Evolutionary Biomaterials Group
pditschekuruFoto Petra Ditsche-Kuru

1989 – 1991, studies at the University of Düsseldorf, Germany; 1991 – 1994, studies at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany; 1994, diploma in biology; 2006 – 2009, PhD in biology-zoology from the Nees-Institut for Plant Biodiversity of the University in Bonn, Germany

Contact: phone: +49 431 8804517, e-mail:pditschekuru@zoologie.uni-kiel.de

 

Scientific career:

1995 – 1999, responsible for catchment area and water protection at the Thueringian Reservoir Administration; 1999 – 2005, freelance work in limnology, water protection and catchment area; 2006 – 2009, researcher, Nees-Institute of the University of Bonn, working group “Biological Interfaces and Biomimetics”; 2–4/2008, visiting researcher at Max-Planck-Institute for Metals Research, Evolutionary Biomaterials Group (Stuttgart, Germany); 2009 – 2010, postdoc, coordination of the BMBF BIONA-Project “Air retaining surfaces for drag reduction” and of the working group “Biological Interfaces and Biomimetics” at the Nees-Institute for Plant Biodiversity of the University of Bonn; 2011 –, postdoc at the Zoological Institute, Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel, Germany

Projects:

Adaptations to current of running water mayflies (upper figure)

Attachment devices of aquatic insects (middle figure)

Air-retaining surfaces of plants and animals (lower figure)

Influence of the surface structure on the settlement of Dreissena polymorpha

 

Research interests:

Adaptations to current of running water insects in general; biomechanics of the attachment devices of aquatic macroinvertebrates; drag reduction through air retaining surfaces; antifouling in fresh water systems; functionality of the surface structure of aquatic macroinvertebrates.

Publications:

  • Ditsche-Kuru, P. & Koop, J. (2009): Morphologische Anpassungen von Heptageniiden-Larven (Ephemeroptera) in Abhängigkeit von der Strömungsgeschwindigkeit im Habitat. In: Erweiterte Zusammenfassung der DGL-Jahrestagung 2008, Konstanz, ISBN 978-3-9802188-8-7, pp. 282-286.

  • Ditsche-Kuru, P. & Koop J.H.E. (2009): New insights in a life in current: Do the gill lamellae of Epeorus assimilis and Iron alpicola larvae (Heptageniidae) function as a sucker or as friction pads? In: International Perspectives in Mayfly and Stonefly Research. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Ephemeroptera and the 16th International Symposium on Plecoptera, Stuttgart 2008, ed. A.H. Staniczek. Aquatic Insects 31 (1):495-506.

  • Mewes, D., Gorb, S., Koop, J.H. E. & Ditsche-Kuru, P. (2010): Antifouling im Süßwasser: Möglichkeiten der Reduktion des Bewuchses mit Dreissena polymorpha durch Einsatz strukturierter Oberflächen. In: Erweiterte Zusammenfassung der DGL-Jahrestagung 2009, Oldenburg, ISBN 978-3-9802188-9-4, pp.256-260.

  • Ditsche-Kuru, P., Koop, J. H. E. & Gorb, S. N. (2010): Underwater attachment in current: the role of setose attachment structures on the gills of the mayfly Epeorus assimilis (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae). The Journal of Experimental Biology 213: 1950-1959.

  • Balmert, A. Bohn, H.F., Ditsche-Kuru, P. & Barthlott (2011). Dry under water: Comparative Morphology and Functional Aspects of Air-Retaining Insect Surfaces. Journal of Morphology doi: 10.1002/jmor.1021.

  • Ditsche-Kuru, P., Mayser, M., Schneider, E., Bohn, H., Koch, K., Melskotte, J.-E., Brede, M., Leder, A., Barczewski, Weis, A., Kaltenmaier, A., Walheim, S., Schimmel, Th. & Barthlott, W. (2011): Eine Lufthülle für Schiffe - Können Schwimmfarn und Rückenschwimmer helfen Sprit zu sparn? In: Bionik: Patente aus der Natur, Tagungsbeiträge des 5. Bionik-Kongresses der Hochschule Bremen, Oktober 2010. Eds. Kesel, A. B. & Zehren, D., ISBN 078-3-00-033467-2, pp. 159-165.

  • Ensikat, H.-J., Ditsche-Kuru, P. & Barthlott W. (2011). Scanning electron microscopy of plant surfaces: simple but sophisticated methods for preparation and examination. In: Microscopy: Science, Technology, Applications and Education, Vol. 1. Eds. by A. Mendez-Vliess & J. Diaz. Formatex Research Center, Badajoz, Spain. p. 248-255.

  • Masselter, T., Barthlott, W., Bauer, G. Bertling, J., Cichy, F., Ditsche-Kuru, P., Gallenmüller, F., Gude, M., Haushahn, T. Hermann, M., Immink, H., Knippers, J., Lienhard, J. Luchsinger, R., Lunz, K., Mattheck, C., Milwich, M., Mölders, N., Neinhuis, C., Nellesen, A., Rechberger, M. Schleicher, S., Schmitt, C., Schwager, H., Seidel, R., Speck, O., Stegmaier, T., Tesari, I., Thielen, M. & Speck, T. (2011). Biomimetic products. In: Bar-Cohen, Y. (ed.), Biomimetics – Nature Based Innovation, 377-429. CRC Press, Pasadena.

  • Ensikat, H.-J., Ditsche-Kuru P., Neinhuis, C. & Barthlott W. (2011). Superhydrophobicity in Perfection: the outstanding Properties of the Lotus Leaf. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology 2: 152–161. doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.19.

  • Ditsche-Kuru P., Schneider, E., Melskotte, J.-E., Brede, M., Leder, A. & Barthlott W. (2011). Superhydrophobic surfaces of the water bug Notonecta glauca: A model for friction reduction and air retention. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology 2: 137–144. doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.17

  • Ditsche-Kuru P., Barthlott W. & Koop, J. H. E. (in press). Which surface roughness is critical for the ability of the claw to cling? - Investigation of the running water mayfly larvae Epeorus assimilis (Heptageniidae, Ephemeroptera). Zoology.