@article{DemeleNoeltingCrewettetal.2021, author = {Demele, Uwe and N{\"o}lting, Benjamin and Crewett, Wibke and Georgiev, Georgi}, title = {Sustainability Transfer as a Concept for Universities in Regional Transformation—A Case Study}, series = {Sustainabilty}, volume = {13}, journal = {Sustainabilty}, number = {9}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2071-1050}, doi = {10.3390/su13094956}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2456}, pages = {25}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The research object of this study is the in-depth discourse on the sustainability transfer activities of higher education institutions (HEIs) and their contribution to a regional sustainable transformation. For this purpose, a heuristically-derived concept of sustainability transfer is empirically tested with a mixed-methods approach based on the example of Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE). The empirical findings demonstrate that the realization of sustainability transfer depends mainly on the personal initiative of teachers and researchers. Major barriers are a lack of time and financial resources. The observed concept of sustainability transfer is applicable to all study and research areas of HNEE. Involvement in sustainability transfer can include the whole of society, from politics, enterprises, and civil society to education and research institutions. Overall, the empirical testing of the concept offered by this study illustrates its practical suitability to capturing specifically those sustainability transfer activities that are not tapped by third mission approaches. This opens up a novel dimension for transfer potential at universities and their role in regional sustainability transformation. It also highlights that the interdependencies between HEIs and practitioners need to be more contextualized with quality criteria such as the value of the transfer performance or level of ambition.}, language = {en} } @article{RoqueMacandzaZelleretal., author = {Roque, Dion{\´i}sio Virg{\´i}lio and Macandza, Val{\´e}rio Ant{\´o}nio and Zeller, Ulrich and Starik, Nicole and G{\"o}ttert, Thomas}, title = {Historical and current distribution and movement patterns of large herbivores in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique}, series = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, publisher = {Frontiers Media S.A.}, issn = {2296-701X}, doi = {10.3389/fevo.2022.978397}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3641}, abstract = {This study provides a first attempt to describe the historical distribution and movement patterns of selected large herbivore (LH) species in Limpopo National Park (LNP), an area in Mozambique today connected to a network of transboundary conservation areas. Between 1976 and the early 2000s, most LH species were absent in this area following the civil war in Mozambique followed by intense poaching due to weak law enforcement capacity. Through the reconstruction of the historical and current distribution and movement patterns of seven LH species in five periods, we investigate possible changes in distribution and movement patterns over time. Data collection is based on a systematic literature search, censuses reports, online databases, dung count transects, and camera trap surveys. We mapped all LH observations and movements using ArcGIS 10.1. Our results reveal a dramatic collapse of LH populations between the peak of the colonial period and the post-colonial/civil war period (1800-2001), followed by a slight recovery from the post-proclamation of Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park to the current period (2002-2021). While LH population decline applied to all seven species, there are species-specific differences in the process of restoration: African elephant (Loxodonta africana), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and plains zebra (Equus quagga) appear to recover to a greater extent than giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), eland (Tragelaphus oryx), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), and white rhino (Ceratotherium simum). We found evidence of the functioning of proposed wildlife corridors in the LNP. The results give reason to assume that restoration of populations of LH is still in a very early and vulnerable state and that further efforts are necessary to strengthen the slowly increasing populations of LH. Our results highlight the importance of combining past and current data as a guide for the restoration of threatened species in African savannas impacted by human activities.