- Studying
- Research
- University
- Online Services
We investigate plankton communities and food webs in field, laboratory and model studies to contribute to ecological theory building and to the solution of pressing ecological problems such as the consequences of biodiversity loss.
A core area of my research is the interplay between the dynamics of ecological systems and their functional diversity, which determines their adaptability to changing environmental conditions. I lead the DFG priority programme DynaTrait (SPP 1704).
In this priority programme, we are primarily investigating plankton systems in which numerous predator and prey species can mutually adapt to each other. This influences their biomass dynamics and the maintenance of their functional biodiversity. In addition, interesting feedback loops are created between the dynamics in the biomasses and the functional properties of the individual populations. Within the priority programme DynaTrait, our research group is involved in four subprojects (2, 3, 7 & 9), each of which illuminates complementary aspects of this topic.
We combine different process-oriented mathematical modelling approaches with the analysis of field data from Lake Constance and chemostat experiments. The latter are mainly carried out by our cooperation partners within the priority programme. If we consider variability in functional properties within populations and communities not as noise, but as their inherent property, we can much better understand the biodiversity and dynamics observed in natural and experimental systems.
In addition, we conduct quantitative studies of complex food webs and the ecological processes involved that influence the dynamics of species-rich communities. This is done on the basis of extensive long-term measurements, especially of Lake Constance, and various models. More information can be found in the research portfolio of our working group.
Campus Botanischer Garten
University of Potsdam
Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling
Maulbeerallee 2, building 2, room 2.04
14476 Potsdam
My complete publication list on Google scholar and my profile on Research Gate.
Access publications in Arch. Hydrobiol. Spec. Issues: Advances in Limnology 53:
Gaedke, U., D. Ollinger, E. Bäuerle and D. Straile (1998) The impact of weather conditions on the seasonal plankton development. Arch. Hydrobiol. Spec. Issues: Advances in Limnology 53: 565-585. Pdf full-text
Gaedke, U. and T. Weisse (1998) Seasonal and interannual variability of picocyanobacteria in Lake Constance (1987-1996) Arch. Hydrobiol. Spec. Issues: Advances in Limnology 53: 143-158. Pdf full-text
Gaedke, U. and D. Straile (1998) Daphnids: Keystone species for the pelagic food web structure and energy flow - A body size related analysis linking seasonal changes on the population and ecosystem level. Arch. Hydrobiol. Spec. Issues: Advances in Limnology 53: 587-610. Pdf full-text
Gaedke, U. (1998 b) The response of the pelagic community of a large and deep lake (L. Constance) to reoligotrophication: Evidence for scale-dependent hierarchical patterns. Arch. Hydrobiol. Spec. Issues: Advances in Limnology 53: 317-333. Pdf full-text
Gaedke, U. (1998 a) Functional and taxonomical properties of the phytoplankton community: Interannual variability and response to re-oligotrophication. Arch. Hydrobiol. Spec. Issues: Advances in Limnology 53: 119-141. Pdf full-text
Häse, C., U. Gaedke, B. Beese, A. Seifried and M. Tilzer (1998) Phytoplankton response to reoligotrophication in large and deep Lake Constance: Photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll concentration. Arch. Hydrobiol. Spec. Issues: Advances in Limnology 53: 159-178. Pdf full-text
Ruiter, P. C. de, and U. Gaedke (2017) Emergent facilitation promotes biological diversity in pelagic food webs. Food Webs (in press).
Coutinho, R., T. Klauschies, and U. Gaedke (2016) Bimodal trait distributions with large variances question the reliability of trait-based aggregate models. Theoretical Ecology, 6: 4141-4159 DOI 10.1007/s12080-016-0297-9.
Klauschies, T., D. A. Vasseur, and U. Gaedke (2016) Trait adaptation promotes species coexistence in diverse predator and prey communities. Ecology and Evolution, 9: 389-408 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2172.
Boit, A., N.D. Martinez, R. J. Williams, U. Gaedke (2012) Mechanistic theory and modeling of complex food web dynamics in Lake Constance. Ecol. Lett., 15:594-602
Massie, T. M., B. Blasius, G. Weithoff, U. Gaedke, and G. Fussmann (2010) Cycles, phase synchronization and entrainment in single-species phytoplankton populations. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (PNAS) 107: 4236-4241
Tittel, J., V. Bissinger, B. Zippel, U. Gaedke, E. M. Bell, A. Lorke & N. Kamjunke (2003) Mixotrophs combine resource use to out-compete specialists: implications for aquatic food webs. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (PNAS) 100: 12776-12781
Gaedke, U., S. Hochstädter, and D. Straile (2002) Interplay between energy limitation and nutritional deficiency: Empirical data and food web models. Ecological Monographs 72: 251-270
Hairston, N. G., Jr, W. Lampert, C. E. Cáceres, C. L. Holtmeier, L. J. Weider, U. Gaedke, J. M. Fischer, J. A. Fox & D. M. Post (1999) Lake ecosystems: Rapid evolution revealed by dormant eggs. Nature 401: 446