Alumni
Prof. Dr. Claus Bässler
Professor for Conservation Biology at the University of Frankfurt
| Kahl, T., T. Arnstadt, K. Baber, C. Bässler, J. Bauhus, W. Borken, F. Buscot, A. Floren, C. Heibl, D. Hessenmöller, M. Hofrichter, B. Hoppe, H. Kellner, D. Kruger, K. E. Linsenmair, E. Matzner, P. Otto, W. Purahong, C. Seilwinder, E. D. Schulze, B. Wende, W. W. Weisser, and M. M. Gossner. 2017. Wood decay rates of 13 temperate tree species in relation to wood properties, enzyme activities and organismic diversities. Forest Ecology and Management 391:86-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.02.012 |
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Seibold
Professor for Forest Zoology, Technical University of Dresden
https://tu-dresden.de/bu/umwelt/forst/forstbotanik/zoologie/die-professur/Inhaber?set_language=en
| Seibold, S., M. M. Gossner, N. K. Simons, N. Blüthgen, J. Müller, D. Ambarli, C. Ammer, J. Bauhus, M. Fischer, J. C. Habel, K. E. Linsenmair, T. Nauss, C. Penone, D. Prati, P. Schall, E.-D. Schulze, J. Vogt, S. Wöllauer and W. W. Weisser. 2019. Arthropod decline in grasslands and forests is associated with landscape-level drivers. Nature 574:671-674. DOI:10.1038/s41586-019-1684-3 |
Dr. Bea Apfelbeck
Evolutionary Zoology at the University of Salzburg (Austria)
| Apfelbeck, B., R. P. H. Snep, T. E. Hauck, J. Ferguson, M. Holy, C. Jakoby, J. Scott MacIvor, L. Schär, M. Taylor, and W. W. Weisser. 2020. Designing wildlife-inclusive cities that support human-animal co-existence. Landscape and Urban Planning 200:103817. DOI:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103817 |
| Apfelbeck, B., C. Jakoby, M. Hanusch, E. B. Steffani, T. E. Hauck, and W. W. Weisser. 2019. A conceptual framework for choosing target species for wildlife-inclusive urban design. Sustainability 11:6972. DOI:10.3390/su11246972 |
| Apfelbeck, B., M. F. Haussmann, W. Boner, H. Flinks, K. Griffiths, J. C. Illera, K. G. Mortega, Z. Sisson, P. Smiddy and B. Helm. 2019. Divergent patterns of telomere shortening in tropical compared to temperate stonechats. Ecology and Evolution 9:511-521. DOI:10.1002/ece3.4769 |
Dr. Sharon Zytynska
Research assistant at TUM 2011-2018.
Now BBSRC David Phillips Research Fellow for Evolution at the University of Liverpool
| Zytynska, S. E., Y. Guenay, S. Sturm, M. V. Clancy, M. Senft, J.-P. Schnitzler, S. Dilip Pophaly, C. Wurmser and W. W. Weisser. 2019. Effect of plant chemical variation and mutualistic ants on the local population genetic structure of an aphid herbivore. Journal of Animal Ecology 88:1089-1099. PDF |
| Zytynska, S. E. and W. W. Weisser. 2016. The natural occurrence of secondary bacterial symbionts in aphids. Ecological Entomology 41:13-26. DOI:10.1111/een.12281 |
Prof. Dr. Jan Christian Habel
Postdoc (2012-2019) in the field of conservation biology and molecular ecology
Professor for Evolutionary Zoology at the University of Salzburg (Austria)
| Habel, J. C., A. Segerer, W. Ulrich, O. Torchyk, W. W. Weisser and T. Schmitt. 2016. Butterfly community shifts over 2 centuries. Conservation Biology 30:754-762. PDF |
| Habel, J., M. M. Gossner, S. T. Meyer, H. Eggermont, L. Lens, J. Dengler, and W. W. Weisser. 2013. Mind the gaps when using science to address conservation concerns. Biodiversity and Conservation 22:2413-2427. PDF |
Dr. Nadja Simons
Ph.D.-student and postdoc in the Biodiversity exploratory project and postdoc in the “BioHolz” project” from 2012-2018.
| Simons, N. K. and W. W. Weisser. 2017. Agricultural intensification without biodiversity loss is possible in grassland landscapes. Nature Ecology & Evolution. DOI:10.1038/s41559-017-0227-2. In der Presse. PDF |
| Blüthgen, N., N. K. Simons, K. Jung, D. Prati, S. C. Renner, S. Boch, M. Fischer, N. Hölzel, V. H. Klaus, T. Kleinebecker, M. Tschapka, W. W. Weisser and M. M. Gossner. 2016. Land use imperils plant and animal community stability through changes in asynchrony rather than diversity. Nature Communications 7:10697 DOI:10.1038/ncomms10697. PDF |
Prof. Dr. Martin M. Gossner
Postdoc in the “Arthropods” project and head of the arthropod survey in the Biodiversity Exploratories from 2008-2016.
