Reseach in MES-laboratory
The laboratory hosts several active research groups from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Finnish Museum of Natural History. Many groups have a strong international reputation in population ecology, in particular in spatial ecology (e.g., metapopulation research), and in conservation biology. Research activity is developing fast also in evolutionary biology, evolutionary genetics, molecular ecology and behavioral ecology.
Research Groups (in alphabetical order according to group leader)
Aquatic Sciences
Environmental Change Research Unit (ECRU)
Professor Atte Korhola
The central research theme in the ECRU is the development and application of hydrobiological, palaeoecological and computational techniques to provide historical perspectives to ecological and environmental change.
Read more: www.helsinki.fi/bioscience/ecru
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The Evolution of Reproductive Adaptations
Docent Ulrika Candolin
I attempt to link conservational work with evolutionary questions to both determine the processes that have resulted in present local adaptations and predict the consequences of environmental change.
Read more: www.helsinki.fi/bioscience/hsg/index.htm
Metapopulation Research Group (MRG)
Academy Professor Ilkka Hanski
The unifying theme in our research is the role of space in the biology of individuals, populations, and communities. Our work includes both basic research and applications to conservation and management.
Read more: www.helsinki.fi/science/metapop
Evolution of species interactions in changing environments
Docent Jouni Laakso
Ecological Genetics Research Unit (EGRU)
Academy Professor Juha Merilä
Bird Ecology Unit (BEU)
University lecturer Hannu Pietiäinen, docent Jon E. Brommer, docent Patrik Byholm and univeristy lecturer Markus Öst
Research in Bird Ecology Unit (BEU) aims to understand problems in evolutionary and behavioural ecology and population biology, using avian model systems. We emphasize the integration of theory, molecular and immunological techniques with traditional fieldwork and data analysis.
Read more: www.helsinki.fi/bioscience/beu/
Systematics and Evolutionary Biology of Ants (SEBA)
Docent Riitta Savolainen
Research group in Systematics and Evolutionary Biology of Ants (SEBA) investigates phylogenetic relationships of several groups of ants from the subfamilies of Formicinae and Myrmicinae using DNA sequence data. The emphasis is on reconstructing robust phylogenetic trees with sequence data from both mitochondrial and nuclear genomes and thorough phylogenetic analyses. The obtained phylogenetic trees will be used to study evolution of social parasitism, speciation, biogeography, and divergence patterns and dates in these ant groups.
Evolution in Social Insects (ANTZZ)
Professor Lotta Sundström and university lecturer Perttu Seppä
The aim of our research is to integrate different levels of organisation from that of the gene, through single genomes, societies and populations to that of the species, with social inscts as model organisms.
Read more: www.helsinki.fi/bioscience/ecology/sundstrom.htm
Plant Biology
Green Algal Phylogenetic Research Group (GAP)
PhD Jaanika Blomster
Phylogenetic systematics
Professor Jaakko Hyvönen
Plant Stress Group
Professor Jaakko Kangasjärvi
Our work combines plant physiology with genetics and molecular biology and concentrates on finding out how plants sense and transmit stress signals at the cellular level, with special emphasis on the role of reactive oxygen species and plant hormones during abiotic stress.
Read more: www.helsinki.fi/biosci/plantstress/officialsite/english/
Bryophyte population ecology
Docent Helena Korpelainen, university lecturer and PhD Sanna Laaka-Lindberg
Fungal systematic group (Basidiomycetes)
Docent Ilkka Kytövuori
Finnish Museum of Natural History
Erilaisruokaisten kovakuoriaisten kehityshistoria
Docent Jyrki Muona
Deficiently known forest lichens - identification through DNA barcodes
Docent Leena Myllys
Ascomycete Systematics Research Group (ASCO)
Docent Soili Stenroos
Systematics and taxonomy of the hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) and related groups
PhD Gunilla Ståhls-Mäkelä
Taxonomy and phylogeny of Sciaridae (Diptera)
Docent Pekka Vilkamaa
Molecular approaches to the diversity and history of boreal aquatic fauna
Docent Risto Väinölä
Former Research
Systematics of parasitic Hymenoptera and DNA-character based identification
Nina Laurenne
Evolution of Reproductive Behavior (ERB)
Professor Kai Lindström, University of Turku
Evolutionary and conservation genetics of non-mammalian vertebrates Professor Craig Primmer, University of Turku
The main theme of the group's research is evolutionary and conservation genetics of non-mammalian vertebrates. This includes studies with a population genetic emphasis utilising (assumedly) neutral molecular markers, as well as studies aimed at identifying genomic regions potentially affected by natural selection and ultimately aiming to identify functionally important genetic variation in free-living species.
Read more: http://users.utu.fi/primmer/
|
