Ecology and evolution in metacommunities
Dr. Bram Vanschoenwinkel
Natural mesocosms such as freshwater rock pools found at the top of isolated mountaintops (inselbergs) are suitable model systems to bridge the gap between theory and the complexity of natural macro-ecosystems.
- PhD research
During my PhD (promotor: Luc Brendonck) I studied an invertebrate metacommunity in a cluster of temporary rock pools in South Africa. The main goal of this research was to investigate the interactive effects of dispersal and disturbance on metacommunity structure and diversity patterns. I also investigated micro-geographic patterns of local adaptation, in terms of risk spreading strategies using fairy shrimp as a model species.
- Postdoctoral research
During my post doc I will work further on two central elements of my PhD research: metacommunity processes and risk spreading strategies in unpredictable environments using different model species including fairy shrimps, tadpole shrimps, frogs and killifish.
1. Evolution of risk spreading strategies in unpredictable environments
With PhD student Jane Reniers and in collaboration with Dale Roberts (Univ. of WA, Australia) I study how breeding habitat selection, hatching phenology and developmental plasticity enable the frog Crinia pseudinsignifera to survive in unpredictable rock pools habitats in Western Australia. Using experimental and observational work we investigate risk spreading strategies in populations along gradients of habitat predictability.
With PhD student Tom Pinceel I investigate the evolution of risk spreading strategies under the form of delayed hatching in two different model organisms that produce dormant life stages to bridge unfavorable conditions: fairy shrimp (Branchiopoda, Anostraca) and African killifish of the genus Notobranchius. For the research on killifish I collaborate withJouke Van der Zee and Dieter Anseeuw (KATHO, Kortrijk).
2. Metacommunity ecology
I use invertebrate communities inhabiting rock pool clusters at the top of isolated mountains (inselbergs) as models to learn more about how communities work in space. Here I particularly focus on disturbance and gradients of connectivity and cluster size as drivers of metacommunity structure and diversity patterns. Building further on the large amount of information available for the Korannaberg rock pool cluster in South Africa, PhD student Falko Buschke is currently investigating food web dynamics. For this research I closely collaborate with Merlijn Jocqué (Royal Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels) and Brian Timms (Univ. of New South Wales, Australia).
3. Eco – evolutionary dynamics
Large branchiopods are dominant competitors and top predators in temporary aquatic systems. Particularly in rock pool habitats they are the dominant component of the filter feeding community. We are currently developing high resolution molecular markers using next generation sequencing platforms to investigate feedbacks between rapid evolution and diversification in large branchiopods and responses at other trophic levels.
4. Dispersal of freshwater invertebrates
We use both direct and indirect molecular approaches to quantify dispersal of freshwater zooplankton in different aquatic environments and over different spatial scales. In the past we have documented passive dispersal mediated by wind, water and amphibians. We also worked on large terrestrial mammals such as wild boar dispersing zooplankton in Mediterranean wetlands and large African mammals such as elephant dispersing invertebrate propagules among temporary pans in the African savannah. For this research I collaborate with Aline Waterkeyn(KULeuven) and Tamuka Nhiwatiwa (Univ.of Zimbabwe).
5. Phylogeny and phylogeography of large branchiopod crustaceans
Together with Brian Timms and Tom Pinceel I study the adaptive radiation of the fairy shrimp genus Branchinella in Australia in the context of historic climate change. With Maarten Vanhove (KULeuven) we study phylogenetic relationships in the tadpole shrimp genera Lepidurus and Triops at a global scale. Additional work is focusing on the fairy shrimp Chirocephalus diaphanus in Europe coordinated by Jane Reniers and under collaboration with Nicolas Rabet (Univ. Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France) andBranchipodopsis in central South Africa, together with Maitland Seaman(University of the Free State, South Africa).
Financial support
This research is funded by FWO-Flanders.
I am also co-organising a nation wide search campaign to rediscover large branchiopod populations, which were presumed to be extinct in Belgium.
I am also co-organising a nation wide search campaign to rediscover large branchiopod populations, which were presumed to be extinct in Belgium.
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