Chair Animal Ecololgy I (Prof. C. Laforsch)

The research focus of the group lies within the field of zoology and evolutionary ecology, in particular on the phenomenon of phenotypic plasticity and the adaptation of animals to changing biotic and abiotic environmental factors.
The spectrum of both marine and limnic model organisms ranges from protozoa to vertebrates, with a major focus on the model organism Daphnia (water flea). Another focus is on coral reef ecology and the influence of multiple stressors on communities, food webs, and ecosystem function.

In addition to biotic stressors, such as predators and parasites, anthropogenically induced stressors, such as so-called "micropollutants", are also studied. For example, the topic of environmental contamination with microplastics and the associated effects on organisms and ecosystems is one of our central research areas.

In the interdisciplinary studies of our group, current molecular biological methods, classical experimental approaches in laboratory and field studies, analytical methods and modern imaging microscopic techniques are used.