Astrid T. Groot How Is Genetic Variance Maintained Through Sexual Selection?
Astrid T. Groot is Group Leader for Population Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. In addition, she is also Associate Professor of Chemical Communication at the University of Amsterdam and Research Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University. Her current research interests include the evolution of chemical communications, such as signal and response coevolution. She is on the editorial board of Biology Letters and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
Area of Research
Entomology
since 2007
Group Leader 'Population Genetics'
Max Planck Society (more details)
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
since 2011
Associate Professor of Chemical Communication
University of Amsterdam
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics
since 2005
Research Assistant Professor
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology
2004-2005
Researcher
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology
2001-2004
Post-doctoral Researcher
North Carolina State University
2001-2001
Post-doctoral Researcher
University of Wageningen
2000
PhD in Entomology
University of Wageningen
1994
MSc in Biology
University of Amsterdam
- Current Biology
- PNAS
- BMC Genomics
- Molecular Ecology
- Evolution
- Journal of Evolutionary Biology
- Ecology and Evolution
- Journal of Chemical Ecology
- Ecological Entomology
- Environmental Entomology
- Journal of Insect Physiology
- Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
- Annals of the Entomological Society of America
- Biology Letters
- Plos ONE
- International Society of Chemical Ecology
- European Society for Evolutionary Biology
- Society for the Study of Evolution
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Dutch Society of Entomology
- Dutch Society of Biology
- Dutch Society for Behavioral Biology
Fellowships
- Carolina MacGillavry Fellowship for Associate Professorship (2011)
© Maximilian Dörrbecker
Max Planck Society
"The Max Planck Society is Germany's most successful research organization. Since its establishment in 1948, no fewer than 18 Nobel laureates have emerged from the ranks of its scientists, putting it on a par with the best and most prestigious research institutions worldwide. The more than 15,000 publications each year in internationally renowned scientific journals are proof of the outstanding research work conducted at Max Planck Institutes – and many of those articles are among the most-cited publications in the relevant field." (Source)
Institute
Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
"The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena investigates the role, diversity and characteristics of chemical signals which control the interactions between organisms and their environment. Scientists from the fields of ecology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, entomology, ethology, and insect physiology work closely together in the Institute in order to understand the complex system of chemical communication. Their research focuses on the co-evolution of plants and insects. The fact that plants usually spend their entire lives in one place forces them to use effective strategies to guarantee that their offspring are spread and also to protect themselves against pests and diseases. To this effect, plants have developed a wide range of chemical signalling compounds that enable them to optimise their adaptation to their respective environments. These so-called allelochemicals are used to, among other things, attract pollinators, fend off herbivores and pests, fight diseases and keep unwelcome competitors away. Plants also synthesise mixtures of many organic substances that have a deterrent or toxic effect on herbivores. As a countermeasure, insects that feed on plants adapt accordingly and, for their part, try to overcome plant defences." (Source)
Map
How does sexual selection contribute to biodiversity on earth? ASTRID T. GROOT investigates this question using the example of moths. As she explains in this video, in many species, including moths, the most common individuals are chosen as mates and the ones that deviate away from the mean are selected against. Following this principle, you would expect less and less variation but this is not the case. Thus, her research team examines how genetic variance is maintained. They analyzed the mechanism underlying signal variation and response variation and questioned the general assumption that the average is always chosen over the extremes. After detailed behavioral analysis in the laboratory and the field they found that the signaling itself changes and that, indeed, the most common individuals are not always chosen. These findings add to a better understanding of how sexual selection and its evolution might drive diversity.
LT Video Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.21036/LTPUB10573
Proximity of Signallers Can Maintain Sexual Signal Variation Under Stabilizing Selection
- Michiel van Wijk, Jeremy Heath, Rik Lievers, Coby Schal and Astrid T. Groot
- Scientific Reports
- Published in 2017
Experimental Evidence for Chemical Mate Guarding in a Moth
- Seyed Ali Hosseini, Michiel Van Wijk, Gao Ke, Seyed Hossein Goldansaz, Coby Schal and Astrid T. Groot
- Scientific Reports
- Published in 2016
Genetic Mapping of Male Pheromone Response in the European Corn Borer Identifies Candidate Genes Regulating Neurogenesis
- Fotini A. Koutroumpa, Astrid T. Groot, Teun Dekker and David G. Heckel
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Published in 2016
