Address
- University of Fribourg
- Dept. of Biology
- Unit Ecology & Evolution
- Chemin du Musée 10
- CH-1700 Fribourg
- Switzerland
Office
- 0.362
Phone
- 04126 300 88 35 (direct)
- 04126 300 88 50 (secretary)
Fax
- 04126 300 96 98
Current research
My main long-standing interest has been the ecology of plant populations and how they are influenced by phytophagous insects and plant pathogens. This led to the study of phenotypic plasticity and genetic differentiation of various species in different habitat types, effects of disease epidemics and insect herbivory on plant competition, demographic and geneticÝaspects of within-and among-population variation in space and time, and trans-continental comparisons.
The study of ecological interactions both at the individual plant and at the population level between Senecio vulgaris and the rust fungus Puccinia lagenophorae has been the major focus of my research during the past 12 years.
Since 2000, I have become interested in various aspects of conservation and restoration ecology, especially on mechanisms of local adaptation and biodiversity management, both in agricultural and alpine habitats.
Since 2004 I am back to topics of my PhD : plant invasions and biological control; my theoretical and experimental studiesÝare predominantly dealing with the prediction of evolutionary changes in invasive, exotic plants and their consequences for plant-herbivore interactions, such as for biological control measures.
Please have a look on my research homepage for further informationand for student opportunities.
Please use this link for details on my teaching, and for our Bachelor (BSc) and Master (MSc) studies.
Qualifications and appointments
| 1995-present | Professor in Ecology & Evolution at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| 1990-1995 | Principal Scientist at the now Agroscope Changins-Waedenswil Research Station ACW in Waedenswil, Switzerland |
| 1986-1990 | Assistant Professor at the University of Basel |
| 1985-1986 | PostDoc at the University of California, Riverside |
| 1984 | PhD in Biology at the University of Bern and the now CABI Europe-Switzerland in Delémont |
Selected activities
| 2011- |
Head of the Department of
Biology, University of Fribourg |
| 2005-2007 | Co-ordinator of studies in Environmental Sciences at the University of Fribourg |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Elected Annual President of the Swiss Academy of Science |
| 2001-present | Member of the Expert Commission on Environmental Research of the Swiss Agency for the Environment |
| 2001-present | Vice-Director of the SNSF funded National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Plant Survival |
| 1996-present | Member of the Steering committee of the Forum Biodiversity of the Swiss Academy of Science |
| 1994-2000 | Co-ordinator of the EU funded COST-Action 816 on Biological Control of Weeds in Crops |
Publications
Funding
- Swiss National Sciences Foundations
- » Section III : basic research
- » Section IV : National Centre of Competence
in Research (NCCR Plant Survival
» National Research Programme (NFP-48 Alps) - » International : co-operation with Eastern Europe (SCOPES-Georgia)
- EU-Framework Programme (TLinks)