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Curriculum Vitae
1995 – 2001: study of biology at the University of Regensburg
1998 – 1999: study at the University of Colorado, Boulder,
USA
Supervisor:
Prof. D. Bowers
Diploma thesis: “Iridoid Glycosides – their importance for
the systematics of the Asteridae s. lat. and their induction
in Plantago lanceolata”
Supervisors:
Prof. A. Bresinsky,
Dr. M. Fischer
Since 2001, accomplished in 2004: PhD at the University of Regensburg, Biology I
Supervisor:
Dr. J. Korb
Research
Leave or stay – The influence of relatedness
on the maintenance of eusociality in termites
Study species
My study species, Cryptotermes secundus, belongs to the
OP-termites and it occurs naturally in the mangroves
(Ceriops tagal) of Northern Australia (Darwin). The most
striking feature of these termites is that they do have a high
developmental flexibility and thus several developmental tactics.
Although in this species colonies are founded by a single reproductive
pair, both monogamous and polygamous colonies can be found in
the field. Polygamous colonies are thus not the result of pleometrosis
(= an aggregation of several queens in the founding phase to collectively
care for the brood), but usually stem from colony fusion. This
occurs when one log was by chance colonised by two or more founding
pairs in close proximity. Interestingly no antagonism can be observed
when colonies fuse.
Nevertheless one might expect to see some differences in the
behavioural patterns between more closely and more distantly related
individuals. An individual’s developmental tactic might also change
as overall relatedness in a colony is reduced after colony fusion
(given that the founding pairs are not closely related to each
other).
Queen of Cryptotermes secundus
Projects:
(1) Influence of relatedness
Currently I am developing microsatellite genetic markers to determine
within-colony relatedness and answer the following questions:
- Are there behavioural differences between monogamous and polygamous
colonies?
- Do more closely and more distantly related individuals behave
differently to each other? Thus do we see kin discrimination?
- Is reproduction monopolized in polygamous colonies by a single
queen?
(2) Computer tomography and behavioural observations
Observation of C. secundus in its natural habitat,
i.e. within the wood, was impossible so far. However, the combination
of two techniques, generally applied in the medical sector, computer
tomography and endoscopy, made it possible to observe C. secundus
directly within blocks of Pinus radiata (film 1 / film 2)
and will hopefully help us to:
- determine wood consumption rates of C. secundus colonies
- show patterns of colony development and nest architecture
- perform long-term behavioural observations within the wood blocks
3d-reconstruction of a Cryptotermes secundus nest from
CT images
(* : pre-drilled chamber for colony establishment)
The project is supported by an Emmy Noether Grant
from the German Science Foundation (DFG).
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