Gregor Kraus
Encyclopedia
Gregor Konrad Michael Kraus (9 May 1841 in Bad Orb
in Hesse-Nassau – 14 November 1915 in Würzburg
) was a 19th century German botanist
and plant ecologist
.
Kraus studied medicine
and natural history
at the University of Würzburg
. He became inspired by the professor of botany
Julius von Sachs
. Thus, he specialized in that discipline and obtained a doctorate degree in 1866. He first became professor and director of the botanic garden at the University of Erlangen, where he stayed until 1872. In 1872, he succeeded Anton de Bary
as professor and director of the botanic garden at the University of Halle. He remained in that position until 1898, when he succeeded his former mentor Sachs
at the University of Würzburg
. There he stayed for the remainder of his professional life.
Kraus studied numerous aspects of the discipline of botany
, e.g. fossil trees
, driftwood
from Siberia
collected on the northeastern coast of Greenland
by the Second German North Polar Expedition, chlorophyll, photosynthesis in Crassulaceae
to the history of botanic gardens in general and the Botanic Garden of Halle University
in particular. His name, however, became particularly associated with the relationships between plants and microclimate
. He published detailed accounts of the distribution of water in plant bodies and micrometeorology
.
Bad Orb
Bad Orb is a spa town in the Main-Kinzig district, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated 32 east km of Hanau. Bad Orb is between forested hills in the Nature Park Spessart, one of the largest forested areas in Germany. The canyon-side donkey path that runs to Großheubach in Miltenberg Kreis passes Bad...
in Hesse-Nassau – 14 November 1915 in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
) was a 19th century German botanist
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and plant ecologist
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
.
Kraus studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
. He became inspired by the professor of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
Julius von Sachs
Julius von Sachs
Julius von Sachs was a German botanist from Breslau, Prussian Silesia.At an early age he showed a taste for natural history, becoming acquainted with the Breslau physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně. In 1851 he began studying at Charles University in Prague...
. Thus, he specialized in that discipline and obtained a doctorate degree in 1866. He first became professor and director of the botanic garden at the University of Erlangen, where he stayed until 1872. In 1872, he succeeded Anton de Bary
Anton de Bary
Heinrich Anton de Bary was a German surgeon, botanist, microbiologist, and mycologist ....
as professor and director of the botanic garden at the University of Halle. He remained in that position until 1898, when he succeeded his former mentor Sachs
Julius von Sachs
Julius von Sachs was a German botanist from Breslau, Prussian Silesia.At an early age he showed a taste for natural history, becoming acquainted with the Breslau physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně. In 1851 he began studying at Charles University in Prague...
at the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
. There he stayed for the remainder of his professional life.
Kraus studied numerous aspects of the discipline of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
, e.g. fossil trees
Paleobotany
Paleobotany, also spelled as palaeobotany , is the branch of paleontology or paleobiology dealing with the recovery and identification of plant remains from geological contexts, and their use for the biological reconstruction of past environments , and both the evolutionary history of plants, with a...
, driftwood
Driftwood
Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea or river by the action of winds, tides, waves or man. It is a form of marine debris or tidewrack....
from Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
collected on the northeastern coast of Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
by the Second German North Polar Expedition, chlorophyll, photosynthesis in Crassulaceae
Crassulacean acid metabolism
Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions. The stomata in the leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but open at night to collect carbon dioxide...
to the history of botanic gardens in general and the Botanic Garden of Halle University
Botanische Garten der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
The Botanische Garten der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg is an arboretum and botanical garden maintained by the University of Halle-Wittenberg. It is located at Am Kirchtor 3 in the city of Halle, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, and open daily in the warmer months...
in particular. His name, however, became particularly associated with the relationships between plants and microclimate
Microclimate
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet or as large as many square miles...
. He published detailed accounts of the distribution of water in plant bodies and micrometeorology
Microscale meteorology
Microscale meteorology is the study of short-lived atmospheric phenomena smaller than mesoscale, about 1 km or less. These two branches of meteorology are sometimes grouped together as "mesoscale and microscale meteorology" and together study all phenomena smaller than synoptic scale; that is they...
.