title

Research for the Environment

German

Dr. Walter Durka

Kontakt/Adress

Dr. Walter Durka
Research Scientist

Department Community Ecology
Helmholtz Centre
for Environmental Research - UFZ
Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4
06120 Halle, Germany

Tel: 0345 5585 314
Fax: 0345 5585 329
walter.durka@ufz.de

Forschungsschwerpunkte / Research interests

My main focus is molecular ecology - the application of molecular DNA-based methods to study aspects of the ecology of plants and animals. We analyse patterns of genetic variation at sequence, protein, microsatellite or AFLP-loci at levels of individuals, clones, populations, regions or species. These genetic patterns can reveal historical to recent processes connected to gene flow and genetic drift on various spatial and time scales like postglacial colonisation, habitat fragmentation or inbreeding. Central fields here are
1) the conservation genetics of endangered rare plant species, e.g. those that maintain relictic populations in Central Europe;
2) landscape genetics as a tool to understand the dependence of populations on landscape structure;
3) invasion genetics of neophytic species, both of European and other origin.
4) community genetics: the relationship between species diversity and genetic diversity.

A second focus is, using a macroecological approach, the ecological relevance of various plant traits in determining dynamic ecological processes. As a basis various species traits are assembled in the BIOLFLOR database. Here, I am compiling and analysing traits of the German flora on mating systems, flowering biology, phylogeny, chromosome numbers and DNA content.

During my academic career I had touched different fields of ecology: I started with vegetation studies, had a look into the ecophysiology of sunflower and after that, in the time of increasing awareness of ongoing forest decline I switched to ecosystem ecology and investigated various aspects of the nitrogen cycling of forest ecosystems.

Current projects

"Population genetics of invasions" in the UFZ research cluster "Biological invasions", project leader
Conservation and landscape genetics in the UFZ research cluster "European cultural landscapes", collaborator.
DFG project GenLink in the biodiversity exploratories: The link between species richness and genetic diversity, subproject leader; PhD student: Lena Kloss.
DFG project TreeGenetics in BEF-China: biodiversity function and tree genetics in subtropical forest, subproject leader; PhD student: Xueqin Zeng and Miaomiao Shi.
BMBF Project SUBICON: Successional Change and Biodiversity Conservation, sub-project leader; PhD student: Gitte Hornemann. (FKz: 01LC0618)
BiolFlor: a database on biological and ecological traits of the flora of Germany
"Evolutionary biology of the Large Blue Butterflies Maculinea nausithous and M. teleius: analyses across their distributional range and implications for the species’ status", VW grant to Silvia Ritter, supervisor
DFG Project Invasion genetics of Ceratocapnos claviculata along its northward range expansion; cooperation with Lutz Eckstein, PhD student: Nicole Voss, Univ. Giessen.

Past projects

INVASIONS: Das Invasionspotential gebietsfremder Arten - Identifikation, Bewertung, Risikomanagement (The Invasion Potential of Alien Species - Identification, Assessment, and Risk Management) (Funded by the Federal Ministry for Education and Research under the BioTEAM programme), co-PI
DFG grant DU-404/1: "Population genetics of Juncus atratus", principal investigator
Greenveins - Vulnerability of Biodiversity in the Agro-Ecosystem as Influenced by Green Veining and Land Use Intensity (GREENVEINS), collaborator

Publikationen / Publications

Complete publication list

- - - - - - - - Molecular Ecology
Lachmuth S, Durka W, Schurr F (accepted) The making of a rapid plant invader: genetic diversity and differentiation in the native and invaded range of Senecio inaequidens. Molecular Ecology.

Lange R, Durka W, Holzhauer SIJ, Wolters V, Diekötter T (in revision) Contrasting population genetic structure of Metrioptera roeseli and Pholidoptera griseoaptera in agricultural mosaic landscapes. Molecular Ecology.

