iDiv | Evolutionary Ecology

Our research group addresses the question how fruits have evolved in response to the preferences and behaviour of the animals that consume them and disperse their seeds. The researchers are particularly interested in identifying chemical communication between plants and animals – the interaction between fruit scent and animal sense of smell. The group focusses on free-living lemurs in Madagascar, but current and future work will also take place in India, Mozambique, the Comoros and Reunion, as well as with captive lemurs in the US.

A separate project in South Africa explores the chemical ecology of elephants and builds upon these results to develop novel conservation tools. Using ecological, chemical, physiological, and molecular techniques, the researchers try to identify how plants have evolved to signal to animals using chemical cues in fruit scent, and also how animal sense of smell has evolved in response.

Here you learn more about our research projects.