Urbanization’s pheromonal blind spot: A sensory crisis for animal communication
Urbanization poses a silent threat to biodiversity by disrupting the chemical signals essential for reproduction. We investigate this „pheromonal blind spot“ using the cross spider, Araneus diadematus, as a biomonitor. Its web acts as a natural air filter, and by consuming it daily, the spider provides a direct link between airborne pollutants and their systemic physiological impact.
This project aims to mechanistically link urban stressors to reproductive fitness. We address critical questions: Do ingested pollutants alter pheromone biosynthesis in females? How do pollutants and the urban heat island effect degrade the signal’s structure and longevity on the web? And is the chemosensory reception in males impaired?
Our approach combines comparative field studies across an urban-rural gradient with advanced metabolomics. This allows us to analyze how specific contaminants disrupt the entire pheromonal communication pathway, from signal production to reception.
We are seeking students (BSc, MSc) to contribute to research in urban chemical ecology.
Animal Metabolomics & Ecology 