolia within a Mediterranean Dune Ecosystem. Remote Sensing 8:334-334. PDF

Rajmis, S., J. Thiele and R. Marggraf. 2016. A cost-benefit analysis of controlling giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) in Germany using a choice experiment approach. Neobiota 31:19-41. PDF

Schirmel, J., J. Thiele, M. H. Entling and S. Buchholz. 2016. Trait composition and functional diversity of spiders and carabids in linear landscape elements. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 235:318-328. PDF

2015

Heimes, C., J. Thiele, T. Van Mölken and T. P. Hauser. 2015. Interactive impacts of a herbivore and a pathogen on two resistance types of Barbarea vulgaris (Brassicaceae). Oecologia 177:441-452. PDF

2014

Holzmann, C., J. Thiele and T. K. Buttschardt. 2014. Neophytes-Management using the Example of the Giant-Hogweed. Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung 46:79-85. PDF

2013

Moenickes, S. and J. Thiele. 2013. What shapes giant hogweed invasion? Answers from a spatio-temporal model integrating multiscale monitoring data. Biological Invasions 15:61-73. PDF

Wille, W., J. Thiele, E. A. Walker and J. Kollmann. 2013. Limited evidence for allelopathic effects of giant hogweed on germination of native herbs. Seed Science Research 23:157-162. PDF

2012

Thiele, J. and B. Markussen. 2012. Analysing time series data of phenotypic measurements – trade-off in sexual reproduction and vegetative growth of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)? CAB Reviews 7:1-13.

Thiele, J. and B. Markussen. 2012. Modelling enemy release during range expansion of Ilex aquifolium with a two-component GLMM. CAB Reviews 7:1-8.

Thiele, J. and B. Markussen. 2012. Modelling invasion probability of giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) with logistic GLMM. CAB Reviews 7:1-12.

Thiele, J. and B. Markussen. 2012. Potential of GLMM in modelling invasive spread. CAB Reviews 7:1-10. PDF

2011

Thiele, J., M. Isermann and J. Kollmann. 2011. Impact scores of invasive plants are biased by disregard of environmental co-variation and non-linearity. NeoBiota 10:65-79. PDF

2010

Thiele, J., T. Hansen, H. R. Siegismund and T. P. Hauser. 2010. Genetic variation of inbreeding depression among floral and fitness traits in Silene nutans. HEREDITY 104:52-60. PDF

Thiele, J., M. Isermann, A. Otte and J. Kollmann. 2010. Competitive displacement or biotic resistance? Disentangling relationships between community diversity and invasion success of tall herbs and shrubs. JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE 21:213-220. PDF

Thiele, J., J. Kollmann, B. Markussen and A. Otte. 2010. Impact assessment revisited: improving the theoretical basis for management of invasive alien species. BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS 12:2025-2035. PDF

2009

Thiele, J., R. B. Jorgensen and T. P. Hauser. 2009. Flowering does not decrease vegetative competitiveness of Lolium perenne. BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY 10:340-348. PDF

Thiele, J., J. Kollmann and U. R. Andersen. 2009. Ecological and Socioeconomic Correlates of Plant Invasions in Denmark: The Utility of Environmental Assessment Data. AMBIO 38:89-94. PDF

2008

Thiele, J. and Otte. 2008. Herkules mit Achillesfersen? Zur Ausbreitung und Ökologie von Heracleum mantegazzianum auf der lokalen, landschaftlichen und regionalen Skalenebene. Naturschutz and Landschaftsplanung 40:273-279. PDF

Thiele, J. and A. Otte. 2008. Invasion patterns of Heracleum mantegazzianum in Germany on the regional and landscape scales. JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION 16:61-71. PDF

Thiele, J., U. Schuckert and A. Otte. 2008. Cultural landscapes of Germany are patch-corridor-matrix mosaics for an invasive megaforb. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 23:453-465. PDF

2007

Otte, A., L. Eckstein and J. Thiele. 2007. Heracleum mantegazzianum in its primary distribution range of the Western Greater Caucasus, CAB International 20-41.

Thiele, J. 2007. Patterns and processes of Heracleum mantegazzianum invasion into German cultural landscapes on the local, landscape and regional scale, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen. PDF

Thiele, J. and A. Otte. 2007. Impact of Heracleum mantegazzianum on invaded vegetation and human activities, CAB International 144-156. PDF

Thiele, J., A. Otte and L. Eckstein. 2007. Ecological needs, habitat preference and plant communities invaded by Heracleum mantegazzianum, CAB International 126-143. PDF

2006

Thiele, J. and A. Otte. 2006. Analysis of habitats and communities invaded by Heracleum mantegazzianum Somm. et Lev. (Giant Hogweed) in Germany. PHYTOCOENOLOGIA 36:281-320. PDF

2005

2005. Praxisleitfaden Riesenbärenklau: Richtlinien für das Management und die Kontrolle einer invasiven Pflanzenart in Europa, Forest & Landscape. PDF