Research interests
- Host-Parasite Interactions & Community Dynamics
- Molecular Ecology & Species Identification
- Functional Morphology & Phenotypic Adaptation
- Biodiversity Monitoring in Response to Climate and Land-Use Change
Scientific project
For my PhD, I joined the DFG-funded BuggedBugs project, where we investigate the complex relationships between host, parasite, and plant communities under the influence of anthropogenic change. A major focus of my current work is understanding whether land-use intensity and climate change drive parasite communities directly, or indirectly via cascading effects on the host community and the plant resources they rely on.
To answer these questions, we use true bugs (Heteroptera) from grassland sites of the Biodiversity Exploratories (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)as our model system. A unique aspect of this project is the combination of contemporary field collections with archival samples dating back over a decade. This exceptional dataset allows us to track long-term pathobiome dynamics and observe how host-parasite community assembly responds to environmental disturbances over time.
In my research, I rely on molecular methods, such as DNA barcoding and genome skimming, to identify hosts and detect their associated parasite communities. By reconstructing these intricate ecological networks, we aim to uncover how environmental stressors affect biodiversity at different scales. Ultimately, we want to find out whether disturbed habitats harbour a greater potential for emerging diseases and how the adaptive potential of these communities is shaped by rapid environmental change.
I am always happy to work with students and help them develop their scientific skills. If you are interested in community ecology, molecular methods, or working with insects, please feel free to contact me.
Publications
Winkler, L., Eilhardt, R., & Janicke, T. (2023). Population density affects sexual selection in an insect model. Functional Ecology, 37(10), 2686–2698. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14410 (externer Link, öffnet neues Fenster)