We integrate ecology and evolution into a single framework that explores the reciprocal dynamics across biological scales - from the genome to the ecosystem level.
What is the role of genome evolution in eco-evolutionary responses?
How flexible are eco-evolutionary processes on shorter timescales such as years or decades spanning only few generations?
Which environmental factors have major effects on evolutionary processes and how strong is the feedback on the ecosystem?
With our research at the Institute of Zoology (University of Cologne), we seek to investigate the dynamic of evolutionary responses to short-term environmental change (think of climate change scenarios), as well as the opposite direction when ecological changes are triggered by evolutionary processes (think of the effect of mutation on population densities). We therefore analyze mechanisms of genome evolution (population genomics approaches) and test its flexibility towards ecological changes in animal species. The taxonomic spectrum of our projects is very broad and we have a special sympathy for invertebrates from freshwater systems and soils.
What is the role of genome evolution in eco-evolutionary responses?
How flexible are eco-evolutionary processes on shorter timescales such as years or decades spanning only few generations?
Which environmental factors have major effects on evolutionary processes and how strong is the feedback on the ecosystem?
With our research at the Institute of Zoology (University of Cologne), we seek to investigate the dynamic of evolutionary responses to short-term environmental change (think of climate change scenarios), as well as the opposite direction when ecological changes are triggered by evolutionary processes (think of the effect of mutation on population densities). We therefore analyze mechanisms of genome evolution (population genomics approaches) and test its flexibility towards ecological changes in animal species. The taxonomic spectrum of our projects is very broad and we have a special sympathy for invertebrates from freshwater systems and soils.
