| Jens Boenigk | |||||||||
|
|
|
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Associate professor (tenured) 2006 |
|||||||||
| Research | |||||||||
Microeukaryotes (protists) are the most numerous, the most diverse, but at the same time the most inadequately investigated group of eukaryotic organisms. Their diversity, their abundance as well as their metabolic rates exceed by far that of the so-called higher animals and plants and they have a tremendous importance for biogeochemical cycling and ecosystem health. Aiming at a comprehensive understanding of the biology, diversity and ecology of this group of organisms, my research focusses on the following subjects: 1) Biodiversity, microdiversity & species concept, 2) Landscape ecology and biogeography, 3) Organismic interactions between eukaryotic and prokaryotic microorganisms, 4)Functional ecology and natural products research. |
|||||||||
Biodiversity, microdiversity & species concept Biodiversity, the basic units of biodiversity (i.e. usually species), and the maintenance of biodiversity are among the most vital missions of today’s science. Understanding the diversity of the most numerous eukaryotic organisms on earth, i.e. of protists, and the mechanisms maintaining this diversity is consequently one major research goals of my group. This comprises specifically the molecular, morphological and ecological variation within nominal microeukaryote taxa (microdiversity) and the basic concept of species (and of diversity). Applying molecular techniques (PCR, FISH, etc.), morphological techniques (electron microscopy), behavioral studies (video microscopy), and ecological investigations we aim at identifying the basic driving forces behind the diversity of flagellates. |
 |
||||||||
| Landscape ecology and biogeography | |||||||||
|
|
||||||||
. |
 |
||||||||
| Functional ecology and natural products research | |||||||||
|
|
||||||||
| Staff | |||||||||
Steffen Jost (PhD candidate): “Niche separation and ecophysiological adaptation of microeukaryotes” Ralph Medinger (PhD candidate): “Flagellate microdiversity” Lieselotte Eisl (Lab technician) – Culture collection and chemical analyses Dilploma students not listed |
|||||||||
| Projects | |||||||||
“Niche separation and coexistance of chrysophytes in an alpine gradient” funded by the Austrian Science Fund (P19706); 2007 – 2009. Abstract-PDF “Bioactive secondary metabolites of flagellates” Sanofi-Aventis; 2006-2008. “Chrysophyte diversity and encystment pattern” funded by the Austrian Science Fund (P18315); 2005 – 2008. Abstract-PDF |
|||||||||
| Teaching | |||||||||
Since 2003: Lectures at the University of Innsbruck (“Vergleichende Ökologie von Räuber-Beute-Systemen”, “Biologie und Ökologie eukaryotischer Mikroorganismen”) 1995 – 2000 Lectures and field courses at the University of Cologne, Germany Supervisor of Diploma and PhD students |
|||||||||
| Publications | |||||||||
| Papers in press Medinger, R., Nolte, V., Pandey, R.V., Jost, S., Ottenwälder, B., Schlötterer, C., Boenigk, J. (in press) Diversity in a hidden world: potential and limitation of next generation sequencing for surveys of molecular diversity of Eukaryotic microorganisms. Mol Ecol. 2009 De Castro F, Gaedke U, Boenigk J (2009) Reverse evolution: Driving forces behind the loss of acquired photosynthetic traits. PLOS One 4:e8465 Wu QL, Chatzinotas A, Boenigk J (2009) Genetic diversity of microeukaryotes in Tibetan lakes differing by their salinity and altitude. Microb. Ecol. 58:569-581 Pfandl K., Chatzinotas A., Dyal P., Boenigk J. (2009) SSU rRNA gene variation resolves population heterogeneity and ecophysiological differentiation within a morphospecies (Stramenopiles,Chrysophyceae). Limnol Oceanogr 54:171-181 Dunthorn M., Eppinger M., Schwarz M.V.J., Schweikert M., Boenigk J., Katz L.A., Stoeck T. (2009) Phylogenetic placement of the Cyrtolophosididae Stokes, 1 1888 (Ciliophora; Colpodea) and neotypification of Aristerostoma marinum Kahl, 1931. Int J Sys Evol Microbiol 59:167-180 Weisse T., Boenigk J., Müller H. (2009) Ecological methods fort he study of heterotrophic nano- and microplankton of fresh and marine waters. In: Röttger R., Knight R., Foissner W. (eds) A Course in Protozoology. Protozool Monogr 4:232-242 Montagnes D.J.S., Barbossa A., Boenigk J., Davidson K., Jürgens K., Macek M., Parry J., Roberts E., Šimek K. (2008) Selective grazing behaviour of free-living protists: views on and avenues for continued study. Aquat Microb Ecol 53: 83-98 2007 Boenigk, J., Jost, S., Stoeck, T., Garstecki, T. (2007) Differential thermal adaptation of clonal strains of a protist morphospecies originating from different climatic zones. Environ Microbiol 9:593-602 2006 Pfandl K., Boenigk J. (2006) Stuck in the mud: Suspended sediments as a key issue for survival of bacterivorous protists. Aquat Microb Ecol 45:89-99 Boenigk, J., Pfandl, K., Garstecki, T., Novarino, G., Chatzinotas, A. (2006) Evidence for geographic isolation and signs of endemism within a protistan morphospecies. