Department of Evolutionary Genetics: Completed projects

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Adaptive genetic variation in mustelid species

Closely related species differ in the number genes contained in their genomes. We study this type of genomic variation in the context of habitat adaptation in mustelids.

Invertebrate-derived DNA for monitoring (urban) Wildlife in Berlin

The use of mosquitoes and flies (in particular the blood of animals they fed on), collected in parks in and around Berlin, offers a non-invasive way to survey wildlife occurrence and distribution in cities. The meta-barcoded sequence data from the blood ingested by the insects will also be correlated to the “collection systems” (flies vs. mosquitos) to analyse the impact the choice of the “collection system” has on the outcome.

Modelling genetic processes to support the conservation management of Eurasian lynx

The genetic variability of the reintroduced populations of large carnivores such as Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) has been called into question due to the weak genetic exchange. We are developing an existing population model to include individual genetics for testing conservation management scenarios in order to reveal the potential for enhancing the genetic variability of a Central European meta-population.

Using terrestrial leeches to assess phylogeographic patterns of a rare and threatened species: the Annamite striped rabbit

.Most vertebrate species are, at least concerning their blood, also target species for leeches. Here we use leech-derived DNA, meaning the DNA from the host species that the leech fed on, to study the distribution pattern of a very elusive and threatened lagomorph species, the Annamite striped rabbit (Nesolagus timminsi), endogenous to the Annamite mountain range (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia).

In-depth genomic analysis of hybridization between sea turtles

Hybridization between sea turtle species occurs with particularly high frequency in some populations in Brazil. We have been using state-of-the-art genomic techniques to evaluate the extent of hybridization occurrence, the possible deleterious effects in the hybrid progeny and the consequences for sea turtle conservation.

Evolution driven by repetitive regions in sea turtles

Studying genetic variability (for functional and ecological analyses) in species that have a very low number of informative sites (e.g. sea turtles) is very challenging. Thus, we will assemble a very high quality genome (chromosome level) of the green sea turtle and will develop the bioinformatics tools to search for other variability markers (such as repetitive units) in sea turtles and other vertebrate groups with a low number of informative sites.

The genomic basis of convergent evolution in modern sloths

The sloth lifestyle of hanging from trees has actually evolved independently two times. The convergent anatomical and physiological changes have an unknown genetics basis. We are triying to understand this by comparing high-quality whole genome sequences from living sloths.