Bruelheide H, Böhnke M, Both S, Fang T, Assmann T, Baruffol M, Bauhus J, Buscot F, Chen X, Ding B, Durka W, Erfmeier A, Fischer M, Geißler C, Guo D, Guo LD, Härdtle W, He JS, Hector A, Kröber W, Kühn P, Lang A, Nadrowski K, Pei K, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Shi X, Scholten T, Schuldt A, Trogisch S, von Oheimb G, Welk E, Wirth C, Wu YT, Yang X, Zeng X, Zhang S, Zhou H, Ma K, Schmid B (2010) Community assembly during secondary forest succession in a chinese subtropical forest. Ecology in press doi: 10.1890/09-2172.1.

Schleuning M, Templin M, Huamán V, Vadillo PG, Becker T, Durka W, Fischer M, Matthies, D (2010). Effects of inbreeding, outbreeding, and supplemental pollen on the reproduction of a hummingbird-pollinated clonal Amazonian herb. Biotropica, in press. doi 10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00663.x

Becker T, Voss N, Durka W (2010) Pollen limitation and inbreeding depression in an “old rare” bumblebee-pollinated grassland herb. Plant Biology in revision.

Baessler C, Klotz S, Durka W (2010). Temporal changes and spatial determinants of plant species diversity and genetic variation. Pp 279-298 in: Müller F, Baessler C, Schubert H, Klotz S (eds) Long-Term Ecological Research. Dordrecht, Springer.

Musche MJ, Settele J Durka W (2010). Performance and response to defoliation of Sanguisorba officinalis (Rosaceae) seedlings from mown and successional habitats. Botany 88: 691-697. Reprint

Hensen I, Kilian C, Wagner V, Durka W, Pusch J, Wesche K (2010) Low genetic variability and strong differentiation among isolated populations of the rare steppe grass Stipa capillata L. in central Europe. Plant Biology 12: 526-536. Reprint

Stark C, Babik W, Durka W (2009) Fungi from the roots of the common terrestrial orchid Gymnadenia conopsea. Mycological Research113: 952-959. Reprint

Durka W (2009) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci for Euphorbia palustris (Euphorbiaceae). Genome. 52: 1037-1039. Reprint

Schmidt T, Arens P, Smulders MJM, Billeter R, Liira J, Augenstein I, Durka W (2009) Effects of landscape structure on genetic diversity of Geum urbanum L. populations in agricultural landscapes. Flora 203: 549-559. Reprint

Meyer J, Kohnen A, Durka W, Wöstemeyer J, Blaum N, Rossmanith E, Brandl R (2009) Genetic structure and dispersal in a small South African rodent. Is dispersal female-biased? Mammalian Biology 74: 478-487. Reprint

Babik W, Pabbijan M, Arntzen JW, Cogalniceanu D, Durka W, Radwan J (2009) Long-term survival of a urodele amphibian despite depleted major histocompatibility complex variation. Molecular Ecology 18, 769-781. Reprint

Ross, CA, Auge, H, Durka W (2008) Genetic relationships among three native North-American Mahonia species, invasive Mahonia populations from Europe, and commercial cultivars.Plant Systematics and Evolution 275: 219-229. doi 10.1007/s00606-008-0066-3 Reprint

Hahn, T., Durka, W., Becker, T., 2008. Populationsgenetische Hinweise auf eine rezente Arealexpansion des mitteleuropäischen Endemiten Linum leonii. Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt 60, 87-92.

Musche M, Settele J, Durka W (2008) Genetic population structure and reproductive fitness in the plant Sanguisorba officinalis in populations supporting colonies of an endangered Maculinea butterfly. International Journal of Plant Sciences. 169: 252-263. Reprint