}, language = {en} } @article{StarikGoettert2022, author = {Starik, Nicole and G{\"o}ttert, Thomas}, title = {Bats adjust echolocation and social call design as a response to urban environments}, series = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution}, publisher = {Frontiers Media S.A.}, issn = {2296-701X}, doi = {10.3389/fevo.2022.939408}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3140}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Behavioral traits play a major role in the successful adaptation of wildlife to urban conditions. We investigated and compared the acoustic behavior of free ranging bats in rural (Havelland, Brandenburg) and urban (Berlin city center) green areas (n = 6 sites) to assess possible effects of urbanization on bat vocalizations using automated real-time recordings from May to October 2020 and 2021. We show that foraging and social call activity of commonly occurring bat species was lower in urban areas compared to rural areas. We present data on rural-urban variation in acoustic parameters of echolocation and Type D social calls (produced during flight) using the example of the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Calls from urban sites revealed significantly higher end and peak frequencies compared to rural site calls. In addition, urban social calls present a higher degree of complexity as they structurally differed from rural social calls with regard to assemblage and number of call components. Moreover, urban social calls were emitted in a presumably different context than rural calls: antagonistic social calls in urban areas were detected throughout the year and in the acoustic absence of conspecifics and heterospecifics. Our results provide evidence for the ability of P. pipistrellus to modulate temporal and spectral features of echolocation and social calls, as well as patterns of social call production, in order to compensate for constraints imposed by the urban acoustic environment. We suggest that this acoustic behavioral plasticity plays a major role in the degree of adaptation of insectivorous bats to urban habitats.}, language = {en} } @article{GoettertStarik2022, author = {G{\"o}ttert, Thomas and Starik, Nicole}, title = {Human-Wildlife Conflicts across Landscapes—General Applicability vs. Case Specificity}, series = {Diversity}, volume = {14}, journal = {Diversity}, number = {5}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {1424-2818}, doi = {10.3390/d14050380}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-2828}, pages = {18}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Here, we address the question of if/to what extent human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can be reduced or mitigated by supra-regional or even global approaches, or whether case- and region-specific strategies are necessary. First, we try to shift the perspective from humans towards wildlife and regard modern era (near) extinctions of selected wildlife species as an ultimate expression of HWC. We then reflect on the legitimacy of ecosystem comparisons beyond the borders of biogeographical regions—an important prerequisite for global approaches. In the following, we present two case scenarios that exemplarily illustrate the topic from different perspectives: carnivore-livestock conflicts (classical view, human perspective) and wind turbine-induced mortality of bats (wildlife perspective, rarely regarded as a form of HWC). On this basis, we try to develop a framework that enables a global approach, while adequately considering case- and region-specificity. We think that a globally valid and generally approachable dimension can be defined, as long as there is a natural link: in the present case the established monophyly of the orders Carnivora and Chiroptera, i.e., representatives descending from common ancestors, thus sharing common ecological features. This natural relationship among all representatives of a systematic group (specification of the "wildlife" concept) is key for the development of an overarching strategy that can be adjusted to a specific case.}, language = {en} } @article{GoettertPerry2023, author = {G{\"o}ttert, Thomas and Perry, Gad}, title = {Going Wild in the City—Animal Feralization and Its Impacts on Biodiversity in Urban Environments}, series = {Animals}, volume = {13}, journal = {Animals}, number = {4}, editor = {Bakaloudis, Dimitrios}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2076-2615}, doi = {10.3390/ani13040747}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3992}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Simple Summary Understanding the impact of urbanization on biodiversity is a crucial task of our time. Here, we reflect on the importance of feralization in the relationship between ongoing urbanization and the worsening biodiversity crisis. Feralization is often viewed