Research

I am an evolutionary ecologist particularly fascinated by bridging basic evolutionary concepts with aspects of current global change. My research is motivated by the tremendous impact of global change on the integrity of freshwater ecosystems. These impacts have caused a biodiversity crisis, to an extent that we are only beginning to realise. While many species disappear, others are able to tolerate the conditions and may even benefit from them.

General scope

Together with my team, I investigate the response of freshwater species across anthropogenic stressor gradients, from individual development (considering the important role of phenotypic plasticity) to consequences on the community level (including shifts in species compositions, emerging novel species interactions and consequences for functionality of the ecosystem).

Specifically we focus on three aspects:

1.) We investigate the intraspecific response, trying to understand how changing environmental conditions shape the development of species and how this individual change affects community dynamics.

2.) We study species composition of aquatic communities under anthropogenic pressure, trying to depict general (macro-)ecological patterns of change.

3.) Finally, we try to facilitate application of the gained knowledge, by evaluate restoration methods and elaborate methods for the revitalization of impoverished species communities.