Gruppenleiter, Senior Scientist, Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL, Waldgesundheit und biotische Interaktionen, Waldentomologie
| Blüthgen, N., N. K. Simons, K. Jung, D. Prati, S. C. Renner, S. Boch, M. Fischer, N. Hölzel, V. H. Klaus, T. Kleinebecker, M. Tschapka, W. W. Weisser and M. M. Gossner. 2016. Land use imperils plant and animal community stability through changes in asynchrony rather than diversity. Nature Communications 7:10697 DOI:10.1038/ncomms10697. PDF |
| Gossner, M. M., B. Wende, S. Levick, P. Schall, A. Floren, K. E. Linsenmair, I. Steffan-Dewenter, E.-D. Schulze and W. W. Weisser. 2016. Deadwood enrichment in European forests – Which tree species should be used to promote saproxylic beetle diversity? Biological Conservation 201:92-102. PDF |
| Gossner, M. M., C. R. Fonseca, E. Pašalic, M. Türke, M. Lange, and W. W. Weisser. 2014. Limitations to the use of arthropods as temperate forests indicators. Biodiversity and Conservation 23:945–962. PDF |
Prof. Dr. Jörg Müller
Associated group member 2011-2016
University of Würzburg and National Park Bavarian Forest
Professor of Animal Ecology, University of Würzburg
| Müller, J. and W. W. Weisser. 2016. Forest conservation is not possible without National Parks, a reply to Schulze & Ammer (in German: Waldnaturschutz ist ohne Schutzgebiete nicht möglich). Biologie in unserer Zeit. |
| Müller, J., B. Wende, C. Strobl, M. Eugster, I. Gallenberger, A. Floren, I. Steffan-Dewenter, K. E. Linsenmair, W. W. Weisser and M. M. Gossner. 2015. Forest management and regional tree composition drive the host preference of saproxylic beetle communities. Journal of Applied Ecology 52:753-762. PDF |
| Gossner, M. M., T. Lachat, J. Brunet, G. Isacsson, C. Bouget, H. Brustel, R. Brandl, W. W. Weisser, and J. Müller. 2013. Current Near-to-Nature Forest Management Effects on Functional Trait Composition of Saproxylic Beetles in Beech Forests. Conservation Biology 27:605-614. PDF |
Prof. Dr. Nico Eisenhauer
Postdoc, Emmy-Noether Fellow 2012, Technische Universität München, Germany Link
iDiv, University of Leipzig, Germany
| Ebeling, A., S. Pompe, J. Baade, N. Eisenhauer, H. Hillebrand, R. Proulx, C. Roscher, B. Schmid, C. Wirth, and W. W. Weisser. 2014. A trait-based experimental approach to understand the mechanisms underlying biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships. Basic and Applied Ecology 15:229-240. |
| Steinauer, K., D. Tilman, P. D. Wragg, S. Cesarz, J. M. Cowles, K. Pritsch, P. B. Reich, W. W. Weisser, and N. Eisenhauer. 2014. Plant diversity promotes soil microbial functions irrespective of warming diversity effects on soil microbial functions and enzymes are stronger than warming in a grassland experiment. Ecology, in press. |
Dr. Anne Ebeling
Scientific Coordinator, Jena Experiment, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Ph.D.-student 2006-2008 (co-supervised with Prof. Teja Tscharntke, University of Göttingen, Prof. Alexandra-Maria Klein, University of Freiburg (then Göttingen))
| Ebeling, A., S. Pompe, J. Baade, N. Eisenhauer, H. Hillebrand, R. Proulx, C. Roscher, B. Schmid, C. Wirth, and W. W. Weisser. 2014. A trait-based experimental approach to understand the mechanisms underlying biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships. Basic and Applied Ecology 15:229-240. |
| Ebeling, A., A. M. Klein, J. Schumacher, W. W. Weisser, and T. Tscharntke. 2008. How does plant richness affect pollinator richness and temporal stability of flower visits? Oikos 117:1808-1815. PDF |
Prof. Dr. Sybille Unsicker
Professor for Plant-Environment-Interactions, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel
https://www.uni-kiel.de/de/person/unsicker-sybille-58839
PhD.-student 2002-2006, associated scientist 2016-2023
