1. What do you study related to biodiversity (what are your research questions, what organisms do you work on)?
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 I work on the systematics and evolution of lichens. Lichens are symbiotic organisms consisting typically of a fungus and an alga. They often grow on rocks, bark, or soil and have a crusty or shrub-like appearance. Many questions concerning the relationships of these organisms and the evolution of their characters are still unresolved.
Furthermore, lichens produce a high number of interesting and rare secondary components. I study the genes which are involved with the production of these chemicals in order to gain insight into the evolution of lichen substances and the evolution of the metabolic pathways by which they are produced.
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2. How do you study biodiversity (for example, what technological tools and methodologies do you use in your research)?
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To study lichens we use classical (morphological and anatomical) as well as modern (molecular) techniques. Since most lichens produce characteristic secondary products, it is also very important to study their chemistry. Our tools in the field are a hand lens, knife, hammer, and chisel. In the lab we use binoculars and microscopes to look at very small or internal characters. The chemical components are determined with the help of chromatographic methods (thin layer chromatography or high performance liquid chromatography).
Moreover I employ molecular data. We extract DNA from our organisms and multiply specific gene regions. Once we have obtained the DNA sequence of this region, computer programs align and compare the sequences. We can calculate the level of divergence between individuals and groups of organisms and eventually reconstruct phylogenetic trees, which visualize evolutionary relationships. It is also possible to map interesting morphological characters on the tree and trace their evolution.
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3. Where do you study biodiversity?
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The lichens I study have a worldwide distribution. Recent fieldtrips have taken me to Slovakia, Spain, Germany and Romania. However, studying the collections from various museums and herbaria around the world is also a very important aspect of my work.
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4. How might your research have implications for biological conservation?
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 Today it is very important to assess the diversity of lichens and to do extensive systematic studies on particular groups. Several regions of the world have not been studied intensely by lichenologists and it is to be expected that many more species will be described. This is especially true for the tropics.
Furthermore, lichen products, which have played an important role in traditional medicine, are related to essential modern drugs such as antibiotics and cholesterol lowering agents. The use of lichen products as pharmaceuticals has not been fully exploited. However, with the availability of modern molecular techniques it is particularly desirable to conserve a rich and diverse lichen flora to allow for continued research into and understanding of these compounds.
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5. How did you become interested in science? What made you want to be a scientist, and how did you get to The Field Museum?
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I studied Biology in Germany and became interested in Botany during the many field trips we did. Eventually I started working in the department as a student tutor and lab assistant. When I learned molecular techniques it was with lichens and this got me hooked on these organisms. I did my masters and doctoral thesis on the molecular phylogeny of different lichen groups and came to the Field Museum as a postdoc in 2003 to profit from the excellent research facilities and the exchange with many other researchers who work on systematic questions.
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