Billeter R, Liira J, Bailey D, Bugter R, Arens P, Augenstein I, Aviron S, Baudry J, Bukacek R, Burel F, Cerny M, De Blust G, De Cock R, Diekötter T, Dietz H, Dirksen J, Dormann C, Durka W, Frenzel M, Hamersky R, Hendrickx F, Herzog F, Klotz S, Koolstra B, Lausch A, Le Coeur D, Maelfait JP, Opdam P, Roubalova M, Schermann A, Schermann N, Schmidt T, Schweiger O, Smulders MJM, Speelmans M, Simova P, Verboom J, van Wingerden WKRE, Zobel M (2008) Indicators for biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: a pan-European study. Journal of Applied Ecology, 45: 141-150. Reprint

Dormann CF, Schweiger O, Arens P, Augenstein I, Aviron S, Bailey D, Baudry J, Billeter R, Bugter R, Bukacek R, Burel F, Cerny M, Cock RD, Blust GD, DeFilippi R, Diekötter T, Dirksen J, Durka W, Edwards PJ, Frenzel M, Hamersky R, Hendrickx F, Herzog F, Klotz S, Koolstra B, Lausch A, Coeur DL, Liira J, Maelfait JP, Opdam P, Roubalova M, Schermann-Legionnet A, Schermann N, Schmidt T, Smulders MJM, Speelmans M, Simova P, Verboom J, Wingerden Wv, Zobel M (2008) Prediction uncertainty of environmental change effects on temperate European biodiversity. Ecology Letters, 11, 235-244.

Michalski SG, Durka W (2007) High selfing and high inbreeding depression in peripheral populations of Juncus atratus. Molecular Ecology 16: 4715-4727. Reprint

Michalski SG, Durka W (2007) Synchronous pulsed flowering - analysis of the flowering phenology in Juncus (Juncaceae). Annals of Botany 100: 1271-1285. Reprint

Anton C, Zeisset I, Musche M, Durka W, Boomsma JJ, Settele J (2007) Population structure of a large blue butterfly and its specialist parasitoid in a fragmented landscape. Molecular Ecology 16: 3828-3838.Reprint

Solé M, Durka W, Eber S, Brandl R (2007) Influence of the parasitism by Urophora cardui (Diptera:Tephritidae) on the genotypic and genetic diversity of the host plant Cirsium arvense. Entomologia Generalis 30: 33-42.

Wilfert L, Kaib M, Durka W, Brandl R (2006) Differentiation between populations of a termite in eastern Africa: implications for biogeography. Journal of Biogeography33: 1993-2000 Reprint

Herrmann N, Weiss G, Durka W (2006) Biological flora of Central Europe: Muscari tenuiflorum TAUSCH. Flora 201: 81-101. Reprint

Anton C, Settele J, Durka W (2006) Nine polymorphic microsatellite loci for the parasitic wasp Neotypus melanocephalus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Molecular Ecology Notes 6: 399-401. Reprint

Gueth M, Durka W (2006) Identification of 10 microsatellite loci in the earwig Labidura riparia (Dermaptera, Labiduridae). Molecular Ecology Notes 6: 877-879. Reprint

Roß C, Durka W (2006) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the invasive shrub Mahonia aquifolium (Berberidaceae) and their applicability in related species. Molecular Ecology Notes 6:948-950. Reprint

Babik, W, Durka W, Radwan J (2005) Sequence diversity of the MHC DRB gene in the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). Molecular Ecology 14: 4249-4257. Reprint

Ducroz J-F, Stubbe M, Saveljev AP, Heidecke D, Samjaa R, Ulevicius A, Stubbe A, Durka W (2005) Genetic variation and population structure of the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber in Eastern Europe and Asia based on mtDNA sequences. Journal of Mammalogy86:1059-1067. Reprint

Durka W, Babik W, Ducroz J-F, Heidecke D, Rosell, Samjaa R, Saveljev AP, Stubbe A, Ulevicius A, Stubbe M (2005) Mitochondrial phylogeography of the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber L. Molecular Ecology 14: 3843-3856. Reprint

Durka W, Bossdorf O, Prati D, Auge H (2005) Molecular evidence for multiple introductions of invasive garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata, Brassicaceae) to North America. Molecular Ecology 14: 1697-1706. Reprint

