Department Fish Ecology and Evolution

We investigate the mechanisms of speciation and adaptive radiation

We investigate the ecological and genetic basis of adaptation to elevational variation in rivers and depth variation in lakes

In this project we are interested in which traits govern the efficiency of stickleback foraging in different ecological contexts.

We study causes of variation in diversity of fish assemblages and we wish to understand how variation in diversity affects the lake ecosystems

We work to combat what we consider the largest stumbling block on the way to successful biodiversity management and conservation in aquatic ecosystems: the lack of quantitative baseline data

Almost two-thirds of the native fish species of Switzerland are threatened by extinction. To preserve or specifically enhance aquatic biodiversity and habitats ...

This project contributes to the Blue Green Biodiversity Research Initiative

Genome evolution and genomic divergence across the Swiss Alpine whitefish radiation

Population genomics following experimental host parasite evolution of Chlorella algae and viruses

Investigating the interactions between migration ecology, local adaptation and diversification

Assessing biodiversity from genes to communities in Swiss river fish

Watercourses are among earth's most biodiverse ecosystems. However, they are also under severe pressure from construction work and hydropower generation, among other things.

Do fish and invertebrates like the Rolling Stones?

how does the spatio-temporal variation in the availability and quality of prey affect predators foraging on aquatic and terrestrial resources?

New tools to monitor changes in ecosystem conditions and to quantify genetic changes of populations in (semi-)natural environments to predict how human mediated environmental change will influence stability and resilience of ecosystems.

from mesocosms to natural ponds

Underlying mechanisms and ecosystem feedbacks

Myvatn threespine stickleback as a model

Interactive effects of diet and nutrition on phenotypic plasticity and adaptation

20,000 years of evolution and ecosystem dynamics in the world’s largest tropical lake reconstructed from sediment cores, fossils, and ancient DNA.