Focal study regions are rainforests of South America and Africa but also our 'back garden' in central Europe. Our key organisms are amphibians. Among our main study groups are poison frogs (Dendrobatidae), harlequin toads (Atelopus), reed frogs (Hyperoliidae) and European land salamanders (Salamandra). But these are not exclusive, as we also investigate reptiles, invertebrates or others. We study species and their environments at different spatial, temporal and taxonomic scales. In an interdisciplinary frame, our lab may best be seen at the interface of systematics, ecology, biogeography, evolution and conservation. Methodically, we make use of modelling, GIS applications, (molecular) phylogeny etc. and process lab, experimental and field data. We very much like collaborative work.