| Kigathi, R. N., Weisser, W. W., Reichelt, M., Gershenzon, J., & Unsicker, S. B. 2019. Plant volatile emission depends on the species composition of the neighboring plant community. BMC plant biology, 19, 1-17. |
| Unsicker, S. B., A. Franzke, J. Specht, G. Kohler, J. Linz, C. Renker, C. Stein, and W. W. Weisser. 2010. Plant species richness in montane grasslands affects the fitness of a generalist grasshopper species. Ecology 91:1083-1091. PDF |
| Unsicker, S. B., A. Oswald, G. Köhler, and W. W. Weisser. 2008. Complementary effects through diatary mixing enhance the performance of a generalist herbivore. Oecologia 156:313-324. PDF |
Prof. Dr. Christoph Scherber
Ph.D.-student 2002-2006 Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany
University of Münster
| Scherber, C., A. Milcu, S. Partsch, S. Scheu, and W. W. Weisser. 2006. The effects of plant diversity and insect herbivory on performance of individual plant species in experimental grassland. Journal of Ecology 94:922-931. PDF |
| Scherber, C., P. N. Mwangi, V. M. Temperton, C. Roscher, J. Schumacher, B. Schmid, and W. W. Weisser. 2006. Effects of plant diversity on invertebrate herbivory in experimental grassland. Oecologia 147:489-500. PDF |
Prof. Dr. Hugh Loxdale
Senior research fellow 2006-2011
Emeritus
| Loxdale, H. D., G. Schöfl, K. R. Wiesner, F. N. Nyabuga, D. G. Heckel, and W. W. Weisser. 2011. Stay at home aphids: comparative spatial and seasonal metapopulation structure and dynamics of two specialist tansy aphid species studied using microsatellite markers. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 104:838-865. |
| Nyabuga, F. N., H. D. Loxdale, D. G. Heckel, and W. W. Weisser. 2011. Temporal genetic structuring of a specialist parasitoid, Lysiphlebus hirticornis Mackauer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking a specialist aphid on tansy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 102:737-749. PDF |
Prof. Dr. Thomas Flatt
Undergraduate research student 1998-1999 at the University of Basel, Switzerland
University of Lausanne, Switzerland
| Flatt, T. and W. W. Weisser. 2000. The effects of mutualistic ants on aphid life history traits. Ecology 81:3522-3529. PDF |
Dr. Christian Braendle
Group leader, Institute of Biology Valrose (iBV), CNRS, Nice, France
Undergraduate research student 1996-1999 at the University of Basel, Switzerland
| Weisser, W. W., C. Braendle, and N. Minoretti. 1999. Predator-induced morphological shift in the pea aphid. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 266:1175-1181. PDF |
| Braendle, C. and W. W. Weisser. 2001. Variation in escape behavior of red and green clones of the pea aphid. Journal of Insect Behavior 14:497-509. PDF |
Dr. Manfred Türke
Ph.D.-student 2007-2011, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena and Postdoc 2011-2014 Technische Universität München
Postdoc, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Head of Project Management & Communications, Helmholtz Zentrum München, IBMI Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging
| Türke, M., K. Andreas, M. M. Gossner, E. Kowalski, M. Lange, S. Boch, S. Socher, J. Müller, D. Prati, M. Fischer, R. Meyhöfer, and W. W. Weisser. 2012. Are gastropods, rather than ants, important seed dispersers of myrmecochorous forest herbs? American Naturalist 179:124-131. PDF |
Dr. Martin Husemann
2013-2014 DAAD-Fellow, Postdoc, Technische Universität München, Freising
2014-2016 Postdoc, Institute of Biology/Zoology, Halle University, Halle
Since 2016 Abteilungsleiter Entomologie, Universität Hamburg Centrum für Naturkunde, Hamburg
| Husemann, M., W. Ulrich, and J. Habel. 2014. The evolution of contact calls in isolated and overlapping populations of two white-eye congeners in East Africa (Aves, Zosterops). BMC Evolutionary Biology 14:115. PDF |
Dr. Mohsen Mehrparvar
Ph.D.-student 2009-2013, Technische Universität München
Assistant Professor, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran
