ecosystems; the rapid developments in science – as well as the fast development of
methods, techniques and data pools – are a big challenge. Many aspects of global
ecology have been studied in the last 50 years. Some examples are demonstrated
here. This essay will remain a rather historical treatise. It will give examples of
experimental and field work. It will be a look back with great gratitude on what was
able to be achieved and experienced.
1 Introductory Remarks and Early Background at
Stuttgart, Innsbruck, Hohenheim, Kabul, Bonn, Logan
(Utah) and Bielefeld
The following review gives a personal overview of some of the scientific topics
tackled over the last 50 years and characterizes a somewhat unusual career, which
asked many questions on many very different ecological topics. The scientific
depth was sometimes limited, and the scientific breadth was immense and always
satisfying.
Breadth or depth? I always have had the feeling that, as a scientist, I was lucky not
to do research for 25 or 40 years on Sinapis seedlings or on one gene of Arabidopsis,
although it is certainly very important too.
I had the privilege to study three subjects at the University (Technische
Hochschule) of Stuttgart (chemistry, biology and geology) for my teacher’s exam.
Later, geology had to be replaced by geography. But ethnology, astrophysics,
engineering, philosophy or even Beethoven piano sonatas could come into lectures.
This was fascinating, as was studying for 1 year at the University of Innsbruck with a
touch of high mountain ecology. After two obligatory practical courses at schools
(each for 4 weeks), the three classes in chemistry were so different that even the
teacher had problems in keeping the classes on the same parallel level.
The thesis for the 1963 teacher’s exam was in inorganic chemistry at Stuttgart
(supervised by Joseph Goubeau). The title was “Preparation of a Compound
Between Perchloric Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide” (Breckle 1963). Those who
know chemistry would judge that this has something to do with rocket explosives.
The questions were: How stable is the ionic compound? Is a salt existent that could
be called “perhydronium perchlorate”? (Fig. 1). In fact, this is a very explosive salt,
only stable below À50
C. By infrared and Raman spectroscopy, the cohesive force
and the bond angles could be calculated. However, the monocrystalline sodium
chloride (NaCl) cuvette, after several tests, exploded once, and all of the windows of
the lab – and also, for some days, my auditory sense and hearing – were damaged.
Thus I started writing the thesis and finished my teacher’s studies in 1963 with the
state examination (inorganic and organic chemistry, zoology, botany, geography and
the Philosophicum).
Then I switched back to botany, my old hobby. Instead of becoming a teacher or
having a well-paid job at one of the large chemical companies (Bayer, BASF),
I preferred to tackle the question: What are the competitive conditions between
2
S.-W. Breckle
methods, techniques and data pools – are a big challenge. Many aspects of global
ecology have been studied in the last 50 years. Some examples are demonstrated
here. This essay will remain a rather historical treatise. It will give examples of
experimental and field work. It will be a look back with great gratitude on what was
able to be achieved and experienced.
1 Introductory Remarks and Early Background at
Stuttgart, Innsbruck, Hohenheim, Kabul, Bonn, Logan
(Utah) and Bielefeld
The following review gives a personal overview of some of the scientific topics
tackled over the last 50 years and characterizes a somewhat unusual career, which
asked many questions on many very different ecological topics. The scientific
depth was sometimes limited, and the scientific breadth was immense and always
satisfying.
Breadth or depth? I always have had the feeling that, as a scientist, I was lucky not
to do research for 25 or 40 years on Sinapis seedlings or on one gene of Arabidopsis,
although it is certainly very important too.
I had the privilege to study three subjects at the University (Technische
Hochschule) of Stuttgart (chemistry, biology and geology) for my teacher’s exam.
Later, geology had to be replaced by geography. But ethnology, astrophysics,
engineering, philosophy or even Beethoven piano sonatas could come into lectures.
This was fascinating, as was studying for 1 year at the University of Innsbruck with a
touch of high mountain ecology. After two obligatory practical courses at schools
(each for 4 weeks), the three classes in chemistry were so different that even the
teacher had problems in keeping the classes on the same parallel level.
The thesis for the 1963 teacher’s exam was in inorganic chemistry at Stuttgart
(supervised by Joseph Goubeau). The title was “Preparation of a Compound
Between Perchloric Acid and Hydrogen Peroxide” (Breckle 1963). Those who
know chemistry would judge that this has something to do with rocket explosives.
The questions were: How stable is the ionic compound? Is a salt existent that could
be called “perhydronium perchlorate”? (Fig. 1). In fact, this is a very explosive salt,
only stable below À50
C. By infrared and Raman spectroscopy, the cohesive force
and the bond angles could be calculated. However, the monocrystalline sodium
chloride (NaCl) cuvette, after several tests, exploded once, and all of the windows of
the lab – and also, for some days, my auditory sense and hearing – were damaged.
Thus I started writing the thesis and finished my teacher’s studies in 1963 with the
state examination (inorganic and organic chemistry, zoology, botany, geography and
the Philosophicum).
Then I switched back to botany, my old hobby. Instead of becoming a teacher or
having a well-paid job at one of the large chemical companies (Bayer, BASF),
I preferred to tackle the question: What are the competitive conditions between
2
S.-W. Breckle