Survival specialist: Uncovering the morphological traits of a rare moss species threatened with extinction
- Beschreibung
Global change poses an increasing threat to species, some are survivors. This highlights the urgent need for effective conservation strategies, especially for those with poorly understood environmental requirements. The state of Baden-Württemberg bears a unique responsibility for the "Rotkäppchenmoos" (Schistidium spinosum H.H.Blom & Lüth), a critically endangered moss species first discovered in the Black Forest in 2002 and currently globally threatened with extinction according to the IUCN Red List. Our research group is working to better understand this species so that conservation can be based on real evidence, and your work on morphological traits will be one meaningful piece of that.
As part of this student research incubation, you will closely explore morphological traits under the microscope, generate image data, and statistically assess their variation. This moss species you will be working on is tiny, but its leaves and capsules carry a lot of information: shape, margin pattern, cell structure, costa, teeth, and more. You will be able to help us design which characteristics might tell a story about how this species survives in its unique environment, how to measure them, and why they matter.
Additionally, students will learn the basics of R, starting with data manipulation and visualisation, so you can clean up your own measurements and turn them into attractive figures. No previous experience with R or mosses is needed, just curiosity, patience for small things, and a bit of tidiness. Students will primarily be trained in the laboratory facilities of the museum, also using the available collections in-house.
"Extinction is the rule, survival is the exception." — Carl Sagan
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2026/2027 und Sommersemester 2027
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 12. bis 26.10.2026
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
16 Nov 2026 – 29 Jan 2027 for Wintersemester, Sommersemester could be an alternative option or continuation. Please note that the December dates are flexible, and we can arrange them accordingly! The project can be carried out either in blocks or continuously throughout its duration.
This project includes the preparation of microscopic slides, image processing, data management, and statistical analysis of results. These results will be interpreted in a broader ecological context. Students will primarily be trained in the laboratory facilities of the Natural History Museum Stuttgart, also using the available collections in-house. Under the supervision of Nopparat Anantaprayoon (PhD candidate) and Dr. Thomas Kiebacher (PI)
- Studienfach
-
Agrarbiologie
Agrarwissenschaften
Biologie
Biologie - Lehramt
Crop Sciences
Landscape Ecology - Betreuende
- Margaret Eppli, Dr. Ann-Catrin Fender, Joanna Costello
- Institut
- Institut für Biologie (190) (KomBioTa (101))
- Sprache
- englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 2
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 180 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 6
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist kein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
- Design and measure leaf characteristics using microscopic techniques and image processing
- Analyse variation in leaf characteristics using appropriate statistical methods in the R environment
- Interpret the results with a biological and ecological background
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
No requirement for prior knowledge or experience. Our research group is looking for students who are curious, neat and tidy, eager to learn, and able to work in a structured and organised environment. Guidance and support will be provided throughout the project.
- Schlagworte
- Bryophytes, Conservation, Image processing, morphology, Morphometry