| Mehrparvar, M., S. M. Mansouri, and W. W. Weisser. 2014. Mechanisms of species-sorting: effect of habitat occupancy on aphids' host plant selection. Ecological Entomology 39:281-289. PDF |
| Mehrparvar, M., S. E. Zytynska, and W. W. Weisser. 2013. Multiple cues for winged morph production in an aphid metacommunity. PLoS One 8:e58323. PDF |
Dr. Eduardo Hatano
Ph.D.-student 2006-2010, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Postdoc, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| Hatano, E., G. Kunert, and W. W. Weisser. 2010. Aphid Wing Induction and Ecological Costs of Alarm Pheromone Emission under Field Conditions. PLoS One 5:e11188. PDF |
| Hatano, E., G. Kunert, J. P. Michaud, and W. W. Weisser. 2008. Chemical cues mediating aphid location by natural enemies. European Journal of Entomology 105:797-806. |
Dr. Rose Kigathi
Ph.D.-student 2006-2011, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Lecturer, Pwani University, Kenia
| Kigathi, R. N., W. W. Weisser, D. Veit, J. Gershenzon, and S. B. Unsicker. 2013. Plants Suppress Their Emission of Volatiles When Growing with Conspecifics. Journal of Chemical Ecology 39:537-545. PDF |
| Kigathi, R. N., S. B. Unsicker, M. Reichelt, J. Kesselmeier, J. Gershenzon, and W. W. Weisser. 2009. Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds After Herbivory from Trifolium pratense (L.) Under Laboratory and Field Conditions. Journal of Chemical Ecology 35:1335-1348. PDF |
Dr. Franklin Nyabuga
Ph.D-student 2006-2010, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Postdoc, Department of Biology, University of Lund
| Nyabuga, F. N., H. D. Loxdale, D. G. Heckel, and W. W. Weisser. 2012. Coevolutionary fine-tuning: evidence for genetic tracking between a specialist wasp parasitoid and its aphid host in a dual metapopulation interaction. Bulletin of Entomological Research 102:149-155. PDF |
| Nyabuga, F. N., H. D. Loxdale, D. G. Heckel, and W. W. Weisser. 2011. Temporal genetic structuring of a specialist parasitoid, Lysiphlebus hirticornis Mackauer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) attacking a specialist aphid on tansy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 102:737-749. PDF |
Dr. Markus Lange
Ph.D.-student 2007-2011, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Postdoc, MPI for Biogeochemistry Jena, Germany
| Lange, M., W. W. Weisser, M. M. Gossner, E. Kowalski, M. Türke, F. Joner, and C. Fonseca. 2011. The impact of forest management on litter-dwelling invertebrates: a subtropical–temperate contrast. Biodiversity and Conservation 20:2133-2147. PDF |
Dr. Norma Nitschke
Ph.D.-student 2007-2013, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Research Lab Coordinator, Leibnitz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology
| Nitschke, N., K. Wiesner, I. Hilke, N. Eisenhauer, Y. Oelmann, and W. W. Weisser. 2014. Increase of fast nutrient cycling in grassland microcosms through insect herbivory depends on plant functional composition and species diversity. Oikos DOI:10.1111/oik.01476 PDF |
Dr. Juliane Heimann (neé Specht)
Ph.D-student 2006-2012, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Assistant to Vice-Rector for Research, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
| Specht, J., C. Scherber, S. B. Unsicker, G. Koehler, and W. W. Weisser. 2008. Diversity and beyond: plant functional identity determines herbivore performance. Journal of Animal Ecology 77:1047-1055. PDF |
Dr. Lars Clement
Teacher
Ph.D.-student 2006-2011, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
| Geiger, F., J. Bengtsson, F. Berendse, W. W. Weisser, M. Emmerson, M. B. Morales, P. Ceryngier, J. Liira, T. Tscharntke, C. Winqvist, S. Eggers, R. Bommarco, T. Part, V. Bretagnolle, M. Plantegenest, L. W. Clement, C. Dennis, C. Palmer, J. J. Onate, I. Guerrero, V. Hawro, T. Aavik, C. Thies, A. Flohre, S. Hanke, C. Fischer, P. W. Goedhart, and P. Inchausti. 2010. Persistent negative effects of pesticides on biodiversity and biological control potential on European farmland. Basic and Applied Ecology 11:97-105. PDF |
