- The program focuses on animal and plant ecology and also includes aspects of sociobiology and other topics of organismic biology.
- Further topics include constraints for plant growth and development (biogeography, biodiversity), the interactions of plants and animals with abiotic and biotic environmental factors (e.g. plant-insect, plant-fungus interactions) including the evolutionary adaptations at the physiological and organismic level, aspects of neurogenetics and behavior as well as the interaction of individuals, social groups and large populations in complex and variable ecosystems.