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Julian Kiefer

Scientist

Department of Symbiosis

MPI for Marine Microbiology
Celsiusstr. 1
D-28359 Bremen
Germany

Room: 

2246

Phone: 

+49 421 2028-8970

Julian Kiefer
 

Re­se­arch To­pic

Back to the roots: Invasion of the Mediterranean Sea

I work with the gutless oligochaete species known as Olavius algarvensis. Around 6 million years ago, an extraordinary geological event called the Messinian salinity crisis took place in the Mediterranean region, during which the Mediterranean Sea experienced a prolonged period of desiccation followed by reflooding, our hypothesis proposes that O. algarvensis successfully invaded the Mediterranean Sea once it was flooded again.

To validate this hypothesis, I will conduct extensive sampling across various locations throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Through comprehensive investigations into the genetic, physiological, and ecological aspects of Olavius algarvensis specimens, as well as their associated endosymbionts, our aim is to acquire a more profound understanding of the symbiotic relationship dynamics and the level of symbiotic fidelity within this species.

Collecting samples in the sea
Collecting samples in the sea
Sorting samples in the wet-lab
Sorting samples in the wet-lab
Collecting at the Carry Bow Cay Field Station in 2023 with Christer Erséus
Collecting at the Carry Bow Cay Field Station in 2023 with Christer Erséus

Publications

2023

Kiefer, J. S. T.; Bauer, E.; Okude, G.; Fukatsu, T.; Kaltenpoth, M.; Engl, T.: Cuticle supplementation and nitrogen recycling by a dual bacterial symbiosis in a family of xylophagous beetles. The ISME Journal (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01415-y

2022

Kiefer, J. S. T.; Schmidt, G.; Krüsemer, R.; Kaltenpoth, M.; Engl, T.: Wolbachia causes cytoplasmic incompatibility but not male-killing in a grain pest beetle. Molecular Ecology (2022). DOI: 10.1111/mec.16717


2021

Kiefer, J. S. T.; Batsukh, S.; Bauer, E.; Hirota, B.; Weiss, B.; Wierz, J. C.; Fukatsu, T.; Kaltenpoth, M.; Engl, T.: Inhibition of a nutritional endosymbiont by glyphosate abolishes mutualistic benefit on cuticle synthesis in Oryzaephilus surinamensis. Communications Biology (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02057-6


2018

Jehn, J.; Gebert, D.; Pipilescu, F.; Stern, S.; Kiefer, J. S. T.; Hewel, C.; Rosenkranz, D.: PIWI genes and piRNAs are ubiquitously expressed in mollusks and show patterns of lineage-specific adaptation. Communications Biology (2018). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0141-4

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