Martin Lindauer

Martin Lindauer ( born December 19, 1918 in Wäldle ( part of Bad Kohlgrub ), † 13 November 2008 in Munich ) was one of the most important German ethologist.

Life

Although Martin Lindauer had 14 siblings, he was the visit of Humanistic Gymnasium in Landshut, today Hans- Carossa -Gymnasium in Landshut possible. After graduation in 1939 Lindauer drafted into labor service and with the outbreak of war the Wehrmacht. In 1942, he was severely wounded and could start 1943 in Munich, studying biology. In the same year he married Franziska spot, with whom he had a daughter and two sons. His most important scientific teacher was Karl von Frisch received his doctorate at the Lindauer in 1948 with a thesis on the effects of fragrances and flavors in the dances of bees. The bees, with whom he had already come to his parents' farm in contact since remained the object of his scientific work.

1948 Lindauer was assistant at fresh in Graz and in 1950 went with him back to the University of Munich, where he habilitated in 1955. 1961-1963 was Lindauer außordentlicher professor at the University of Munich, 1963-1973 Professor at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt and from 1973 until his retirement in 1987 professor at the University of Würzburg.

Work

In his pioneering studies Lindauer led consistently the work of his teacher Karl von Frisch further, so that today we can speak " of fresh Lindauer School Karl" the behavioral biology of bees with permission from the. He explored the communication methods of the bees in the food and housing policies, the division of labor in bee colony, the temperature regulation of the hive and the orientation using the " sun compass " and of the geomagnetic field, the shapes and fragrance perception of bees and their learning ability and memory. The modern experimental behavioral research, sensory physiology and sociobiology have been significantly influenced by his work.

Numerous scientific publications and books testify to Lindauer's work, including a collection of essays of the great pioneer of modern ethology Jean -Henri Fabre, the Lindauer together with Jost M. Franz in German translation published (Jean -Henri Fabre: miracle of living, Zurich 1989).

Honors

Martin Lindauer received many awards and honors, including honorary doctorates from the universities of Zurich, Umeå and Saarbrücken, he is a member of the Leopoldina and the National Academy of Sciences. In 1983 he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The German Beekeepers Association appointed him in 1984 to "honor master beekeeper ".

Literature on Martin Lindauer

• FG Barth: Martin Lindauer, on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Journal of Comparative Physiology 185 (3 ), 1999, pp. 215-216, doi: 10.1007/s003590050380.
• Bert Hölldobler: Martin Lindauer, 12.19.1918 - 13.11.2008. Bavarian Academy of Sciences, Yearbook 2008, p 171 (PDF).
• Thomas D. Seeley Obituary: Martin Lindauer ( 1918-2008 ). Nature 456, 718 11 December, 2008, doi: 10.1038/456718a.
• William L. Abler: Lindauer 's genius Showed evolution in a simple experiment. Nature 457, 379 22 January, 2009, doi: 10.1038/457379d.
• Karl Daumer: Martin Lindauer - A Life for Bee Research. Biology in our time, 39 (1 ), 2009, pp. 61-62, doi: 10.1002/biuz.200990011.