Dr. rer. nat.Nike Sommerwerk

Scientist / (Senior) Scientist

Nike.Sommerwerk@mfn.berlin+49 0 30 889 140 - 8359

Contact Meta Informationen

Department:
Public Science

As co-leader of the NaturBerlin research cluster, I am responsible for documenting and analyzing changes in biodiversity in urban areas - with a focus on Berlin. It is also about predicting the effects of the changes. Another focus is strengthening the networking of the Berlin biodiversity community. Also with national and international actors in order to become more capable of acting together. Our products contribute to the Berlin strategy for the preservation of biological diversity as well as the regulation on the restoration of nature, and can represent an element for future Berlin-wide biodiversity monitoring. As head of the Biodiversity Policy Lab (BPL), I analyze biodiversity policy, advise on it and accompany public debates on biodiversity policy. I am also responsible for coordinating the alliance of university and non-university biodiversity research in Germany (The Alliance), i.e. the platform for the German academic biodiversity community. We regularly publish jointly developed positions and solutions - especially in connection with the handling of digital sequence information (DSI). I am also part of the core team of NeFo, the network forum for biodiversity research in Germany.

I am part of the research areas and working groups:
Knowledge for Action

Project(s)

  • In-House Project

    NaturBerlin

    The NaturBerlin research cluster documents, analyses, and forecasts changes in biodiversity in urban and peri-urban spaces.

Publications

Keinath, S., Sommerwerk, N., Fienitz, M., Freyhof, J. (2025). From coverage to extension: Evaluating indices for biodiversity monitoring in cities to reflect global and EU biodiversity targets. Ecological Indicators, 171, 113223. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113223Open Access

Keinath, S., Freyhof, J., Kasper, K., Lutz, M., Velder, R., Riestenpatt, D., Petzold, F., Schwarz, J., Ponick, W., Eidner, R., Meißner, J., Bengsch, S., Sommerwerk, N. (2025). Towards Global Biodiversity Framework Target 12: mapping urban biodiversity monitoring programmes – a case study for Berlin, Germany. Urban Ecosystems, 28(4), 146. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-025-01760-0Open Access

Wirth, C., Bruelheide, H., Farwig, N., Maylin Marx, J., Sommerwerk, N., Freyhof, J. (2024). 5. Binnengewässer und Auen. In Settele, J. (Hrsg.), Faktencheck Artenvielfalt (521-646). Ergolding: oekom Verlag. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14512/9783987263361Open Access

Bloesch, J., Cyffka, B., Hein, T., Sandu, C., Sommerwerk, N. (2025). The Danube river and the western Black Sea coast: complex transboundary management. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.

Keinath, S., De Silva, S., Sommerwerk, N., Freyhof, J. (2024). High levels of species' extirpation in an urban environment—A case study from Berlin, Germany, covering 1700–2023. Ecology and Evolution, 14(7), e70018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70018Open Access

Keinath, S., Sommerwerk, N., Scuto, L., Nello, T., Freyhof, J. (2025). First-time application of the IUCN urban Nature Indexes and its applicability for urban-related biodiversity conservation targets–A case study for Berlin, Germany. Ecological Indicators, 180, 114327. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114327Open Access

Leibniz Research Network Biodiversity, Thonicke, K., Rahner, E., Arneth, A., Bonn, A., Borchard, N., Chaudhary, A., Darbi, M., Dutta, T., Eberle, U., Eisenhauer, N., Farwig, N., Flocco, C.G., Freitag, J., Grobe, P., Grosch, R., Grossart, H.P., Grosse, A., Grützmacher, K., Hagemann, N., Hansjürgens, B., Hartman Scholz, A., Hassenrück, C., Häuser, C., Hickler, T., Hölker, F., Jacob, U., Jähnig, S., Jürgens, K., Kramer-Schadt, S., Kretsch, C., Krug, C., Lindner, J.P., Loft, L., Mann, C., Matzdorf, B., Mehring, M., Meier, R., Meusemann, K., Müller, D., Nieberg, M., Overmann, J., Peters, R.S., Pörtner, L.M., Pradhan, P., Prochnow, A., Rduch, V., Reyer, C.P.O., Roos, C., Scherber, C., Scheunemann, N., Schroer, S., Schuck, A., Sioen, G.B., Sommer, S., Sommerwerk, N., Tanneberger, F., Tockner, K., van der Voort, H., Veenstra, T., Verburg, P.H., Voss, M., Warner, B., Wende, W., Wesche, K. (2024). 10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science 2024.. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.10837769Open Access

Farwig, N., Sprenger, P.P., Baur, B., Böhning-Gaese, K., Brandt, A., Eisenhauer, N., Ellwanger, G., Hochkirch, A., Karamanlidis, A.A., Mehring, M., Pusch, M., Rehling, F., Sommerwerk, N., Spatz, T., Svenning, J.C., Tischew, S., Tockner, K., Tscharntke, T., Vadrot, A.B.M., Taffner, J., Fürst, C., Jähnig, S.C., Mosbrugger, V. (2024). Identifying Major Factors for Success and Failure of Conservation Programs in Europe. Environmental Management, 75(3), 425-443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-02086-xOpen Access