Hae

The main goal of this thesis is to increase understanding on evolutionary and ecological factors that have contributed to differences in parasite numbers in insects. Furthermore, the thesis addresses the effects of parasites ...

Plants form the first trophic level in terrestrial ecosystems and provide energy and nutrients to higher trophic levels. Herbivores, frugivores or fungal endophytes use plants directly, while ...

A common feature of natural populations is that individuals differ in morphology, physiologyand behavior (<i>i.e</i> .phenotype). A thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary forces behind this ...

Jatropha curcas (L.) is a multipurpose oil bearing shrub assumed to be able to survive in a wide range of ecological conditions across the tropical regions of the world. The thesis is composed of two parts, the first one ...

Despite the development of modern medicine and vaccines, vaccine-preventable childhood infections remain a major burden and even cause of death around the globe. The recent surge in the outbreaks of infectious diseases ...

Phenotypic plasticity allows the same genotype to produce distinctly different morphological, physiological or behavioural characteristics depending on the environmental conditions the individual, and even its parents or ...

In this thesis, different genetic tools are used to investigate both natural variation and speciation in the Ficedula flycatcher system: pied (<i>Ficedula hypoleuca</i>) and collared (<i>F. albicollis</i>) flycatchers. The ...

In oxygen-evolving photosynthesis, the balanced excitation of photosystem (PS) I and PSII complexes is required for safe and efficient utilization of light energy. During the course of evolution, plants have acquired dynamic ...

Moss mites (Acari: Oribatida) are microscopic (0.1–1 mm) soil-dwelling arachnids that function as soil decomposers. The oribatids are among the most numerous soil animals with abundances reaching up to 200,000 specimens ...