Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Institut für Biologie

Biodiversity and Evolution

 

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Plant Evolution and Biodiversity

Head: Prof. Susann Wicke

 

We study interactions between plant parasites, their hosts, and the abiotic environment using experimental-genetic and evolutionary-ecological methods to understand the feedback loops driving parasite-host-environment adaptation. The lab develops resources to identify pests from environmental samples and engages in forest genetics research. We also actively commit to the conservation of native plants through citizen science projects.

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Ecology

Head: Prof. Liliane Ruess

 

Soil is the most diverse ecosystem on earth, yet still remains a black box. We investigate the biodiversity, structure and function of soil food webs, with nematodes as target group. Here, modern biochemical tools, such as lipid and stable isotope analysis allow new insight into this cryptic habitat.


  

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Portrait Image of Prof. Jörg Fröbisch

Paleobiology and Evolution

Head: Prof. Jörg Fröbisch

 
We study the early evolution and diversification of terrestrial vertebrates and their ecosystems, the origin of key innovations and body plans, and the impact of mass extinction events on terrestrial vertebrate ecosystems by combining paleontological fieldwork with modern 3D-imaging techniques and quantitative methods.
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Portrait image of Prof. Johannes Vogel

Biodiversity and Public Science

Head: Prof. Johannes Vogel

 

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Comparative Zoology

Head: Prof. John Nyakatura

 
Our team focusses on the functional morphology and evolution of land-living vertebrates. Collection-based approaches, experimental approaches and field work are integrated to study form-function relationships on an organismic level in the context of evolution.
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Biology Education

Head: Prof. Annette Upmeier zu Belzen

 

Basic Education Research: Theoretical modeling and measuring of processes of scientific inquiry, competence-based teaching and learning of biological content knowledge and scientific inquiry in the context of formal, non-formal and informal education, competence development considering personality and situation-related characteristics, investigation of attitudes and argumentation about controversial science issues.
Science Communication: Citizen Science school projects, gamification in science communication.

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Development and Evolution

Head: Prof. Nadia Fröbisch

 

Research in the lab concentrates on the evolution and development of the vertebrate body plan and the relationships between ontogeny and phylogeny throughout vertebrate evolution. A particular research focus lies on the evolutionary and developmental biology of amphibians combining data from the fossil record with those from modern amphibians.

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Integrative Biodiversity Discovery

Head: Prof. Rudolf Meier

 
Our lab’s overall aim our lab is to understand what defines dendritic compartments as "plasticity units". Our research questions encompass plasticity and stability of individual synapses, synaptic diversity and communication between nearby synapses. The role of the microtubule and actin cytoskeleton; trafficking rules controlling organelle transport and positioning are particularly interesting.
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Paleozoology

Head: Prof. Johannes Müller

 
Our research concentrates on fossil and extant terrestrial vertebrates, particularly reptiles and mammals. We are especially interested in the underlying causes of evolutionary diversification, both at the taxic and morphological levels, for which we employ anatomical, paleontological, molecular, and ecological methods, as well as 3D imaging.