Research
My main research interest is to understand the processes that promote and maintain species diversity on regional to global scales, with a special focus on the evolution of species climatic niches. Combining molecular phylogenetic, biogeographical and climatic data, I investigate triggers and rates of niche evolution in various groups of organisms in different habitats. Despite some evidence that many lineages have a tendency to retain their ancestral ecological niches (phylogenetic niche conservatism), recent studies show that PNC should not be assumed a priori when the ecological variation within a group is examined in a phylogenetic context.
Babiana dregei (© J.Schnitzler, 2007)
My PhD project aimed at understanding the causes of the exceptional plant species diversity of southern Africa. The Cape Floristic Region of South Africa is one of the most remarkable hotspots of biodiversity with more than 9,000 plant species, almost 70% of which are endemic, within an area of only ± 90,000 km2. Much of the diversity is due to an exceptional contribution of a few large clades, which originated and radiated within the region. Thus, the Cape provides an excellent model system to study the evolutionary processes underlying its outstanding diversity and understand the origin of a major hotspot of biodiversity.
Curriculum Vitae
2009 – Present: Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F), Frankfurt, Germany. Project Area A1: Evolution and Climate.
2006 – 2009: PhD at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Imperial College London. Multi-site Research & Training Network ‘HOTSPOTS’ funded by the European Commission (FP6, Marie Curie Actions). Supervisors: Prof. V. Savolainen and Prof. T. Barraclough.
2005 – 2006: Graduate Assistant at the Nees-Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, University of Bonn. Long-term programme ‘Biodiversity in Change’ of the Academy of Science and Literature, Mainz.
2001 – 2004: Student Assistant at the Nees-Institute for Biodiversity of Plants, University of Bonn. Research project BIOTA W03 – ‘The Biodiversity of Africa in the global context’ (Part of the BIOLOG-BIOTA Framework of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany).
1997 – 2004: Studies in Biology and Geography, University of Bonn (Diplom, MSc equivalent). Thesis: ‘Spatial patterns of African phyto- and zoodiversity: A comparison of selected groups’. Supervisors: Prof. W. Barthlott and Prof. W. Böhme.
Publications
Schnitzler, J., Barraclough, T.G., Boatwright, J.S., Goldblatt, P., Manning, J.C., Powell, M.P., Rebelo, T. & Savolainen, V. (submitted): Causes of plant diversification in the Cape biodiversity hotspot of South Africa.
Valente, L.M., Reeves, G., Schnitzler, J., Pizer Mason, I., Fay, M.F., Rebelo, T.G., Chase, M.W. & Barraclough, T.G. (2010): Diversification of the African genus Protea (Proteaceae) in the Cape biodiversity hotspot and beyond: equal rates in different biomes. Evolution. 64:745-760. doi: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00856.x
Reifenrath, K., Theisen, I., Schnitzler, J., Porembski, S. & Barthlott, W. (2006): Trap architecture in carnivorous Utricularia (Lentibulariaceae). Flora. 201:597-605.
Scientific communications
Schnitzler, J., Barraclough, T.G., Manning, J.C., Goldblatt, P. & Savolainen, V. (2008): Revealing the causes of hyper-diversity in a biodiversity hotspot, the Cape of South Africa. Oral presentation at the Evolution 2008 conference. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. 20 – 24 June 2008.
Küper, W., Rahbek, C., Schnitzler, J., Sommer, H., Mutke, J., Lovett, J. & Barthlott, W. (2005): Biodiversity of Africa – Large Scale Patterns and Conservation Priorities. Poster presented at 2nd Biennial Conference of the International Biogeography Society. Shepherdstown, WV, USA. 5 – 9 January 2005
Professional memberships
Society of Systematic Biologists
Contact details
Jan Schnitzler
Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F)
Senckenberg Research Institute
Senckenberganlage 25
60325 Frankfurt
Germany
Phone: +49 – 69 – 97075 1614
Fax: +49 – 69 – 97075 1137
Email: jan.schnitzler-at-senckenberg.de