@article{SchleuningFarwigPetersetal.2011, author = {Schleuning, Matthias and Farwig, Nina and Peters, Marcell K. and Bergsdorf, Thomas and Bleher, B{\"a}rbel and Brandl, Roland and Dalitz, Helmut and Fischer, Georg and Freund, Wolfram and Gikungu, Mary W. and Hagen, Melanie and Garcia, Francisco Hita and Kagezi, Godfrey H. and Kaib, Manfred and Kraemer, Manfred and Lung, Tobias and Naumann, Clas M. and Schaab, Gertrud and Templin, Mathias and Uster, Dana and W{\"a}gele, J. Wolfgang and B{\"o}hning-Gaese, Katrin}, title = {Forest Fragmentation and Selective Logging Have Inconsistent Effects on Multiple Animal-Mediated Ecosystem Processes in a Tropical Forest}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {6}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {11}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0027785}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-140093}, pages = {e27785}, year = {2011}, abstract = {Forest fragmentation and selective logging are two main drivers of global environmental change and modify biodiversity and environmental conditions in many tropical forests. The consequences of these changes for the functioning of tropical forest ecosystems have rarely been explored in a comprehensive approach. In a Kenyan rainforest, we studied six animal-mediated ecosystem processes and recorded species richness and community composition of all animal taxa involved in these processes. We used linear models and a formal meta-analysis to test whether forest fragmentation and selective logging affected ecosystem processes and biodiversity and used structural equation models to disentangle direct from biodiversity-related indirect effects of human disturbance on multiple ecosystem processes. Fragmentation increased decomposition and reduced antbird predation, while selective logging consistently increased pollination, seed dispersal and army-ant raiding. Fragmentation modified species richness or community composition of five taxa, whereas selective logging did not affect any component of biodiversity. Changes in the abundance of functionally important species were related to lower predation by antbirds and higher decomposition rates in small forest fragments. The positive effects of selective logging on bee pollination, bird seed dispersal and army-ant raiding were direct, i.e. not related to changes in biodiversity, and were probably due to behavioural changes of these highly mobile animal taxa. We conclude that animal-mediated ecosystem processes respond in distinct ways to different types of human disturbance in Kakamega Forest. Our findings suggest that forest fragmentation affects ecosystem processes indirectly by changes in biodiversity, whereas selective logging influences processes directly by modifying local environmental conditions and resource distributions. The positive to neutral effects of selective logging on ecosystem processes show that the functionality of tropical forests can be maintained in moderately disturbed forest fragments. Conservation concepts for tropical forests should thus include not only remaining pristine forests but also functionally viable forest remnants.}, language = {en} } @article{BeckEhmannAndlaueretal.2015, author = {Beck, Katherina and Ehmann, Nadine and Andlauer, Till F. M. and Ljaschenko, Dmitrij and Strecker, Katrin and Fischer, Matthias and Kittel, Robert J. and Raabe, Thomas}, title = {Loss of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome-associated gene RSK2 alters ERK activity, synaptic function and axonal transport in Drosophila motoneurons}, series = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms}, volume = {8}, journal = {Disease Models \& Mechanisms}, doi = {10.1242/dmm.021246}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-145185}, pages = {1389-1400}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Plastic changes in synaptic properties are considered as fundamental for adaptive behaviors. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-mediated signaling has been implicated in regulation of synaptic plasticity. Ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (RSK2) acts as a regulator and downstream effector of ERK. In the brain, RSK2 is predominantly expressed in regions required for learning and memory. Loss-of-function mutations in human RSK2 cause Coffin-Lowry syndrome, which is characterized by severe mental retardation and low IQ scores in affected males. Knockout of RSK2 in mice or the RSK ortholog in Drosophila results in a variety of learning and memory defects. However, overall brain structure in these animals is not affected, leaving open the question of the pathophysiological consequences. Using the fly neuromuscular system as a model for excitatory glutamatergic synapses, we show that removal of RSK function causes distinct defects in motoneurons and at the neuromuscular junction. Based on histochemical and electrophysiological analyses, we conclude that RSK is required for normal synaptic morphology and function. Furthermore, loss of RSK function interferes with ERK signaling at different levels. Elevated ERK activity was evident in the somata of motoneurons, whereas decreased ERK activity was observed in axons and the presynapse. In addition, we uncovered a novel function of RSK in anterograde axonal transport. Our results emphasize the importance of fine-tuning ERK activity in neuronal processes underlying higher brain functions. In this context, RSK acts as a modulator of ERK signaling.}, language = {en} } @article{PetersHempAppelhansetal.2016, author = {Peters, Marcell K. and Hemp, Andreas and Appelhans, Tim and Behler, Christina and Classen, Alice and Detsch, Florian and Ensslin, Andreas and Ferger, Stefan W. and Frederiksen, Sara B. and Gebert, Frederike and Haas, Michael and Helbig-Bonitz, Maria and Hemp, Claudia and Kindeketa, William J. and Mwangomo, Ephraim and Ngereza, Christine and Otte, Insa and R{\"o}der, Juliane and Rutten, Gemma and Costa, David Schellenberger and Tardanico, Joseph and Zancolli, Giulia and Deckert, J{\"u}rgen and Eardley, Connal D. and Peters, Ralph S. and R{\"o}del, Mark-Oliver and Schleuning, Matthias and Ssymank, Axel and Kakengi, Victor and Zhang, Jie and B{\"o}hning-Gaese, Katrin and Brandl, Roland and Kalko, Elisabeth K.V. and Kleyer, Michael and Nauss, Thomas and Tschapka, Marco and Fischer, Markus and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf}, title = {Predictors of elevational biodiversity gradients change from single taxa to the multi-taxa community level}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {7}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms13736}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-169374}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The factors determining gradients of biodiversity are a fundamental yet unresolved topic in ecology. While diversity gradients have been analysed for numerous single taxa, progress towards general explanatory models has been hampered by limitations in the phylogenetic coverage of past studies. By parallel sampling of 25 major plant and animal taxa along a 3.7 km elevational gradient on Mt. Kilimanjaro, we quantify cross-taxon consensus in diversity gradients and evaluate predictors of diversity from single taxa to a multi-taxa community level. While single taxa show complex distribution patterns and respond to different environmental factors, scaling up diversity to the community level leads to an unambiguous support for temperature as the main predictor of species richness in both plants and animals. Our findings illuminate the influence of taxonomic coverage for models of diversity gradients and point to the importance of temperature for diversification and species coexistence in plant and animal communities.}, language = {en} } @article{ZieglerMeyerOtteetal.2022, author = {Ziegler, Alice and Meyer, Hanna and Otte, Insa and Peters, Marcell K. and Appelhans, Tim and Behler, Christina and B{\"o}hning-Gaese, Katrin and Classen, Alice and Detsch, Florian and Deckert, J{\"u}rgen and Eardley, Connal D. and Ferger, Stefan W. and Fischer, Markus and Gebert, Friederike and Haas, Michael and Helbig-Bonitz, Maria and Hemp, Andreas and Hemp, Claudia and Kakengi, Victor and Mayr, Antonia V. and Ngereza, Christine and Reudenbach, Christoph and R{\"o}der, Juliane and Rutten, Gemma and Schellenberger Costa, David and Schleuning, Matthias and Ssymank, Axel and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf and Tardanico, Joseph and Tschapka, Marco