Uncovering Complex
Species Interactions
THE BERMAN LAB OF MOLECULAR ECOLOGY
Ecology
Molecular
Ecology
Trophic
Interactions
Environmental
DNA
Microbiomes
ECOLOGY OF SPECIES INTERACTIONS
Our lab investigates a wide range of species interactions, spanning vertebrates, arthropods and microbes, through both ecological and evolutionary lenses. We seek to understand which species interact with each other and how these interactions impact the distribution and abundance of animals and the functioning of ecological communities. Our research utilizes approaches ranging from field experiments to advanced molecular techniques.
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How does migration (spatial-temporal changes) shape the microbiome of birds and affect their fitness and survival?
What is the functional importance of the microbiota to bird performance during migration?
How do trophic interactions change throughout bird migration and what do migrating birds eat while migrating through stopover sites?
Which pathogens are transmitted during migration, and how do they affect bird health?
How do ecosystem engineers, such as large mammalian herbivores, impact the microbial communities of other animals that share their environment?
OUR MAIN RESEARCH QUESTIONS
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OUR LATEST NEWS
December 2024
New German Research Foundation (DFG) grant
Our group was awarded a DFG research grant in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Martin Kaltenpoth and Dr. Heiko Vogel from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology (MPICE) in Jena, Germany, Prof. Dr. Andreas Vilcinskas from the Insect Biotechnology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany and Prof. Einat Zchori-Fein from the Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Institute, Newe Ya'ar Research Center. The main goal is to decipher host and symbiont contributions to dietary changes in Miridae (Hemiptera) bugs who can utilize either plants (herbivory), animals (carnivory) or both (omnivory) as food sources. A holistic approach will be applied to tackle this long-standing question, by combining genomic and transcriptomic analyses of the hosts with taxonomic and functional characterization of their microbial communities and specific diets.
Dr. Tali Sarah Berman
Hula Research Centre, The Agamon Hula-JNF Nature and Ornithology Park, Hula Valley
Department of Animal Sciences,
Faculty of Sciences and Technology,
Tel-Hai Academic College
MIGAL Galilee Research Institute