as the exact opposite of a domestication process—a perception that we argue is too simplistic. The interrelations between domestication, feralization, and the adaptation of taxa to novel, human-made environments such as cities are complex. Given their unique traits, feral(izing) taxa can play key roles in sustainability, sometimes problematic (i.e., invasive species) but at other times, improving human well-being in urban settings. Abstract Domestication describes a range of changes to wild species as they are increasingly brought under human selection and husbandry. Feralization is the process whereby a species leaves the human sphere and undergoes increasing natural selection in a wild context, which may or may not be geographically adjacent to where the originator wild species evolved prior to domestication. Distinguishing between domestic, feral, and wild species can be difficult, since some populations of so-called "wild species" are at least partly descended from domesticated "populations" (e.g., junglefowl, European wild sheep) and because transitions in both directions are gradual rather than abrupt. In urban settings, prior selection for coexistence with humans provides particular benefit for a domestic organism that undergoes feralization. One risk is that such taxa can become invasive not just at the site of release/escape but far away. As humanity becomes increasingly urban and pristine environments rapidly diminish, we believe that feralized populations also hold conservation value.}, language = {en} } @article{RoqueGoettertMacandzaetal.2021, author = {Roque, Dion{\´i}sio and G{\"o}ttert, Thomas and Macandza, Val{\´e}rio Ant{\´o}nio and Zeller, Ulrich}, title = {Assessing Distribution Patterns and the Relative Abundance of Reintroduced Large Herbivores in the Limpopo National Park, Mozambique}, series = {Diversity}, volume = {13}, journal = {Diversity}, number = {10}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {1424-2818}, doi = {10.3390/d13100456}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3454}, pages = {20}, year = {2021}, abstract = {This study is the first systematic assessment of large herbivore (LH) communities in Limpopo National Park (LNP) in Mozambique, an area where most LH species were extinct until the early 2000s. We investigate whether LH community parameters are linked with the availability of habitat types or the distance between sampling sites and the origin of LH resettlement. We placed camera traps in five habitat types in resettled and not-resettled areas to compare species richness, relative abundance index, grazers-browsers-mixed feeder and na{\"i}ve occupancy of 15 LH species. While the richness decreased along the distance gradient of LH resettlement, relative abundance index strongly responded to habitat features. The grazer-browser-mixed feeder ratio oscillated, while from resettled to not-resettled areas, the ratio increased. Most species show a wide distribution range. The associations of most LH community parameters with habitat types rather than distance to initial release, together with the species-specific and guild-specific response patterns of LH, suggest LNP to already be in an intermediate stage of restoration. Our results highlight the importance of post-release monitoring of reintroduced wildlife as a tool to assess the success of ecological restoration initiatives in transboundary conservation areas.}, language = {en} } @article{StarikGoettertZeller2021, author = {Starik, Nicole and G{\"o}ttert, Thomas and Zeller, Ulrich}, title = {Spatial Behavior and Habitat Use of Two Sympatric Bat Species}, series = {Animals}, volume = {11}, journal = {Animals}, number = {12}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {2076-2615}, doi = {10.3390/ani11123460}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-3465}, pages = {20}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Movement behavior and habitat use of the long-eared bat species Plecotus auritus and Plecotus austriacus were studied in the Havelland region in Brandenburg (Germany). Data collection included mist-netting, radiotelemetry, reconstruction of prey items, and monitoring of roosting sites. Body measurements confirm a high degree of phenotypic similarity between the two species. Total activity areas (100\% Minimum Convex Polygons, MCPS) of Plecotus austriacus (2828.3 ± 1269.43 ha) were up to five-fold larger compared to Plecotus auritus (544.54 ± 295.89 ha). The activity areas of Plecotus austriacus contained up to 11 distinct core areas, and their mean total size (149.7 ± 0.07 ha) was approximately three-fold larger compared to core areas of Plecotus auritus (49.2 ± 25.6 ha). The mean distance between consecutive fixes per night was 12.72 ± 