Research
We are mainly interested in diverse aspects of insect reproduction from an evolutionary and ecological perspective. One research direction focusses on the evolutionary consequences of sexual selection and sexual conflict. Here we are especially interested in how postcopulatory sexual selection shapes male reproductive traits such as seminal fluid proteins and sperm.
Climate change leads to rising temperatures as well as a higher frequency of extreme weather events. Therefore, another line of research in our group is concerned with the impact abiotic factors such as temperature have on male and female reproductive traits and interactions.
Our main model organism is the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster which offers the opportunity for a wide range of research methods that we can apply to our research questions such as behavioral assays, experimental evolution, population genetics and gene expression analyses.
In addition to fruit flies, we also work with fire bugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus), seed beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus) and stalk-eyed flies (Teleopsis dalmanni).
Ongoing Projects
- We are involved in the ESEB Special Topics Network “European Thermal Fertility Network” (https://thermal-fertility-network-eseb.com/ ) that brings together researchers interested in the effects of temperature on various aspects of animal fertility.