Annalena Katharina Lenk

Annalena Katharina Lenk

Guest (with Guest Agreement)

Faculty of Life Sciences
Institutsgebäude
Johannisallee 21
04103 Leipzig

Professional career

  • since 12/2021
    PhD student at the University of Leipzig, Systematic Botany and Functional Biodiversity and Functional Biodiversity funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU)

Education

  • 10/2014 - 09/2018
    B.Sc. Biology (specialization ecology), Friedrich -Schiller-University Jena
  • 10/2015 - 04/2019
    Studies in Protestant Theology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
  • 10/2018 - 09/2021
    M.Sc. Evolution, Ecology and Systematics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
  • 08/2019 - 10/2019
    Studies abroad in the M.Sc. Plant Science at Lund University (Sweden)

In my PhD thesis, I am investigating the regeneration dynamics of the pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), a characteristic tree species of hardwood floodplain forests with particular importance for biodiversity. Long-term drainage of the Leipzig floodplain, as well as most floodplains in Central Europe, has created conditions that inhibit the natural regeneration of the pedunculate oak. In my project, I am researching whether increased light incidence due to current climate change-induced drought damage in combination with flooding effects enables regeneration. Microclimatic and soil ecology aspects are also considered.