3.7 km for Plecotus austriacus and 4.23 ± 2.8 km for Plecotus auritus. While Plecotus austriacus was located most frequently over pastures (>40\%) and meadows (>20\%), P. auritus was located mostly within deciduous (>50\%) and mixed forests (>30\%) in close vicinity to its roosts. Roost site monitoring indicates that the activity of P. austriacus is delayed relative to P. auritus in spring and declined earlier in autumn. These phenological differences are probably related to the species' respective diets. Levins' measure of trophic niche breadth suggests that the prey spectrum for P. auritus is more diverse during spring (B = 2.86) and autumn (B = 2.82) compared to P. austriacus (spring: B = 1.7; autumn: B = 2.1). Our results give reason to consider these interspecific ecological variations and species-specific requirements of P. auritus and P. austriacus to develop adapted and improved conservation measures.}, language = {en} } @article{HebinckKlerkxElzenetal.2021, author = {Hebinck, Aniek and Klerkx, Laurens and Elzen, Boelie and Kok, Kristiaan P. W. and K{\"o}nig, Bettina and Schiller, Katharina and Tschersich, Julia and van Mierlo, Barbara and von Wirth, Timo}, title = {Beyond food for thought - Directing sustainability transitions research to address fundamental change in agri-food systems}, series = {Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions}, journal = {Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions}, number = {41}, publisher = {Elsevier}, issn = {2210-4224}, doi = {10.1016/j.eist.2021.10.003}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-4885}, pages = {81 -- 85}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Dominant agricultural and food systems lead to continuous resource depletion and unacceptable environmental and social impacts. While current calls for changing agrifood systems are increasingly framed in the context of sustainability transitions, they rarely make an explicit link to transition studies to address these systemic challenges, nor do transition scholars sufficiently address agri-food systems, despite their global pertinence. From this viewpoint, we illustrate several gaps in the agri-food systems debate that sustainability transition studies could engage in. We propose four avenues for research in the next decade of transition research on agri-food systems: 1) Crossscale dynamics between coupled systems; 2) Social justice, equity and inclusion; 3) Sustainability transitions in low- and middle-income countries; 4) Cross-sectoral governance and system integration. We call for a decade of new transition research that moves beyond single-scale and sector perspectives toward more inclusive and integrated analyses of food system dynamics.}, language = {en} } @article{NoeltingKoenigZimmermannetal.2022, author = {N{\"o}lting, Benjamin and K{\"o}nig, Bettina and Zimmermann, Anne B. and Di Giulio, Antonietta and Sch{\"a}fer, Martina and Schneider, Flurina}, title = {Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic: an opportunity to reflect on sustainability research}, series = {Sustainability Management Forum | NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum}, volume = {30}, journal = {Sustainability Management Forum | NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, issn = {2948-1627}, doi = {10.1007/s00550-022-00528-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5254}, pages = {11 -- 27}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The COVID-19 pandemic has jolted societies out of normality, possibly creating new conditions for sustainability transformations. What does this mean for sustainability research? Because of the scope of the crisis, researchers have been heavily involved: not only have they had to speed up the pace of scientific production to provide urgently needed COVID-19 knowledge, but they have also been affected citizens. For sustainability science, this calls for an experience-based reflection on the positionality and orientation of research aiming to support sustainability transformations. Twenty sustainability researchers discussed their sustainability research on COVID-19 in three workshops based on the following questions: How does the pandemic—and the measures taken to deal with it—affect sustainable development? What can we learn from the pandemic from the perspective of societal transformation? The present discussion paper emerged from this multidisciplinary exchange among sustainability researchers, considering five topics: impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on sustainability transformations; learning for sustainability transformations; the role of solidarity; governance and political steering; and the role of science in society. Our discussions led to a meta-level reflection on what sustainability research can learn from research on COVID-19 regarding topics and disciplinary angles, time dimensions, the role of researchers, and how adequate preparation for both crises and long-term transformations requires interdisciplinary interaction.