The impact of heavy metal pollution on fitness-related characters in snails and its implications for the population genetic structure and genetic diversity (FWO. Vis. Fellowship, Joris KOENE, Nederland) 01/12/2008 - 30/11/2009

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  • Research Project

Sexual selection in hermaphroditic land snails (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Succineidae). 01/10/2006 - 30/09/2009

Abstract

This project uses the land snail Succinea putris to test several recent hypotheses on sexual selection and sperm-trading in hermaphroditic animals: 1) individuals assess the quality of their partner even during copulation, 2) individuals change the physiology of their partner to enhance their fertilization chances, 3) individuals allocate more to male structures at higher population densities and 4) reciprocal sperm-transfer not necessarily implements reciprocal fertilization.

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  • Research Project

The biological effects of metal contamination on organisms, at the individual level and at the population level. 01/01/2006 - 31/12/2009

Abstract

To study the biological effects of metal contamination on organisms, at the individual level and at the population level: does pollution affect fitness-related characters in snails and isopods? To what extent does the pollution with metals affect the population genetic structure and genetic diversity in the different invertebrate taxa and species?

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    • Research Project

    Mating conflicts in the hermaphroditic land snail Succinea putris (Gastropoda, Pulmonata). 01/10/2005 - 31/12/2007

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    • Research Project

    Sexual selection in hermaphroditic animals: an example of the land snail Succinea putris (Mollusca, Pulmonata, Gastropoda). 01/05/2005 - 30/04/2009

    Abstract

    This project uses the land snail Succinea putris to test several recent hypotheses on sexual selection and sperm-trading in hermaphroditic animals: 1) individuals assess the quality of their partner even during copulation, 2) individuals change the physiology of their partner to enhance their fertilization chances, 3) individuals allocate more to male structures at higher population densities and 4) reciprocal sperm-transfer not necessarily implements reciprocal fertilization.

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    • Research Project

    Phylogeography of hermaphroditc terrestrial snails in Europe (Mollusca, Gastropoda). 01/05/2002 - 30/04/2004

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    • Research Project

    RAFO-equipment fund: grant for the acquisition of two climate chambers. 01/04/2002 - 31/12/2002

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      • Research Project

      Genetical and ecological influences on phenotypic plasticy for phally polymorfism in the land slug Deroceras laeve (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Stylommatophora) 01/10/2001 - 31/12/2002

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        • Research Project

        Systematics, phylogeography and population genetics of introduced and autochtonous populations of the hermaphroditic land slug Arion subfuscus (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pulmonata). 01/01/2001 - 31/12/2002

        Abstract

        The hermaphroditic land slug Arion subfuscus is a complex of several taxa, some of which are serious pest species. This project aims at delimiting the systematic status of, and assessing the phylogenetic relationships among, these entities using molecular and morphometric techniques. This species has also been introduced by men into Central-Asia, North-America and Venezuela. These introductions are well documented and offer opportunities to study fundamental evolutionary processes such as speciation and adaptive radiation.

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          • Research Project

          Ecological and genetical determinants of phally-polymorfism in land gastropods 01/05/2000 - 30/04/2002

          Abstract

          Hermaphroditic animals are able to rperoduce by outcrossing as well as uniparentally. The evolutionary meaning of several reproductive methods is far from clear although the reproductive mode has a strong influence on how genetic variation is created, maintained and structured. In this project we investigate the evolutionary meaning of differrent reproductive methods in a pulmonate, hermaphroditic land gastropod.

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            • Research Project

            The genetical and environmental determination of phally polymorphism in hermaphroditic land gastropods (Stylommatophora). 01/10/1999 - 30/09/2000

            Abstract

            The evolution and maintenance of sexual polymorphisms is well-studied in plants but studies on animals are scarce. In this project, I investigate the evolution and maintenance of a polymorphism in the male genitalia (phally polymorphism) in hermaphroditic land snails using genetic markers (allozymes, random amplified polymorphic DNA, DNA-sequencing) and behavioural experiments.

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              • Research Project

              Genetic differentiation in uniparental terrestrial slugs (Stylommatophora). 01/10/1999 - 31/12/1999

              Abstract

              In this project, I will investigate the taxonomy of two land gastropod species complexes, Carinarion spp. and Arion intermedius and study the evolutionary significance of the interaction between self- and cross-fertilization in the colonizing capacity, the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships among populations and genetic strains, the genetic differentiation and the genetical/morphological diversity in both complexes.

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                • Research Project