Heilmeier H, Durka W, Woitke M, Hartung W (2005) Ephemeral pools as stressful and isolated habitats for the endemic aquatic resurrection plant Chamaegigas intrepidus. Phytocoenologia 35:449-468 Reprint

Michalski S, Gautschi B, Burkart M, Durka W (2005) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the rush Juncus atratus (Juncaceae). Conservation Genetics 7: 149-151. Reprint

Arens P, Durka W, Wernke-Lenting JW, Smulders MJM (2004) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Geum urbanum (Rosaceae) and their transferability within the genus Geum. Molecular Ecology Notes 4:209-212. Reprint

Durka W, Bossdorf O, Gautschi B (2004) Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the invasive Alliaria petiolata (Brassicaceae). Molecular Ecology Notes 4:173-175. Reprint

Hänfling B, Durka W, Brandl R (2004) Impact of habitat fragmentation on genetic population structure of roach, Rutilus rutilus, in a riparian ecosystem. Conservation Genetics 5:247-257Reprint

Kaib M, Jmhasly P, Wilfert L, Durka W, Franke S, Francke W, Leuthold RH, Brandl R (2004) Cuticular hydrocarbons and aggression in the termite Macrotermes subhyalinus. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 30:365-385. Reprint

Schweiger O, Frenzel M, Durka W (2004) Spatial genetic and morphological structure in a metapopulation of the land snail Cepaea nemoralis (Gastropoda: Helicidae) in a fragmented landscape. Molecular Ecology, 13: 3645-3655. Reprint

Solé M, Durka W, Eber S, Brandl R (2004) Genotypic and genetic diversity of the common weed Cirsium arvense (Asteraceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences, 165, 437-444. Reprint

Durka W (1999) Genetic diversity in peripheral and subcentral populations of Corrigiola litoralis L. (Illecebraceae). Heredity 83:476-484. Reprint

- - - - - - - - Plant traits and macroecological patterns

Michalski SG, Durka W (2010). Pollen and ovule production in wind-pollinated species with special reference to Juncus. Plant Systematics and Evolution 286:191-197. Reprint

Küster EC, Durka W, Kühn I, Klotz S (2010). Differences in the trait compositions of non-indigenous and native plants across Germany. Biological Invasions 12: 2001-2012. Reprint

Zhu, Y, Siegwolf, RTW, Durka W and Körner C (2010) Phylogenetically balanced evidence for structural and carbon isotope responses in plants along elevational gradients. Oecologia 162: 853-863. Reprint

Michalski SG, Durka W (2009) Pollination mode and life form strongly affect the relation between mating system and pollen to ovule ratios. New Phytologist 183: 470-479. Reprint

Kühn I, Nobis MP, Durka W (2009) Combining spatial and phylogenetic eigenvector filtering in trait analyses. Global Ecology and Biogeography18:745-758.Reprint

Schweiger O, Klotz S, Durka W, Kühn I (2008) A test of phylogenetic diversity indices. Oecologia 157: 485-495. Reprint

Götzenberger L, Durka W, Kühn I, and Klotz S (2007) The relationship of pollen-ovule ratio and seed size - another test of a sex allocation hypothesis. Evolutionary Ecology Research 9: 1145-1161. Reprint

Götzenberger L, Durka W, Kühn I, and Klotz S (2006) The relationship of pollen-ovule ratio and seed size - a comparative test of a sex allocation hypothesis. Evolutionary Ecology Research 8:1101-1116 Reprint

Kühn I, Biermann S, Durka W and Klotz S (2006) Relating geographical variation in pollination types to environmental and spatial factors using novel statistical methods. New Phytologist 172:127-139. Reprint

Prinzing A, Durka W, Klotz S, Brandl R (2005) How to characterize and predict alien species? A response to Pysek et al. (2004) Diversity and Distributions11:121-123 Reprint

Prinzing A, Ozinga WA, Durka W (2004) The relationship between the global and regional distribution of species changes during phylogeny. Evolution 58:2622-2633. Reprint