and Vollst{\"a}dt, Maximilian G. R. and W{\"o}llauer, Stephan and Zhang, Jie and Brandl, Roland and Nauss, Thomas}, title = {Potential of airborne LiDAR derived vegetation structure for the prediction of animal species richness at Mount Kilimanjaro}, series = {Remote Sensing}, volume = {14}, journal = {Remote Sensing}, number = {3}, issn = {2072-4292}, doi = {10.3390/rs14030786}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-262251}, year = {2022}, abstract = {The monitoring of species and functional diversity is of increasing relevance for the development of strategies for the conservation and management of biodiversity. Therefore, reliable estimates of the performance of monitoring techniques across taxa become important. Using a unique dataset, this study investigates the potential of airborne LiDAR-derived variables characterizing vegetation structure as predictors for animal species richness at the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. To disentangle the structural LiDAR information from co-factors related to elevational vegetation zones, LiDAR-based models were compared to the predictive power of elevation models. 17 taxa and 4 feeding guilds were modeled and the standardized study design allowed for a comparison across the assemblages. Results show that most taxa (14) and feeding guilds (3) can be predicted best by elevation with normalized RMSE values but only for three of those taxa and two of those feeding guilds the difference to other models is significant. Generally, modeling performances between different models vary only slightly for each assemblage. For the remaining, structural information at most showed little additional contribution to the performance. In summary, LiDAR observations can be used for animal species prediction. However, the effort and cost of aerial surveys are not always in proportion with the prediction quality, especially when the species distribution follows zonal patterns, and elevation information yields similar results.}, language = {en} } @article{GrimmPelzSchneideretal.2020, author = {Grimm, Clemens and Pelz, Jann-Patrick and Schneider, Cornelius and Sch{\"a}ffler, Katrin and Fischer, Utz}, title = {Crystal Structure of a Variant PAM2 Motif of LARP4B Bound to the MLLE Domain of PABPC1}, series = {Biomolecules}, volume = {10}, journal = {Biomolecules}, number = {6}, issn = {2218-273X}, doi = {10.3390/biom10060872}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-207800}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Eukaryotic cells determine the protein output of their genetic program by regulating mRNA transcription, localization, translation and turnover rates. This regulation is accomplished by an ensemble of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that bind to any given mRNA, thus forming mRNPs. Poly(A) binding proteins (PABPs) are prominent members of virtually all mRNPs that possess poly(A) tails. They serve as multifunctional scaffolds, allowing the recruitment of diverse factors containing a poly(A)-interacting motif (PAM) into mRNPs. We present the crystal structure of the variant PAM motif (termed PAM2w) in the N-terminal part of the positive translation factor LARP4B, which binds to the MLLE domain of the poly(A) binding protein C1 cytoplasmic 1 (PABPC1). The structural analysis, along with mutational studies in vitro and in vivo, uncovered a new mode of interaction between PAM2 motifs and MLLE domains.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Fischer2023, author = {Fischer, Julia Katrin}, title = {Evaluation der Lebensqualit{\"a}t von Patienten mit Multiplem Myelom mittels standardisierter Frageb{\"o}gen der EORTC}, doi = {10.25972/OPUS-31662}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-316628}, school = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Im Rahmen dieser Studie wurde die Lebensqualit{\"a}t (QoL) von Patienten mit Multiplem Myelom zu verschiedenen Therapiezeitpunkten untersucht. Dabei erwies sich die erstmals im Rahmen einer Studie mit Myelompatienten angewandte Kombination aus PHQ-4, EORTC QLQ-C30 und dem spezifischen -MY20 Fragebogen als geeignetes Instrument zur validen Erfassung von {\"A}ngstlichkeit/Depressivit{\"a}t und Lebensqualit{\"a}t. Insgesamt sch{\"a}tzten