Further alumni
| Name | Former status |
|---|---|
| Ambarli, Didem, Dr. | Biodiversity-Exploratories |
| Ayvazyan, Anna | Ph.D.-student |
| Bae, Soyeon | Postdoc |
| Bartetzko, Jasmin | Technical support |
| Bartzick, Alina | Technical support |
| Biber, Matthias | Research Assistant |
| Biddick, Matthew, Dr. | Postdoc Evolutionary ecology |
| Both, Steffen | Technical support |
| Creutzburg, Sylvia | Technical support |
| Dörfler, Inken | Ph.D.-student |
| Eisenbach, Victoria | Technical support |
| Eismann, Steffen | Gardener |
| Engel, Jan, Dr. | Jena Experiment |
| Engelhardt, Eva Katharina | Ph.D.-student |
| Frei, Maximilian | Technical support |
| Füchtenschnieder, Julia | Technical support |
| Gallenberger, Iris | Ph.D.-student |
| Gockel, Sonja | Coordinator |
| Grimm, Brigitte | Secretary |
| Groß, Matthias | Mechatronic |
| Gruschwitz, Katja | Technical support |
| Guderle, Marcus, Dr. | Data manager, Jena Experiment |
| Haider, Sylvia, Dr. | Scientist |
| Hanusch, Maximilian | Animal Aided Design |
| Heilmeier, Maria | Technical support |
| Heitland, Werner, Dr. | Multitrophic Interactions |
| Hengelhaupt, Silke | Gardener |
| Hertzog, Lionel | Ph.D.-student |
| Hof, Christian, Dr. Prof. | Head of Junior Research Group |
| Honecker, Rebekka | BAYSICS |
| Huber, Andreas | Technical support |
| Joachim, Christoph | Ph.D.-student |
| Joschinski, Jens | Postdoc |
| Klama, Anne | Master students |
| Koch, Christiane | Scientist |
| Köber, Ute | Gardener |
| Kratzsch, Gerlinde | Technical support |
| Kunze, Katja | Gardener |
| Leber, Norbert | Technical support |
| Leidinger, Jan | Ph.D.-student |
| Leroy, Benjamin, Dr. | Postdoc Gypsy moth project, insect ecology |
| Lorenzen, Katrin, Dr. (geb. Hartwich) | Coordinator |
| Luo, Guangjuan, Dr. | Data manager, Jena Experiment |
| Lutz, Marco | Technical support |
| Mahdavi, Nafiseh | Ph.D.-student |
| Massonnet, Blandine | Ph.D.-student |
| Mimet, Anne, Dr. | Research associate, Biodiversity change |
| Minoretti, Nicole | Master Student |
| Miesl, Michael | Technical support |
| Mutoro, Noreen Mukhwana | Ph.D.-student |
| Novella Fernandez, Roberto, Dr. | Postdoc Biogeography and diversty patterns |
| Nzau, Joslyn Muthio | Ph.D.-student |
| Otto, Niclas | Technical support |
| Paetsch, Holger | Technical support |
| Pasalic, Esther | Ph.D.-student |
| Pretzsch, Moritz R. | Technical support |
| Pruschitzki Ulrich | Forester |
| Reichholf, Josef, Prof. em. Dr. | Professor Emeritus |
| Rogers, Rebecca | Ph.D.-student |
| Sanabria, Catalina, Dr. | Postdoc |
| Seidenberger, Sonja | Secretary |
| Schall, Tabea | Azubi Biologielaborant/in |
| Scheffler, Heike | Gardener |
| Schelle, Rupert | ANIMAL-AIDED DESIGN |
| Schreiber, Christin | Technician grassland, Biodiversity Exploratories |
| Schöning, Ingo, Dr. | Scientist |
| Seiffert, Verena | Technical support |
| Seitzl, Julia | Technical support |
| Senft, Matthias | Ph.D.-student |
| Singh, Akanksha | Ph.D.-student |
| Steinauer, Katja | Master students |
| Terzenbach, Samira | Technical support |
| Teuscher, Miriam, Dr. | Postdoc, Local manager, Biodiversity Exploratories |
| Thiel, Sven, Dipl.-Bioinf. | Jena Experiment |
| Thiele, Jan, Dr. | Biodiversity-Exploratories |
| Trepl, Ludwig, Prof. Dr. | Professor Emeritus |
| Van Broeck, Frederic | Technical support |
| Velásquez, Francisco | Ph.D.-student |
| Vicenzotti, Vera, Dr. | Scientist |
| Vogel, Anja | Ph.D.-student |
| Vogt, Juliane, Dr. | Local manager, Biodiversity Exploratories |
| Wiesner, Kerstin, Dr. | Coordinator, Biodiversity Exploratories |
| Winter, Samuel Peter | Research Assistant |
| Wolf, Ilka | Technical support |
| Zeuss, Dirk, Dr. | Trait macroecology, Pakistan project |