Team > Dipl.-Biol. Bernard Wolfschoon Ribeiro

Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Chair Animal Ecology I

PhD candidate

PhD project: Comparison of gravitational perception systems of selected organisms of the zooplankton - evolution and morphology

The Earth's gravity is characterised by temporal and spatial constancy. Thus, it is a factor that every life form has been confronted with in the course of Earth's history and is therefore one of the fundamental forces that has influenced the evolution of terrestrial and aquatic organisms. However, systems by which various zooplankton organisms, such as larvae of Cnidaria or planktonic crustaceans, perceive gravity are largely unknown, although gravity is often the only reliable cue for orientation in a three-dimensional space. Both the density of the medium (fresh or salt water) and the specific weight of the organism play a major role with regard to the relevance of gravity.

Based on studies of the newly described organ system of Daphnia, which is responsible for the perception of gravity, the aim of this work is to create a morphological comparison of different gravity perception systems of selected zooplankton organisms that is as representative as possible in order to gain an understanding of the evolution of gravity perception systems in aquatic habitats. Building on existing data, a careful selection of suitable comparative organisms is necessary, using marine and limnetic organisms to answer the following questions:

What morphological differences are found in the gravity perception systems of different groups of plankton organisms and what is the underlying functional mechanism? What effect does the density of the water have on gravity perception? What role does the size and specific weight of the organisms play in relation to the expression of the specific organ system?

Another approach to investigation is aimed at different developmental stages of the organisms. The mechanism for gravitational perception in the larval stage does not have to correspond to that of the adult. It may be possible to find "sensitivity windows", i.e. developmental stages in which an organism shows special sensitivities for gravitational effects.

This multidisciplinary study will contribute to deciphering evolutionary mechanisms regarding the development and emergence of gravity perception systems of planktonic organisms in aquatic habitats.

Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Chair Animal Ecology I

Master in Molekulare Ökologie
Doktorand Tierökologie | Betreuer Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch

Promotionsprojekt: Vergleich von Gravitationsperzeptionssystemen ausgewählter Organismen des Zooplanktons – Evolution und Morphologie

Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Chair Animal Ecology I

Publications

2018

Miriam Knie, Bernard Wolfschoon Ribeiro, Jessica Fischer, Burkhard Schmitz, Kay Van Damme, Ruth Hemmersbach, Donat-P. Häder, Christian Laforsch: Approaches to Assess the Suitability of Zooplankton for Bioregenerative Life Support Systems. In: Thais Russomano, Lucas Rehnberg (Hrsg.): Into Space : A Journey of How Humans Adapt and Live in Microgravity. - London : IntechOpen, 2018. - S. 171-207.
doi:10.5772/intechopen.74261

2016

Miriam Knie, Kathrin Schoppmann, Hendrik Eck, Bernard Wolfschoon Ribeiro, Christian Laforsch: The "Daphnia" Lynx Mark I suborbital flight experiment : Hardware qualification at the Drop Tower Bremen. In: Microgravity Science and Technology, 28 (2016). - S. 345-349.
doi:10.1007/s12217-015-9453-x

Quirin Herzog, Max Rabus, Bernard Wolfschoon Ribeiro, Christian Laforsch: Inducible Defenses with a "Twist" : Daphnia barbata Abandons Bilateral Symmetry in Response to an Ancient Predator. In: PLoS One, 11 (2016). - .
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148556

2014

Bernard Wolfschoon Ribeiro, Christian Laforsch, Ralf Anken: Comparison of Gravisensing Organs in Different Planktonic Organism : From Evolution to Life Support Systems. - (Poster), Veranstaltung: 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 2014, 2. - 10. August 2014, Moskau, Russland.

Christian Laforsch, Jessica Fischer, Bernard Wolfschoon Ribeiro, Kathrin Schoppmann, Benjamin Trotter: The forgotten cue : Daphnia bears a not yet described gravireceptive organ system. - (Vortrag), Veranstaltung: 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly 2014, 2. - 10. August 2014, Moskau, Russland.

Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences
Chair Animal Ecology I

Dipl.-Biol. Bernard Wolfschoon Ribeiro
PhD candidate

E-mail: wolfschoon@uni-bayreuth.de