Erstlinienpatienten, M{\"a}nner und j{\"u}ngere Patienten vor, w{\"a}hrend und nach der Therapie ihre Lebensqualit{\"a}t positiver ein, sodass insbesondere Rezidivpatienten, Frauen und {\"a}ltere Patienten von einer intensivierten therapiebegleitenden supportiven Betreuung profitieren k{\"o}nnten. Es sollte bei der Therapiewahl ber{\"u}cksichtigt werden, dass Erstlinienpatienten zum einen {\"u}ber eine insgesamt bessere allgemeine QoL und geringere Schmerzen als Rezidivpatienten berichteten und zum anderen es durch die systemische Therapie bei diesen zu einer weiteren Verbesserung kommen kann. Unabh{\"a}ngig hiervon korrelierte der ECOG-Status signifikant mit der QoL und sollte daher regelm{\"a}ßig erhoben werden. W{\"a}hrend der Therapie kam es bei Myelompatienten v.a. zu einer negativeren Wahrnehmung des eigenen K{\"o}rperbilds, einer Abnahme der kognitiven Funktion und einer Zunahme der Therapienebenwirkungen, sodass interdisziplin{\"a}re Behandlerteams neben einem optimalen Nebenwirkungsmanagement auch in der klinischen Routine noch nicht so fest etablierte Ressourcen ber{\"u}cksichtigen sollten, wie z.B. psychoedukative Interventionen, Entspannungsverfahren oder auch kognitives Training. Eine der wichtigsten Erkenntnisse der Studie war die signifikant reduzierte Lebensqualit{\"a}t bei Patienten mit vermehrter {\"A}ngstlichkeit/Depressivit{\"a}t, die die Notwendigkeit eines regelm{\"a}ßigen Screenings in der klinischen Routine aufzeigt, um Risikopatienten entsprechend zu identifizieren. Trotz der vermuteten Lebensqualit{\"a}tsbeeinflussung durch die intensivere, l{\"a}ngere Therapie, zeigten sich bei Tandemtransplantierten nicht mehr Lebensqualit{\"a}tsvariablen signifikant negativ beeinflusst als beim Gesamtkollektiv, sodass diese Beobachtung eine wertvolle Entscheidungshilfe f{\"u}r Patienten sein k{\"o}nnte, die aus Sorge vor einer reduzierten Lebensqualit{\"a}t transplantationsbasierten Konzepten zur{\"u}ckhaltend gegen{\"u}berstehen. Unter Ber{\"u}cksichtigung der o.g. Limitationen, konnte zus{\"a}tzlich eine deutliche positive Beeinflussung der Lebensqualit{\"a}t durch Teilnahme an klinischen Therapiestudien aufgezeigt werden, sodass Patienten evtl. von einer noch intensiveren multiprofessionellen Begleitung wie sie in Studiensettings gegeben ist profitieren k{\"o}nnten.}, subject = {Lebensqualit{\"a}t}, language = {de} } @article{AlbrechtClassenVollstaedtetal.2018, author = {Albrecht, J{\"o}rg and Classen, Alice and Vollst{\"a}dt, Maximilian G.R. and Mayr, Antonia and Mollel, Neduvoto P. and Schellenberger Costa, David and Dulle, Hamadi I. and Fischer, Markus and Hemp, Andreas and Howell, Kim M. and Kleyer, Michael and Nauss, Thomas and Peters, Marcell K. and Tschapka, Marco and Steffan-Dewenter, Ingolf and B{\"o}hning-Gaese, Katrin and Schleuning, Matthias}, title = {Plant and animal functional diversity drive mutualistic network assembly across an elevational gradient}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, journal = {Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-05610-w}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-221056}, pages = {1-10}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Species' functional traits set the blueprint for pair-wise interactions in ecological networks. Yet, it is unknown to what extent the functional diversity of plant and animal communities controls network assembly along environmental gradients in real-world ecosystems. Here we address this question with a unique dataset of mutualistic bird-fruit, bird-flower and insect-flower interaction networks and associated functional traits of 200 plant and 282 animal species sampled along broad climate and land-use gradients on Mt. Kilimanjaro. We show that plant functional diversity is mainly limited by precipitation, while animal functional diversity is primarily limited by temperature. Furthermore, shifts in plant and animal functional diversity along the elevational gradient control the niche breadth and partitioning of the respective other trophic level. These findings reveal that climatic constraints on the functional diversity of either plants or animals determine the relative importance of bottom-up and top-down control in plant-animal interaction networks.