| Claus-Peter Stelzer | |||||||||
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2006 – Research Scientist; Institute of Limnology, Mondsee 2003 – 2005 Assistant Professor (Wissenschaftlicher Assistent); University of Münster (Germany) 2001 – 2003 Postdoctoral Research Associate; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta (USA) 1995 – 2000 Diplom and PhD Thesis at the Max-Planck Institute of Limnology, Plön (Germany) 2000 PhD in Zoology/Limnology; University of Kiel (Germany) 1996 MSc (Diplom) in Biology; University of Ulm (Germany) |
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| Research | |||||||||
The working group “Experimental Evolutionary Ecology” focuses on evolutionary changes within populations and their feedback on ecological processes. Our main model organism is the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, a widespread zooplankter that occurs in small ponds and reservoirs. Rotifers of the genus Brachionus are sometimes called the “metazoan microbes”, since their growth rates are among the highest of all metazoans. In that respect, our model system bridges the gap between microbial and animal studies of ecology and evolution.Currently there are two main avenues in our research: First, in the recently funded FWF project P20735-B17 we have started to investigate the mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of transitions from cyclical to obligate parthenogenesis. Such transitions have high general relevance as they occur in many other cyclical parthenogens (e.g. Daphnia) and because they provide a valuable model system to investigate the “paradox of sex”, one of the big unsolved problems in evolutionary biology. Second, we are developing and refining the “toolbox” for experimental evolution using Brachionus. Such efforts comprise the development of automated counting systems, experimental setups for long-term evolution, cryopreservation, and the development of molecular markers (microsatellites). Such tools will allow, for the first time, to experimentally study evolution in a metazoan and will therefore provide a valuable extension to the existing microbial model systems.
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| Staff | |||||||||
Johanna Schmidt (Laboratory technician) Anneliese Wiedlroither (Laboratory technician) Thomas Scheuerl (PhD) Simone Riß (Postdoc) |
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| Projects | |||||||||
Austrian Science Fonds (FWF 20735-B17) "Evolution of asexuality in experimental rotifer populations" (PI: Claus-Peter Stelzer)
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| Teaching | |||||||||
2003-2006: since 2007: |
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| Publications | |||||||||
| Submitted Stelzer, C.P. A first assessment of genome size diversity in Monogonont rotifers. Stelzer, C.P. The cost of sex and competition between cyclical and obligate parthenogenetic rotifers. 2009 Stelzer, C.P. (2009) Automated system for sampling, counting, and biological analysis of rotifer populations. Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods 7: 856-864. 2008 Stelzer, C.P. (2008): Obligate asex in a rotifer and the role of sexual signals. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 21 (1): 287–293. 2006 Stelzer, C.P. (2006): "Changes in the competitive abilities of two planktonic rotifer species at different temperatures: an experimental test." Freshwater Biology 51: 2187-2199. Timmermeyer, N. and Stelzer, C.P. (2006): "Induction of sexual reproduction in Synchaeta tremula (Rotifera, Monogononta)." Journal of Plankton Research 28: 1233-1239. Snell, T.W., Kubanek, J.,Carter, W. , Payne, A. B., Kim, J., Hicks, M., and Stelzer, C.P. (2006): "A protein signal triggers sexual reproduction in Brachionus plicatilis (Rotifera)." Marine Biology 149: 763-773. Stelzer, C.P. and Snell, T.W. (2006): "Specificity of the crowding response in the Brachionus plicatilis species complex." Limnology and Oceanography 51: 125-130. 2005 Snell, T.W. and Stelzer, CP. (2005): "Removal of surface glycoproteins and transfer among Brachionus species." Hydrobiologia 546: 267-274. Stelzer, C.P. (2005): "Evolution of rotifer life histories." (Review) Hydrobiologia 546: 335-346. 2003 Stelzer, C.P. and Snell, T.W. (2003): "Induction of sexual reproduction in Brachionus plicatilis (Monogononta, Rotifera) by a density-dependent chemical cue." Limnology and Oceanography 48: 939-943. 2002 Stelzer, C.P. (2002): "Phenotypic plasticity of body size at different temperatures in a planktonic rotifer: mechanisms and adaptive significance." Functional Ecology 16: 835-841. 2001 Stelzer, C.P. (2001): "Resource limitation and reproductive effort in a planktonic rotifer." Ecology 82: 2521-2533. 2000 Boersma, M. and Stelzer, C.P. (2000): "Response of a zooplankton community to the addition of unsaturated fatty acids: an enclosure study." Freshwater Biology 45: 179-188. 1998 Stelzer, C.P. (1998): "Population growth in planktonic rotifers: Does temperature shift the competitive advantage for different species?" Hydrobiologia 387/388: 349-353. Stelzer, C.P. (1998): "Feeding behaviour of the rotifer Ascomorpha ovalis: functional response, handling time and exploitation of individual Ceratium cells." Journal of Plankton Research 20: 1131-1144. |
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