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:5159-5164 PDF 2005 Boenigk, J. (2005) Some remarks on strain specifity and general patterns in the ecology of Spumella (Chrysophyceae). Nova Hedwigia in press Abstract-PDF Boenigk, J., Pfandl, K., Stadler, P., Chatzinotas, A. (2005) High diversity of the “Spumella-like” flagellates: An investigation based on the SSU rRNA gene sequences of isolates from habitats located in six different geographic regions. Environ. Microbiol. 7:685-697 PDF Boenigk, J., Wiedlroither, A., Pfandl, K. (2005) Heavy metal toxicity and bioavailability of dissolved nutrients to a bacterivorous flagellate are linked to suspended particle physical properties. Aquat. Toxicol. 71:249-259 PDF Stoeck, T., Schwarz, M.V.J., Boenigk, J., Schweikert, M., von der Heyden, S., Behnke, A. (2005) Cellular identity of a novel 18S rRNA sequence clade within the class Kinetoplastea: the novel genus Actuariola gen. nov. (Neobodonida) with description of the type species Actuariola framii sp. nov. Int J Sys Evol Microbiol 55:2623–2635 PDF 2004 Boenigk, J. (2004) A comparison of methods for analysis of plant-available soil nutrient ions using ion chromatography. Agrochimica: 48:165-171 Abstract-PDF Boenigk, J. (2004) A disintegration method for direct counting of bacteria in clay-dominated sediments: dissolving silicates and subsequent fluorescent staining of bacteria. J Microbiol Meth 56:151-159 PDF Boenigk, J., Novarino, G. (2004) Effect of suspended clay on the feeding and growth of bacterivorous flagellates and ciliates. Aquat Microb Ecol 34:181-192 PDF Boenigk, J., Stadler, P. (2004) Potential toxicity of chrysophytes affiliated with Poterioochromonas and related “Spumella-like“ flagellates. J. Plankton Res. 26:1507-1514. PDF Boenigk, J., Stadler, P. Wiedlroither, A., Hahn, M.W. (2004) Strain-specific differences in the grazing sensitivity of closely related ultramicrobacteria affiliated with the Polynucleobacter cluster. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:5787-5793 PDF Matz, C., Deines, P., Boenigk, J., Arndt, H., Eberl, L., Kjelleberg, S., Jürgens, K. (2004) Impact of violacein-producing bacteria on survival and feeding of bacterivorous nanoflagellates. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:1593-1599 PDF Pfandl, K., Posch, T., Boenigk, J. (2004) Unexpected effects of prey dimensions and morphologies on the size selective feeding by two bacterivorous flagellates (Ochromonas sp. and Spumella sp.). J Euk Microbiol 51:626-633 Abstract-PDF Wu, QL., Boenigk, J., Hahn, M.W. (2004) Successful predation of filamentous bacteria by a nanoflagellate challenges current models of flagellate bacterivory. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:332-339 PDF 2003 Hahn, M.W., Lunsdorf, H., Wu, QL., Schauer, M., Hofle, M.G., Boenigk, J., Stadler, P. (2003) Isolation of novel ultramicrobacteria classified as Actinobacteria from five freshwater habitats in Europe and Asia. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:1442-1451 PDF 2002 Boenigk, J. (2002) Variability of ingestion rates with stage in cell cycle of a heterotrophic nanoflagellate (Spumella sp.) measured by an individual-based approach. Europ J Protistol 38:299-306 Boenigk, J., Arndt, H. (2002) Bacterivory by heterotrophic flagellates: community structure and feeding strategies. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 81:465-480 Boenigk, J., Matz, C., Jürgens, K., Arndt, H. (2002) Food concentration-dependent regulation of food selectivity of interception-feeding bacterivorous nanoflagellates. Aquat Microb Ecol 27:195-202 Matz, C., Boenigk, J., Arndt, H., Jürgens, K. (2002) Role of bacterial phenotypic traits in selective feeding of the heterotrophic nanoflagellate Spumella sp. Aquat Microb Ecol 27:137-148 2001 Boenigk, J., Arndt, H., Cleven, E.J. (2001) The problematic nature of fluorescently labeled bacteria (FLB) in Spumella feeding experiments - an explanation by using video microscopy. Arch Hydrobiol 152:329-338 Boenigk, J., Matz, C., Jürgens, K., Arndt, H. (2001) The influence of preculture conditions and food quality on the ingestion and digestion process of three species of heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Microb Ecol 42:168-176 Boenigk, J , Matz C, Jürgens K, Arndt H (2001) Confusing selective feeding with differential digestion in bacterivorous nanoflagellates. J. Euk. Mic. 48:425-432 2000 Boenigk, J. (2000). Feeding mechanisms and the significance of food selection in heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Thesis, University of Cologne Boenigk, J., Arndt, H. (2000) Particle handling during interception feeding by four species of heterotrophic nanoflagellates. J Euk Mic 47:350-358 Boenigk, J., Arndt, H. (2000) Comparative studies on the feeding behavior of two heterotrophic nanoflagellates: the filter-feeding choanoflagellate Monosiga ovata and the raptorial-feeding kinetoplastid Rhynchomonas nasuta. Aquat Microb Ecol 22:243-249 1998 Boenigk, J. (1998). Vegetations- und bodenkundliche Untersuchung von Viehposten im Richtersveld / RSA unter Verwendung neuer bodenanalytischer Verfahren. Diploma Thesis, Universität zu Köln |
|||||||||
