Inhaltsverzeichnis ¶
Offene Masterarbeiten ¶
(Master thesis - 6 Monate)
Title: Changes of the composition of Phytophthora communities along an altitudinal gradient in the Alps
Supervisor: Simone Prospero (simone.prospero(at)wsl.ch)
Start: open
Language: German and English
Description of the project: The oomycete genus Phytophthora includes some of the most famous and severe pathogens in natural and semi-natural forest ecosystems. Phytophthora species are widespread, relatively abundant, very diverse, and poorly understood in many relatively undisturbed forest ecosystems. The aim of this study is to characterize Phytophthora communities along altitudinal gradients in the Swiss Alps. For this, samples will be taken in the soil and in rivers/streams to compare species distribution in the two substrates. At each sampling site, the local vegetation will also be assessed. In the laboratory, Phytophthora will be isolated from the collected samples and identified to species by Sanger sequencing of ITS. Phytophthora communities will then be characterized and compared among substrates and altitudes.
Title: Temporal dynamics of Armillaria populations in the Swiss Alps
Supervisor: Simone Prospero (simone.prospero(at)wsl.ch)
Start: open
Language: German and English
Description of the project: The basidiomycete genus Armillaria has a worldwide distribution and plays a central role in the dynamics of numerous woody ecosystems, including natural forests, tree plantations, orchards, vineyards, and gardens. All Armillaria species are capable of degrading dead woody substrates causing white rot and some species exhibit a parasitic ability and can be considered as facultative necrotrophs. In Switzerland, the preferentially saprotroph A. cepistipes is the most common species in coniferous stands where it frequently co-occurs with the pathogenic species A. ostoyae. Twenty years ago, we characterized the structure (number and distribution of genotypes) of three populations of both species in the southern Swiss Alps. This project aims at resampling the same three populations and assess eventual temporal changes in their composition. Activities include rhizomorph sampling in the field, Armillaria isolation, DNA extraction and microsatellite genotyping.
Offene Bachelorarbeiten ¶
(Bachelor thesis - 3 Monate)
Im Moment sind keine BA-Arbeiten offen.
Offene Semesterarbeiten ¶
(3-monatige Projektarbeit)
Im Moment sind keine Semesterarbeiten offen.