Kühn I, Durka W, and Klotz S (2004) BiolFlor - a new plant-trait database as a tool for plant invasion ecology. Diversity & Distributions 10:363-365. Reprint

Brändle M, Durka W Krug H, Brandl R (2003) The assembly of a local flora and fauna: Plants and birds in non-reclaimed mining sites. Ecography 26:652-660. Reprint

Maurer K, Durka W, Stöcklin J (2003) Frequency of plant species in remnants of calcareous grassland and their dispersal and persistence characteristics. Basic and Applied Ecology 4:307-316. Reprint

Prinzing A, Durka W, Klotz S, Brandl R (2002) Geographic variability of ecological niches of plant species: are competition and stress relevant? Ecography 25:721-729. Reprint

Prinzing A, Durka W, Klotz S, Brandl R (2002) Which species become aliens? Evolutionary Ecology Research 4:385-405. Reprint

Prinzing A, Durka W, Klotz S, Brandl R (2001) The niche of higher plants: evidence for phylogenetic conservatism. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 268:2383-2389. Reprint

Brändle M, Durka W, Altmoos M (2000) Biodiversity of surface dwelling beetles in open-cast lignite mines in Central Germany. Biodiversity and Conservation 9:1297-1311. Reprint

Ecosystem and isotope studies

Durka W, Giesemann A, Schulze ED, Jäger HJ (1999) Stable sulfur isotopes in forest spring waters from the Fichtelgebirge (Germany). Isot. Environ. Health Stud. 35:237-249. Reprint

Durka W, Schulze ED, Gebauer G, Voerkelius S (1994) Effects of forest decline on uptake and leaching of deposited nitrate determined from 15N and 18O measurements. Nature 372:765-767. Reprint

Durka W (1994) Isotopenchemie des Nitrat, Nitrataustrag, Wasserchemie und Vegetation von Waldquellen im Fichtelgebirge (NO-Bayern). Bayreuther Forum Ökologie 11:1-197.

Non-Refereed Journals, Books, Book chapters etc.

Hahn T., Durka W. & T. Becker. (2007) Populationsgenetische Hinweise auf eine rezente Arealexpansion des mitteleuropäischen Endemiten Linum leonii. Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt. in press.

Wölleke J, Anders K, Durka W, Elmer M, Wanner M, Wiegleb G, (Hrsg.) (2007) Landschaft im Wandel. Natürliche und anthropogene Besiedlung der Niederlausitzer Bergbaufolgelandschaft. Shaker Verlag, Aachen, 297 S.

therein:
Güth M, Wiegleb G, Durka W (2007) Untersuchungen zur Populationsgenetik und Besiedlung der Niederlausitz am Beispiel des Sandohrwurmes Labidura riparia. In: Wöllecke J, Anders K, Durka W, Elmer M, Wanner M, Wiegleb G (eds) Landschaft im Wandel. Natürliche und anthropogene Besiedlung der Niederlausitzer Bergbaufolgelandschaft, pp. 145-160. Shaker Verlag, Aachen

Stark C, Durka W (2007) Der Beitrag von anthropogenen Habitaten für den Erhalt der genetischen Vielfalt: Fallstudie Händelwurz. In: Wöllecke J, Anders K, Durka W, Elmer M, Wanner M, Wiegleb G (eds) Landschaft im Wandel. Natürliche und anthropogene Besiedlung der Niederlausitzer Bergbaufolgelandschaft, pp. 161-179. Shaker Verlag, Aachen

Stark C, Güth M, Durka W (2007) Der Beitrag von anthropogenen Habitaten zur Erhaltung der genetischen Vielfalt von wildlebenden Tier- und Pflanzenpopulationen am Beispiel der Bergbaufolgelandschaft. In: Entwicklung der Biodiversität in der Bergbaufolgelandschaft im Gefüge von Ökologie und Sozioökonomie, BTUC-AR 2/2007 (eds. Bröring U, Wanner M), pp. 135-153. BTU Cottbus.

