Evolution had led to an astonishing biodiversity. In this research line we study how natural and sexual selection drives trait evolution and adaptation of species to their abiotic environment and through symbiotic interactions with other species.
We use field studies on natural populations, as well as laboratory evolution and omics studies to understand the adaptive consequences of variation at the genetic and phenotypic level. Of particular interest are the ecological and evolutionary effects of anthropogenic changes, such as urbanization and climate change. Our study systems cover a wide range of organisms including frogs, snails, insects, soil fauna, and fungi.
PROJECTS
- Citisex [Halfwerk, Cronin, Moran, Smit, Jerem] Understanding the role of sensory ecology and species interactions during sexual signal adaptation to an urbanizing world.
- Camosense [Halfwerk, Berg] Unravelling how predators drive camouflage in the visual and acoustic sensory domain of their prey to avoid detection and predation.
- Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) in simultaneously hermaphroditic snails [Koene, Nakadera, Chen] Revealing the full identity, functions, and evolution of SFPs in freshwater snails.
- Bizarre reproductive behaviours: physiology, morphology and evolution of love darts and other sexual attributes in hermaphroditic animals Testing how accessory-gland-product-injecting mating devices work and evolve, and whether predictions from sexual selection theory apply.
- Happy snails [Nakadera, Koene, Ilyaskina, Leonards, Lamoree] Quantifying how invertebrates are impacted by pharmaceutical pollutants, such as antidepressants.
- Anthropogenic impacts on snails [Koene, Nakadera, Zizzari] Investigating the impacts of temperature change and artificial lights on snails’ performance.
- Ginger snail project [Nakadera, Koene] A newly discovered shell colour variant – why are they there? How do they make their shell red?
- ARE-Robot evolution [Ellers, Eiben] Applying evolutionary computation techniques to evolve the overall design for real and simulated autonomous robots.
- HiddenBiodiversity [Berg, Ellers] Improving urban green infrastructure by incorporating hidden biodiversity networks.