Our research focusses at the interface of Evolutionary Ecology, Genetics and Functional Biodiversity research. We aim to understand the fundamental ecological, behavioral, chemical and genetic/genomic processes that drive and limit adaptive evolution to maintain ecosystem functions and wildlife health. Details on current projects, target species, methods and technologies used to achieve our goals, as well as on our team can be found here:

Prof. Dr. Simone Sommer	Conservation Genomics and EcoHealth
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Seibold
Prof. Dr. Manfred Ayasse (senior prof.)	Chemical Ecology
apl. Prof. Dr. Marco Tschapka	Tropical Ecology
Dr. Kirsten Jung (interim professorship)	Functional Biodiversity

Recently published research (2025/26)

Menke S, Fackelmann G, Vucetich LM, Vucetich JA, Forbey JS, Sommer S (2026) Forage quality shapes physiological and gut microbial responses in moose (Alces alces) of Isle Royale National Park. Scientific Reports, 16, 3724.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-35555-w

Víquez-R L, Speer K, Wilhelm K, Perkins S, Simmons NB, Medellín RA, Sommer S, Tschapka M (2026) Tequila Bats (Phyllostomidae: Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) and their associated bat flies: disentangling the effects of physical proximity and organism source as predictors of microbiota dissimilarities. Journal of Mammalogy. 
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyaf080

 

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