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Fischer2024, author = {Fischer, Katrin}, title = {Der Hervorgang der Welt aus Gott. Die Rezeption von Avicennas Ontologie bei Dominicus Gundisalvi, Wilhelm von Auvergne und Heinrich von Gent}, publisher = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press}, address = {W{\"u}rzburg}, isbn = {978-3-95826-244-7}, doi = {10.25972/WUP-978-3-95826-245-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-351705}, school = {W{\"u}rzburg University Press}, pages = {IV, 368}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā, 980-1037) entwickelt vornehmlich in Kapitel I.5 und erg{\"a}nzend in den Kapiteln V.1 und 2 seiner Metaphysik (al-Ilāhiyyāt) - dem vierten Teil seiner philosophischen Summe Buch der Heilung (Kitāb al-Šifāʾ) - den Grundgedanken seiner Ontologie: die Distinktion von Sein und Wesen. Diese Lehre hat er als erster Denker zu einer eigenst{\"a}ndigen ontologischen Theorie ausgearbeitet und auf ihrer Basis eine Modalontologie entwickelt. Sie sollte zu einem seiner bekanntesten und einflussreichsten Lehrst{\"u}cke werden - nicht nur in der arabischen und hebr{\"a}ischen Tradition, sondern auch in der lateinischen. F{\"u}r Gelehrte, die von einer monotheistischen Weltanschauung gepr{\"a}gt sind, liegt die enorme Attraktivit{\"a}t der avicennischen Ontologie darin, dass sich aus der Sein-Wesen-Distinktion rein rational die wichtigsten Aspekte der Beziehung ableiten lassen, in der Gott und Welt zueinander stehen, wenn man diese Beziehung im Hinblick auf das Sein betrachtet. Mit der {\"U}bernahme der Ontologie Avicennas vermag man als christlicher Denker das eigene Modell der Wirklichkeit rational-argumentativ zu begr{\"u}nden, ohne in Autorit{\"a}tsargumenten auf die Offenbarung zur{\"u}ckgreifen zu m{\"u}ssen. Dies kommt dem Modell insofern zugute, als die rationale Fundierung dazu dient, es zu st{\"a}rken und den Glauben mittels der Vernunft besser zu begreifen - freilich ohne ihn dadurch zu rechtfertigen. Angesichts der Tatsache, dass Avicennas Ontologie bei den lateinischen Denkern stark rezipiert wurde, stellt sich f{\"u}r mich die zentrale Frage, die ich in dieser Arbeit verfolge: Wie weit kann man als christlicher Denker mit Avicenna gehen, wenn man dessen Ontologie her-anzieht, um das Verh{\"a}ltnis von Gott und Welt zu erkl{\"a}ren? Mich interessiert vor allem, an welchen Stellen und aus welchen Motiven ein Denker Modifikationen an der avicennischen Theorie vornimmt, sie anders als andere interpretiert oder g{\"a}nzlich mit ihr bricht. Was be-deuten diese {\"A}nderungen inhaltlich? Und insbesondere: Wie werden sie rational gerechtfertigt? Da Ontologie, Theologie und Kosmogonie miteinander verschr{\"a}nkt sind, wirken sich grundlegende Annahmen der Ontologie auch auf die beiden anderen Bereiche aus. Diese Auswirkungen nehme ich ebenfalls in den Blick. Meine Fragen trage ich an die Theorien dreier ausgew{\"a}hlter Denker der lateinisch-christlichen Tradition heran: Dominicus Gundisalvi († ca. 1190), Wilhelm von Auvergne (†1249) und Heinrich von Gent (†1293). Alle drei Denker sind in unterschiedliche Phasen der Rezeption von Avicennas Metaphysik im lateinischen Westen zu verorten. F{\"u}r jeden Autor untersuche ich zun{\"a}chst, inwiefern seine Ontologie von Avicennas Lehre beeinflusst ist und in welchem Verh{\"a}ltnis Gott und Welt zueinander stehen. Ausgehend davon verfolge ich anschließend, in wie weit der jeweilige Denker das in der Ontologie entwickelte Konzept eines durch sich selbst notwendig Seienden f{\"u}r Gott von Avicenna {\"u}bernimmt und wie er die Spannungen zwischen avicennischer und christlicher Lehre zu l{\"o}sen versucht, die sich beispielsweise hinsichtlich der Trinit{\"a}tstheologie ergeben. Sodann lege ich dar, wie sich die einzelnen Autoren im Unterschied zu Avicenna Gottes Wirken ad extra vorstellen, auf welche Weise sie ihr eigenes Modell rechtfertigen und damit verbunden Avicenna kritisieren. Umgekehrt werde ich ausgehend von Avicennas Standpunkt die Lehren der christlichen Denker kritisch befragen. Die Kapitel meiner Arbeit widmen sich jeweils einem Autor und sind meiner Fragestellung entsprechend parallel zueinander in einen Abschnitt zur Ontologie, Theologie und Kosmogonie unterteilt.}, subject = {Avicenna}, language = {de} }