}, language = {en} } @article{FritzHolstLangetal.2022, author = {Fritz, Hilke and Holst, Jorrit and Lang, Daniel J. and N{\"o}lting, Benjamin and Parodi, Oliver and Potthast, Thomas and Singer-Brodowski, Mandy}, title = {Transformationspfade f{\"u}r eine Kultur der Nachhaltigkeit an deutschen Hochschulen}, series = {GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society}, volume = {31}, journal = {GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society}, number = {4}, publisher = {oekom Verlag}, issn = {0940-5550}, doi = {10.14512/gaia.31.4.14}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7515}, pages = {254 -- 256}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Die Hochschulrektorenkonferenz hat sich 2018 f{\"u}r eine „Kultur der Nachhaltigkeit" ausgesprochen. Um dieses neue Leitbild f{\"u}r die Hochschulentwicklung auszugestalten, hat sich das Verbundvorhaben Hochschulen in Gesellschaft - Realexperimente transformativer Lern- und Forschungsprozesse f{\"u}r eine Kultur der Nachhaltigkeit an Hochschulen gegr{\"u}ndet. Es will alle relevanten Stakeholder von Hochschulen ansprechen und einen wichtigen Impuls f{\"u}r die Nachhaltigkeitstransformation an Hochschulen setzen.}, language = {de} } @inproceedings{MichaelisKoenigHobelsbergeretal.2023, author = {Michaelis, Thorsten and K{\"o}nig, Bettina and Hobelsberger, Christine and G{\"o}ttert, Thomas and N{\"o}lting, Benjamin}, title = {Transformationshemmnisse f{\"u}r nachhaltigere Ern{\"a}hrungssysteme - neue oder alte Bekannte des {\"O}kolandbaus?}, series = {One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beitr{\"a}ge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung {\"O}kologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. M{\"a}rz 2023}, booktitle = {One Step Ahead - einen Schritt voraus! : Beitr{\"a}ge zur 16. Wissenschaftstagung {\"O}kologischer Landbau : Frick, 7. bis 10. M{\"a}rz 2023}, editor = {Bibic, Vanessa and Schmidtke, Knut}, publisher = {Verlag Dr. K{\"o}ster}, isbn = {978-3-96831-055-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-7086}, pages = {622 -- 623}, year = {2023}, language = {de} } @techreport{WeinbergerKoenigNoeltingetal.2024, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Weinberger, Rebecca and K{\"o}nig, Bettina and N{\"o}lting, Benjamin and Gutsohn, Andrea}, title = {Ver{\"a}nderungen von Konsumpraktiken in der Corona-Pandemie: Ergebnisse aus dem "Logbuch der Ver{\"a}nderungen"}, doi = {10.57741/opus4-830}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-8306}, pages = {57}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Die Corona-Pandemie und die Maßnahmen zu ihrer Eind{\"a}mmung hatten vielfache wirtschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Auswirkungen und f{\"u}hrten dabei zu tiefgreifenden Ver{\"a}nderungen in den Alltagsroutinen vieler Menschen. Davon blieben auch die Alltagsbereiche Konsum und Versorgung nicht verschont. In diesem Diskussionspapier wird untersucht, inwieweit sich Alltagspraktiken im Hinblick auf das Einkaufs- und Versorgungsverhalten durch die Corona-bedingten Beschr{\"a}nkungen ver{\"a}ndert haben und welche Auswirkungen diese Verhaltens{\"a}nderungen auf eine nachhaltige Entwicklung haben k{\"o}nnen. Grundlage daf{\"u}r ist die Tagebuchstudie „Logbuch der Ver{\"a}nderung" des Forschungszentrums [Nachhaltigkeit - Transformation - Transfer]. Im untersuchten Handlungsfeld „Einkauf und Versorgung" wurden insgesamt 757 Logbucheintr{\"a}ge, welche von 545 Logbuchschreiber*innen verfasst wurden, ausgewertet. Das Datenmaterial umfasst die Eintr{\"a}ge der ersten drei Erhebungsphasen (von M{\"a}rz bis September 2020) des Logbuchprojektes. Den theoretischen Rahmen f{\"u}r das untersuchte Handlungsfeld bildet die Praxistheorie und wird methodisch durch eine qualitative Inhaltsanalyse strukturiert. Nach Auswertung des qualitativen Datenmaterials konnten f{\"u}nf Praktiken identifizierten werden: (1) Kauf von Verbrauchsg{\"u}tern, (2) Verwendung der Lebensmittel, (3) Planung des Einkaufs, (4) Fortbewegung zum Einkaufen und (5) Kauf von Gebrauchsg{\"u}tern. Die Analyse der Praktiken mit Fokus auf die drei praxistheoretischen Elemente (Kompetenz, Sinn, Materialit{\"a}t) zeigte folgende Ergebnisse: Verhaltens{\"a}nderungen treten in allen f{\"u}nf Praktiken auf, wobei sich die gr{\"o}ßten Ver{\"a}nderungen in den zwei Praktiken (1) Kauf von Verbrauchsg{\"u}tern und (2) Verwendung von Lebensmitteln zeigen. Die Logbuchschreiber*innen verwenden in der ersten Phase der Pandemie mehr Zeit f{\"u}r die Einkaufsplanung und bereiten deutlich h{\"a}ufiger als fr{\"u}her Mahlzeiten selbst Zuhause zu. Die H{\"a}ufigkeit der Einkaufsg{\"a}nge hat abgenommen, w{\"a}hrend die Menge der pro Einkauf gekauften Verbrauchsg{\"u}ter zugenommen hat. Das Bed{\"u}rfnis Gebrauchsg{\"u}ter zu konsumieren ist entweder zur{\"u}ckgegangen oder es wurde auf Onlineangebote zur{\"u}ckgegriffen. Viele der Verhaltens{\"a}nderungen lassen sich nachhaltigen Konsummerkmalen zuordnen.