We are a team of researchers who use an integrative approach to study ecological networks. Our research involves diverse types of networks, including those related to environmental gradients, as well as interactions between plants and pollinators or predators and prey. Our approach spans from the taxonomy and biodiversity recognition to understading the functional and behavioural responses of organisms to their environment. In our studies, we utilize invertebrates as model organisms, adressing a wide range of issues through laboratory experiments and field observations. Our research frequently incorporates physiological and molecular techniques to improve our understanding of these intricate networks.
Group photo in the making...
Research
Our current projects involve the study of addictive and self-medicative behaviour in the honeybee, patterns of tardigrade diversity and distribution as well as the structure and dynamics of their metacommunities, altruistic and cooperative behaviour in ants, and cognitive behaviour in trap-building insects such as antlions and wormlions.
Latest works
Ecology explains anhydrobiotic performance across tardigrades, but the shared evolutionary history matters more
Negative impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the survival of tardigrades.
Two new tardigrade genera from New Zealand’s Southern Alp glaciers display morphological stasis and parallel evolution.
Integrative taxonomy reveals new, widely distributed tardigrade species of the genus Paramacrobiotus (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae).
Morphology, phylogenetic position, and mating behaviour of a new Mesobiotus (Tardigrada) species from a rock pool in the Socorro Box Canyon (New Mexico, USA)
Spatial patterns of flower color variation in native and introduced ranges of Convolvulus arvensis (Convolvulaceae) revealed by citizen science data and machine learning.
Integrative taxonomy helps to revise systematics and questions the purported cosmopolitan nature of the type species within the genus Diaforobiotus.
Injury shortens life expectancy in ants and affects some risk-related decisions of workers.
Behavioral differences between pit-building antlions and wormlions suggest limits to convergent evolution.
Expanding Acutuncus: Phylogenetics and morphological analyses reveal a considerably wider distribution for this tardigrade genus.