Heinz Ellenberg

He developed 9–point scales for rating European plant preferences for light, temperature, continentality (geographic region), nutrients, soil moisture, pH, and salinity.

From 1920 to 1932 Ellenberg studied in Hanover, where his interest in local flora and fauna was established, and where he came in contact with Reinhold Tüxen.

After completing his doctorate he worked at the central office for vegetation mapping in Hannover under the direction of Reinhold Tüxen and during World War II served in a "research relay".

Ellenberg successfully worked on developing roof plantings of bunkers that would allow them to blend in with landscape and deceive hostile airplanes.

[citation needed] In 1996 he published a revised edition of "Vegetation Mitteleuropas mit den Alpen in ökologischer, dynamischer und historischer Sicht".