Dept Biology
Ecology & Evolution
  


The Lexer Lab

Molecular ecology
&
evolutionary genetics group

Dorothea Lindtke

Ph.D. student


E-mail
dorothea.lindtke(at)unifr.ch

Address
University of Fribourg
Department of Biology
Unit of Ecology & Evolution
Chemin du Musée 10
CH-1700 Fribourg
Switzerland

Phone
+41(0)26 300 8813

Fax
+41 (0)26 300 96 98






Current research

I am highly interested in evolution, especially in speciation and hybridization.

Life includes adaptation to changing environments, as only organisms with the ability to adapt can persist over time. The raw material for adaptation is provided by mutation, standing genetic variation within a population, and by gene flow from divergent populations or species.

Hybridization represents a possibility to recombine favorable gene combinations from two or more species in a way that adaptation to a new or changing environment becomes achievable. On the other hand, hybridization (with gene flow) can disrupt well established trait complexes and therefore endanger the continued existence of an evolutionary unit. Formation of reproductive isolation preserves adaptive trait complexes from genetic swamping, thus completing speciation or maintaining species barriers upon secondary contact.

In my PhD thesis I investigate the genetics of reproductive isolation and trait differences in European Populus  using three replicate hybrid zones between Populus alba  (White poplar) and P. tremula  (European aspen). In particular, I am interested in identifying genetic variants that move across hybrid zones of these two species more or less frequently than expected under neutrality. Positive departures from neutrality indicate loci potentially affected by adaptive introgression. By contrast, other genes may be maladaptive in the recipient species and hence play a role in reproductive isolation. In addition, I am interested in testing for associations between such non-neutral genetic loci and specific ecological, morphological and / or reproductive isolation traits, and in understanding the role of these traits in species isolation.

Curriculum vitae
2009-
 PhD student in Evolutionary Genetics, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
2008-2009
 Work placement (6 months) at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
2007-2008
 Diploma thesis in Biology at the University of Bonn, Germany, in collaboration with the Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig Bonn, Germany and the NHM Vienna, Austria
2002-2007
 Undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Bonn, Germany
1999-2001
 Studies in Mathematics at the University of Bonn, Germany

Publications

Stöck, M., A. Horn, C. Grossen, D. Lindtke, R. Sermier, C. Betto-Colliard, C. Dufresnes, E. Bonjour, Z. Dumas, E. Luquet, T. Maddalena, H. Clavero Sousa, I. Martinez-Solano & N. Perrin N (2011): Ever-young sex chromosomes in European tree frogs. PLoS Biology 9(5), e1001062.

Lindtke, D., W. Mayer & W. Böhme (2010): Identification of a contact zone between oviparous and viviparous common lizards (Zootoca vivipara ) in central Europe: reproductive strategies and natural hybridization. Salamandra 46(2):73-82.

Lindtke, D. (2007): Untersuchungen zu der eierlegenden Waldeidechse Zootoca vivipara carniolica  in Österreich. Elaphe 15(2):8-9.