The natural ecology of Caenorhabditis nematodes and associated microbes

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is one of the best studied model organisms under lab conditions; however its life history in nature is still only poorly understood. Recent studies, especially those by Marie-Anne Félix (Paris, France), highlighted that C. elegans shows a worldwide distribution, particularly in temperate regions, that it feeds on microorganisms found on rotting fruits (e.g. apple) or other vegetal matter, and that it associates with certain invertebrates (e.g. snail and isopods). The aim of our work is to characterize in detail the natural ecology of C. elegans and possibly related nematodes, including identification of microhabitat preferences in consideration of both biotic and abiotic parameters. In this context, we will specifically address the importance of the associated microbiota and also host-pathogen interactions as driving forces in nematode evolution and population biology. Together with our collaborators Jan Kammenga, Basten Snoek (both Wageningen), Bart Braeckman (Ghent, Belgium), and Marie-Anne Félix (Paris, France), we will furthermore study the molecular architecture of natural variation of C. elegans life history traits, including those related to pathogens. Our work will be based on a combination of different research methods, including morphological, microscopic, molecular genetic, microbiological and also ecological approaches.

Involved people: Philipp Dirksen, Carola Petersen, Vienna Kowallik, Fabian Peters, Hinrich Schulenburg

Collaborators: Jan Kammenga, Basten Snoek (both Wageningen, NL), Bart Braeckman (Ghent, Belgium), Marie-Anne Félix (Paris, France), Philip Rosenstiel (ICMB, Kiel)

Funding: European Science Foundation (ESF) - Eurocores programme on Evolutionary and Ecological Functional Genomics (EEFG); specific funding through the German Science Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG; project SCHU 1415/11-1)