About me

 

PhD student and insect-microbial-fungal enthusiast, interested in species interactions. In August 2015 I received Master of Science degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Helsinki University.

 

Interactions between plants, microbes and insects on oak

Aims of the study projects

The main aim of the current PhD project is to investigate the role of insect microbes (endosymbionts) and plant-based microbes (endophytes, pathogens) in understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of the diverse insect and pathogen community on the oak tree Quercus robur. The specific aims of the project are:

• to understand if there is geographic variation in the endosymbiotic species associated with individual species of herbivore insects on oak;
• to understand if there is geographic variation in the endosymbiotic species associated with individual species of the parasitoid community on oak;
• to assess the impact of the microclimate on the pests and pathogen communities on oak;
•  to understand the role of cryptic mildew species, leaf endophytes and fungal hyperparasites in shaping the fungal community on the oaks (i,e., to describe species interactions, and the factors that shift the balance of these species interactions).

http://plantmicrobeinsect.com/​

 

Main supervisor: Ayco Tack 
Co-supervisor: Peter Hambäck