Güth M, Durka W, Mrzljak J (2006) Genetische Untersuchungen zur Populationsstruktur von Calathus erratus (Carabidae) in gestörten Offenlandbereichen der Niederlausitz. Mitteilungen der deutschen Gesellschaft für allgemeine und angewandte Entomologie 15: 107-112

Durka W, Woitke M, Hartung W, Hartung S, Heilmeier H (2004) Genetic diversity in Chamaegigas intrepidus (Scrophulariaceae). In: Breckle SW, Schweizer B, Fangmeier A (eds) Results of worldwide ecological studies. Proceedings of the 2nd Symposium of the A.F.W. Schimper-Foundation., pp. 257-265. Verlag Günther Heimbach, Stuttgart

Klotz S, Kühn I, Durka W (eds) (2002) BIOLFLOR - Eine Datenbank mit biologisch-ökologischen Merkmalen zur Flora von Deutschland, Schriftenreihe für Vegetationskunde Vol. 38; Bonn. BIOLFLOR

Therein:

Durka W (2002) Blüten- und Reproduktionsbiologie. In: Klotz S, Kühn I, Durka W (eds) BIOLFLOR - Eine Datenbank mit biologisch-ökologischen Merkmalen zur Flora von Deutschland, Schriftenreihe für Vegetationskunde Vol. 38, pp. 133-175. Bonn Reprint

Durka W (2002) Chromosomenzahlen, Ploidiestufen und DNA-Gehalte. In: Klotz S, Kühn I, Durka W (eds) BIOLFLOR - Eine Datenbank mit biologisch-ökologischen Merkmalen zur Flora von Deutschland, Schriftenreihe für Vegetationskunde Vol. 38, pp. 57-73. Bonn Reprint

Durka W (2002) Phylogenie der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands. In: Klotz S, Kühn I, Durka W (eds) BIOLFLOR - Eine Datenbank mit biologisch-ökologischen Merkmalen zur Flora von Deutschland, Schriftenreihe für Vegetationskunde Vol. 38, pp. 75-91. Bonn Reprint

Durka W (2000) Die Bedeutung der populationsgenetischen Struktur für den Artenschutz am Beispiel der Stromtalart Corrigiola litoralis L. Schriftenreihe für Vegetationskunde 32:61-71.

Durka W (1994) Isotopenchemie des Nitrat, Nitrataustrag, Wasserchemie und Vegetation von Waldquellen im Fichtelgebirge (NO-Bayern). Bayreuther Forum Ökologie 11:1-197.

Durka W, Ackermann W (1993) SORT - Ein Computerprogramm zur Bearbeitung von floristischen und faunistischen Artentabellen. Natur und Landschaft 68:16-21.

Durka W, Schulze ED (1992) Hydrochemie von Waldquellen des Fichtelgebirges. UWSF-Zeitschrift für Umweltchemie und Ökotoxikologie 4:217-226.

Reif A, Durka W, Hemp, Löblich-Ille K (1989) Die Bärwurz (Meum athamanticum Jacq.) im nördlichen Frankenwald - Ihre Vergesellschaftung, ihre Standorte sowie deren Bewirtschaftung und Erhalt. Berichte der Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Bayreuth XX:145-209

Software links for population genetic analyses

Arlequin among others, used for analysis of molecular variance AMOVA
FSTAT: basic genetic diversity parameters, F-statistics, HWE-tests, Mantel test
GDA: basic genetic diversity parameters, F-statistics,
Genepop: basic genetic diversity parameters, F-statistics, HWE-tests, Mantel test
GENETIX: basic genetic diversity parameters, F-statistics, HWE-tests, Mantel test
MSA: for microsatellite data: computes basic indices
SPAGeDi Spatial pattern analysis of genetic diversity
MEGA only for DNA sequences
DnaSP only for DNA sequences
PHYLIP Felsensteins´ world of programs