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Weronika A. Vörös

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Plant Ecology work group

Research focus

„The use of herbarium specimen to track spatio-temporal changes in genetic diversity, fitness and phenology of endangered plant species in Saxony-Anhalt”

The potential of the genetic population of plants, and thus their ability to adapt to changing climatic conditions, depends on the genetic diversity of the species in a given area. Decreasing genetic diversity (as a result of recent anthropogenic activities) can lead to inbreeding depression. The aim of my research project is to investigate spatio-temporal changes in genetic diversity, fitness and phenology of endangered plant species. The target species for the study should be characterized by various features, such as habitat (dry, wood, aquatic), life model (annual, perennial) and distribution (decline, extinct, rare). All pre-selected species have biogeographically important populations in Saxony-Anhalt. The investigation of genetic diversity of the herbarium specimen and fresh collected plant samples will be combinated with common garden experiments.

Education

Since 11/2021

PhD student at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

PhD thesis: „The use of herbarium specimen to track spatio-temporal changes in genetic diversity, fitness and phenology of endangered plant species in Saxony-Anhalt”

Supervisors: PD. Dr. Marcus Lehnert, Prof. Dr. Isabell Hensen, Dr. Sabrina Träger, Dr. Christoph Rosche

10/2018 – 09/2021

Master of Science (Biology), TU Dresden

Master Thesis: “Luronium natans (L.) Raf. - Investigation of the genetic diversity of Saxon populations and experiments on winter root growth of the endangered species”

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stefan Wanke, PD Dr. Christiane Ritz

10/2015 - 09/2018

Bachelor of Science (Biology), TU Dresden

Bachelor Thesis: "Anatomy, chemistry and biomechanics of the Grevillea fruit"

Supervisors: Dr. Thea Lautenschläger

Publications

Vörös, W. A., Hensen, I., Träger, S., Rosche, C., Müller, J., Römermann, C., ... & Lehnert, M. (2025). From Herbarium Specimens to Contemporary Surveys: Tracing the Extinction Dynamics and Performance of Endangered Plant Species in Central Germany. Flora 323, 152664. doi: 10.1016/j.flora.2024.152664

Makuch, W. A., Wanke, S., Ditsch, B., Richter, F., Herklotz, V., Ahlborn, J., & Ritz, C.M. (2023). Population genetics and plant growth experiments as prerequisite for conservation measures of the rare European aquatic plant Luronium natans (Alismataceae). Frontiers in Plant Science. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1069842

Awards

Oscar Drude-Preis 2024. Award for outstanding work on flora of Saxony.

Conference contributions

Vörös, W. A., Hensen, I., Durka, W., Römermann, C., Södje, D., Müller, J., Träger, S., Rosche, C., & Lehnert, M. (2024). Unraveling the Local Decline in Antennaria dioica Populations through Herbarium Specimens: The Role of Genetic Diversity, Sex Ratios, and Environmental Factors. iDiv Annual Conference 2024, Leipzig, Germany, 13.-15.11.2024 (Talk)

Vörös, W. A., Hensen I., Träger, S., Rosche, C., Müller, J., Römermann, C., Baasch, A. & Lehnert, M. (2024). From Herbarium Specimens to Contemporary Surveys: Tracing the Extinction Dynamics and Performance of Endangered Plant Species in Central Germany. 6^th European Conservation Genetics Meeting 2024. Lausanne, Switzerland. 28.-30.08.2024 (Poster)

Makuch, W.A., Hensen I., Träger, S., Rosche, C., Müller, J., Römermann, C. & Lehnert, M. (2023). Tracking changes in genetic diversity of endangered plant species using herbarium specimens. 52nd Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ), Leipzig, Germany, 12.-16.09.2023 (Poster)

Makuch, W.A., Hensen I., Träger, S., Rosche, C., Müller, J., Römermann, C. & Lehnert, M. (2023). The use of herbarium specimen to track spatio-temporal changes in genetic diversity, fitness and phenology of endangered plant species in Saxony-Anhalt. 35th Conference of the Plant Population Biology, Section of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ), PopBio 2023. University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, 11-13.05.2023 (Poster)

Makuch, W.A. (2022). Genetische Untersuchungen und Wurzelwachstumsexperimente zum Froschkraut (Luronium natans). 67. Fachtagung Arbeitsgemeinschaft Sächsischer Botaniker. Dahlener Heide, Germany, 8-10.06.2022 (Talk)

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