Introduction

Hello and welcome to M.Biodiv.441 Evolutionary Ecology. This master’s course introduces you to the fascinating world of oribatid mites. Over the next three weeks, you will delve into the unique characteristics of these tiny creatures. Oribatid mites play a crucial role in soil ecosystems worldwide, which differ significantly from aboveground ecosystems in several key ways. While many evolutionary concepts were initially developed from well-studied above-ground systems, they have often been applied to soil ecosystems under the assumption that the same principles hold true. However, this is not always the case. Although fundamental evolutionary concepts are universal, the specific evolutionary trajectories in soil ecosystems can diverge under different conditions. In this course, we hope you will uncover and appreciate some of these distinct evolutionary pathways.

But first, let’s introduce the team behind this course…

First, we have Bastian, a postdoc in the Department of Animal Ecology and head of the molecular lab. His primary research focuses on oribatid mites, where he focuses on phylogenetics, comparative genomics, and other things. Bastian also brings expertise in microbiomics and bioinformatics. In the past, he has investigated the evolutionary history of termites from Down Under, invasive earthworms in the US, and phallic organs of stick insects.

Second, we have Johanna, she is a PhD student in the Department of Animal Ecology. Her research, part of the Biodiversity Exploratories, focuses on community phylogenetics to understand the assembly processes of oribatid mites and their response to disturbances like forest gap formation. By using molecular and trait-based approaches, she aims to explore how these changes affect ecosystem functions and services, providing insight into potential future ecosystem shifts.

If you want to know more about us and the other helping hands in the next three weeks, click here.

Course Structure

Note

The course is structured like a 🧬Mini research project🧬.

In the First Week, you will explore soil systems and their inhabitants. You’ll have collected mites (see How to Sample ⛏) and will identify them using a stereomicroscope. The collected mites will also be used for DNA extraction and sequencing.

In the Second Week, you will learn essential tools for analyzing molecular data and be introduced to the fundamentals of molecular phylogenetics. Phylogenetics is a valuable tool for structuring data and exploring research questions.

The Third Week is dedicated to your own 🧬Mini research project🧬. By the end of the first two weeks, you will have the knowledge to develop your own research question. You will collect your own data (First Week), utilize public databases, and apply methods to investigate a scientific hypothesis (Second Week). Working in small research teams, you will efficiently organize and delegate tasks within your project. On the final day of the course, you will present your 🧬Mini research project🧬.

Major Goals

This course introduces you to some fundamental basics of…

  • Mesofauna

  • Oribatid mites

Note

By the end of this course, you will have gained the skills to effectively organize a research project, including:

  • Formulating a hypothesis.

  • Collecting, evaluating, and structuring research data.

  • Selecting appropriate analytical methods.

  • Presenting and interpreting your results.

  • Discussing your findings within a broader, up-to-date scientific context.