Research

The organisation of biotic interactions (competition, predation, herbivory, pollination, etc.) in networks is also known as the "architecture of biodiversity". Biotic interactions are crucial for the development and maintenance of the enormous diversity of species found on earth (there are well over a million species of insects alone). Biotic interactions also determine the functional significance of living organisms for other living organisms, and thus their significance for ecosystems and humans.

We are integrating different methodological approaches to understand the functional importance of dynamic networks of species interactions

My research seeks to understand these interactions in the context of biodiversity. Due to the multitude of interactions of each individual species, complex networks quickly emerge, the understanding of which is still a challenge for (ecological) research. I approach this challenge with a combination of different methodological approaches.

My research to date is essentially based on three areas:

Photo: UHH/Fründ

1. Animal-plant interaction networks

Research into mutualistic animal-plant interaction networks, with a particular focus on the biodiversity of wild bees.

Photo: UHH/Fründ

2. Research into interactions between trees and insects

Research into interactions between trees and insects, with a particular focus on the regulation of herbivores by mixing tree species and natural antagonists.

Photo: UHH/Fründ

3. Development and evaluation of methods

The development and evaluation of methods for the analysis and modelling of such (and other) interaction networks, with a particular focus on improving the match between empirical data and theoretical models.

Across all three areas, I pay particular attention to temporal dynamics, which have often been ignored in previous studies.  Temporal dynamics here refers to the change in interactions and species communities on a wide range of time scales, from the course of the day to outbreak cycles and global change. Another central, cross-cutting question is the functional significance of species diversity (biodiversity) in the ecosystem. I use the network perspective to develop a mechanistic understanding of both the significance of individual species (groups) for the whole and the significance of overall diversity for individual species.