Selected publications

Did primary plastids originate by a single or multiple endosymbiosis events between a heterotrophic host eukaryote and cyanobacteria? By using a phylogenomic approach to untangle the diversification of the primary plastid-bearing lineages (Archaeplastida), the authors propose a single endosymbiosis but highlight and discuss the affiliation of the plastid-lacking Picozoa to the Archaeplastida.

The authors investigated the influence of climate change on the river pearl mussel through a coupled, complex model cascade in the catchment area of the Aist (Austria). Discharge changes might lead to reduced sediment transport capacity and to increased fine sediment input. As a consequence the mussel's dispersal probability decreases to up to 76% of the maximum theoretical value. 

The authors used isotope tracers and water quality measurements, hydrometric and climatic data to investigate seasonal changes in water sources in the River Erpe. Downstream, flows were dominated by effluent from a large wastewater treatment plant, especially in summer. They gained new insights into how lowland, peri-urban catchments with complex land use function hydrologically.

The authors exposed three freshwater ciliates to long-term selection of increasing salinity in the absence and presence of competitors. Their results show that the evolutionary and plastic responses to increasing salinity depended both on interspecific competition and the magnitude of the abiotic salinity change, ultimately determining species persistence.

The authors propose a framework to study eco-evo dynamics in communities by considering interactions between the processes of evolutionary biology (selection, gene flow, genetic drift and mutation) and community ecology (selection, dispersal, ecological drift and speciation). Such a framework will enable explorations of the full range of eco-evo dynamics and guide the design of novel experiments.

The authors advocate the worldwide development of a dark infrastructure. This refers to areas and corridors without excessive artificial light at night that protect biodiversity from light pollution. A guide to getting there.

The authors investigated the genetic basis underpinning the adaptation of prey to predation. The expansion of multiple gene families might be a key evolutionary event for Daphnia to survive in a habitat containing predators. For example, the expansions of gene families associated with chemoreception and vision allow Daphnia to enhance detection of predation risk.

The paper reports impacts of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and ionic silver (Ag+) on an aquatic processing chain of leaves, microbes, shredders and collectors. AgNPs and Ag+ affect multiple links of the processing chain at environmentally realistic concentrations. Shredders respond more sensitively than collectors. Leaf-associated fungal biomass and microbial leaf decomposition are being reduced.