}, language = {de} } @misc{WolfNoeltingHammetal.2022, author = {Wolf, Nicole and N{\"o}lting, Benjamin and Hamm, Andrea and Rehak, Rainer and Hobelsberger, Christine and Beer, Felix}, title = {Kommunale Plattformen nachhaltig gestalten : Kriterienkatalog f{\"u}r Plattformen im Dienst einer nachhaltig-digitalen Daseinsvorsorge}, series = {Kurzstudie der Forschungslinie „Zukunftsf{\"a}hige Daseinsvorsorge"}, journal = {Kurzstudie der Forschungslinie „Zukunftsf{\"a}hige Daseinsvorsorge"}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6641}, pages = {54}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Digitale Plattformen avancieren zu einem wichtigen Teil der kommunalen Daseinsvorsorge. Richtig eingesetzt, k{\"o}nnen plattformbasierte Leistungen ein wirksames Steuerungsinstrument f{\"u}r eine nachhaltige Kommunalentwicklung darstellen. F{\"u}r diese kommunale Gestaltungsaufgabe wird in der Kurzstudie ein Kriterienkatalog erarbeitet, anhand dessen die Nachhaltigkeitspotenziale und -risiken unterschiedlicher Plattformmodelle beschrieben und untersucht werden k{\"o}nnen.}, language = {de} } @misc{Goettert2023, author = {G{\"o}ttert, Thomas}, title = {Cross-Landscape Approaches to Human Wildlife Conflicts—Na{\"i}ve or Necessary?}, series = {Diversity}, volume = {15}, journal = {Diversity}, number = {5}, publisher = {MDPI}, issn = {1424-2818}, doi = {10.3390/d15050653}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-6677}, year = {2023}, language = {en} } @article{ZellerGoettert2021, author = {Zeller, Ulrich and G{\"o}ttert, Thomas}, title = {Humans, megafauna and landscape structure - Rock engravings from Namibia encourage a comparative approach to central Europe and southern Africa}, series = {Vertebrate Zoology}, volume = {71}, journal = {Vertebrate Zoology}, issn = {1864-5755}, doi = {10.3897/vz.71.e72811}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:eb1-opus-5538}, pages = {631 -- 643}, year = {2021}, abstract = {This paper deals with reflections that arose after observing prehistoric rock engravings at different locations in Namibia. These observations stimulated comparative considerations with focus on southern Africa and central Europe. Similar to the Aurignacian rock art of European origin, the most common motifs in the Namibian rock engravings are large animals. While in Europe, the species that served as a blueprint for the illustration of Aurignacian rock art have mostly disappeared, the megafauna illustrated on the rock engravings in Namibia can still be found in the immediate vicinity of the rock art. Against this background, we discuss and further develop a comparative regional approach. We reconstruct and evaluate the suitability of African savannas and still-existing megafauna communities as an appropriate reference-frame for natural European grassland systems and extinct associated warm-adapted megafauna (Eemian Interglacial megafauna). Special attention is laid on the unique situation in Africa in the light of a global extinction wave of megafauna following increasing human activity in the Late Quaternary. This leads us to discuss the use of domesticated ungulates as surrogate taxa to fulfill ecosystem functions in Europe as part of concepts termed "rewilding" or "naturalistic grazing". After critically examining these concepts, we conclude that using domesticated forms as representatives of extinct or locally disappeared species in Europe has its justification to some extent. If, however, the naturally occurring megaherbivore community still exists (Africa), these naturally occurring species should be given priority due to their organismic abilities and limitations adapted to the harsh conditions in their specific environment. Finally, we discuss the application of (transboundary) protected areas as effective instruments to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. A holistic approach, including nature conservation and preservation of cultural achievements (domesticated forms, grazing systems), appears promising for the effective protection of the natural African savanna ecosystems with their unique fauna elements, as illustrated in rock engravings that inspired us to write this paper.}, language = {en} }