Evolution
Detailed information on the research focus
Research topics
Evolution and population genetics of the specialized quartz field flora
Quartz fields, which are densely covered by angular quartz gravel, represent edaphically special habitats in the Succulent Karoo, a winter rainfall desert in South Africa. They are home to an endemic flora and vegetation communities that show strong species turnover at their boundaries. We interpret the vegetation changes along these boundaries as analogous to biome boundaries: a functional shift is accompanied by a change in structure.
Evolution of the sand termites and fairy circles
The famous fairy circles of the Namib are created by termites of the genus Psammotermes (sanding termites) by subterranean herbivory. We use molecular methods to investigate when and where this ability was first achieved and reconstruct the family tree of this termite group.
Midday flowers (living stones) in southern Africa
The midday flower plants (Living Stones) in Southern Africa have made special adaptations to the conditions of the deserts and semi-deserts. We investigate the phylogenesis of several genera, including Mesembryanthemum, Cheiridopsis, Brownanthus.
Fenestraria rhopalophylla in a depiction of Marloth
The underground forests of Africa
In the open grasslands of the Miombo region in Africa many wet-tropical tree species evolved growth form adaptations, becoming seemingly herbaceous dwarf shrubs with extreme underground wooden structures. These growth forms emerged in the course of previous climate change whereby increasing precipitation seasonality caused pronounced dry seasons, and subsequent frost and fire events. We investigate the evolutionary pathway of these geoxylic suffrutices with molecular methods. Concurrently, we use ecological and trait-based approaches to understand the effects of drought, frost, fire and grazing on these growth forms.
Welwitschia mirabilis as living fossil
Welwitschia mirabilis belongs to the important group of Gnetales in the Middle Ages, which are now extinct to 3 genera. Welwitschia, for example, is known fossil from Brazil, but today only occurs in Angola and Namibia. We use molecular methods to investigate the evolution in space (phylogeography) at population level.