The "Wald der Wisente" (forest of bison) in Hardehausen (Warburg-Scherfede) in North Rhine-Westphalia, close to the border to Hesse is a special forest. A group of European Bison, Bos bonasus L. 1758, are grazing these woodlands for more than 60 years (the forest itself is much older) and create a special forest habitat, very invaluable for much insect species.
The AG westfälischer Entomologen (scientific working group of westphalian entomologists) monitors the area from beginning of 2017 until now.

I am working on the dung beetle community associated on dung of the European Bison (lowland and forest) and the Tarpan horses also living beside the forest.

Also the saproxylic beetles are in focus of my research in "forest of bison". Mainly Lucanidae, Cetoniinae and some other non-lamellicorn beetle families are part of my studies in this special area.

Most of the bigger mammals (except the bison) that die in the forest are left there. It is therefore obvious that a large necrophagous insect community could develop in this habitat. The data of three years will now be evaluated and published.

Almost 10 years of studies have been carried out in different habitats. The basis of every habitat is sandy soil and drought - some forests, some heathlands and calcareous grasslands. Different ecological topics are in the focus of the research.