Welcome to the evolutionary veterinary medicine group within the Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany.

We are interested how heterogeneity among individuals influence population and evolutionary dynamics in variable environments, inlcuding antibiotics. We focus on simple demographic events, the reproduction and survival of individuals. How has heterogeneity among individuals evolved, and how are evolutionary and ecological processes driven by demographic events? Is heterogeneity neutral (stochastic) or adaptive and how it is maintained? We achieve this by advancing structured population models rooted in Markov chain theories, and by testing these models using a simple microfluidic device on bacteria and longitudinal studies in the wild. Phenotypic resistance to antibiotics is only one aspect where non-genetic and non-environmental heterogeneity influence evolutionary dynamics.  Further, we investigate the evolution of phenotypic plasticity and work on evolution of aging.