Ruth Beutler

Ruth Beutler (born July 16, 1897 in Chemnitz , † October 22, 1959 in Munich ) was a German zoologist. In her scientific work, she devoted herself particularly to research into the European honey bee (Apis mellifera).

Live and act

Beutler was born in Chemnitz in 1897 as the daughter of a lawyer and notary who ran a larger agricultural business as a part-time job and transformed it into a model estate. After graduating from high school, she initially devoted herself to agriculture and gardening. In view of her poor health constitution, she began studying natural sciences (especially zoology ). 1923 doctorate it with a dissertation on "Experimental studies on the digestive system of Hydra", they at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich had begun, and at the University of Rostock finished. At the time, her work on freshwater polyps provided important insights into the comparative physiology of nutrition.

She then expanded her knowledge in the field of physiological chemistry at the physiological-chemical institute of the University of Leipzig . After studying at various marine stations, she returned to the Zoological Institute of the University of Munich in 1925. Although she received her habilitation on February 19, 1930 (the second woman at all at the University of Munich) , she could only be employed as a laboratory assistant at the Zoological Institute until 1932 - although she was overqualified . It was not until 1932 that a scientific assistant position was awarded . On January 22, 1937, she was finally awarded the title of professor .

Her scientific work focused on the physiological-chemical area. Her habilitation thesis "Biological-chemical investigations on the nectar of Immenblumen" was fundamental. It has been known for a long time that the sap is of great importance for attracting bees. However, little reliable was known about its composition, concentration and the conditions of its elimination. With her work she initiated a series of international research projects which led to an investigation of nectar production under different climatic conditions. Her research “About the blood sugar of bees (Apis mellifica)” followed the insight that little related was known in this area from a comparative physiological point of view. This was followed by her work “Comparative considerations on the sugar content of human and animal blood”.

After the Second World War , she bought a piece of land on Lake Ammersee , on which she built a small house. The garden remained a constant source of inspiration for her zoological research.

After the head of the Zoological Institute Karl von Frisch received an offer from the University of Graz in 1947 , she was entrusted with the provisional management of the institute. She earned lasting merits when she protected the institute's rooms, which had been largely destroyed by bombs, from access by Munich chemists and vigorously campaigned for the reconstruction of the institute building. When Frisch returned to Munich in 1950, she was only granted a position as a curator . She died in Munich in 1959.

Honors

Ruth-Beutler-Strasse was named after her in 2004 in the Messestadt Riem in Munich .

Selected works

• Experimental studies on digestion at Hydra , in: Journal for Comparative Physiology, Vol. 1, H. 1 (March), 1924, pp. 1-56, plus Diss. Univ. Rostock, 1923.
• Observations on fed hydroid polyps , in: Journal for Comparative Physiology, Vol. 3, H. 6 (November), 1926, pp. 737-775.
• Biological-chemical investigations on the nectar of Immenblumen , in: Journal for Comparative Physiology, Vol. 12, H. 1 (March), 1930, pp. 72-176.
• About the blood sugar of the bee (Apis mellifica) , in: Journal for Comparative Physiology, Vol. 24, H. 1 (January), 1936, pp. 71-115.
• Comparative considerations on the sugar content of human and animal blood , in: Results of Biology, Vol. 17, 1939, pp. 1-104.
• together with Schöntag, Adele: About the nectar separation of some useful plants , in: Journal for Comparative Physiology, Vol. 28, H. 3 (January), 1940, pp. 254–285.
• together with Opfinger, Elisabeth: pollen nutrition and nosema infestation of the honeybee (Apis Mellifica) , in: Journal for Comparative Physiology, Vol. 32, H. 5 (September), 1950, pp. 383-421.
• About the flight distance of bees , in: Journal for Comparative Physiology, Vol. 36, H. 3 (May), 1954, pp. 266–289.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Civil status of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, winter half year 1934/35, pp. 21 & 49 (PDF; 14.2 MB)

literature

• Karl von Frisch : Ruth Beutler (July 16, 1897– October 22, 1959) , in: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Annual Chronicle 1959/1960, University Archives: Munich, 1960, pp. 10–11.
• Sibylle Nagler-Springmann: “She dedicated her life to science.” Ruth Beutler, professor in the shadow of her teacher (1897–1959). In: Hiltrud Häntzschel , Hadumod Bußmann (ed.): Threateningly clever. A century of women and science in Bavaria. Beck, Munich 1997, ISBN 3-406-41857-0 , pp. 255-260.