In this part of the Botanical Gardens, the immigration of the native shrubs of Southern Germany during the post-glacial period are shown. The changing climate conditions between the ice age and warm periods caused an extremely varied change in flora and fauna.
On the northern face, the development of vegetation in the mountainous forest region is shown. Along the creek, one can see the flora of the river landscapes, and on the southern faces that of the warmer locations and hillsides. The glacial period vegetation surrounds both ponds in the eastern part of the gardens.
In the last 2.5 million years, Earth’s climate has regularly oscillated between ice ages and very warm periods like today, the interglacial periods. The average duration of the ice ages was between 80,000 to 100,000 years, that of the interglacial periods around 10,000 to 15,000 years. The current warm period has already lasted around 11,600 years. As can be seen from many observations, it is coming to an end.
In the last 7,000-9,000 years, people have significantly influenced the environment. The consequences for the vegetation in Southern Germany is shown here using selected examples.
Print version of the complete historical tour (German)
Print version of Stop 8 (German)
Flyer Historical Tour (English)
