Unit: Environmental Sensing and Modelling
Group: Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment
Social links: ResearchGate / ORCID / Google Scholar
Languages: Spanish, English, German
I am a biologist fascinated by freshwater biodiversity, from understanding its origins and disentangling their relationships, to learning how we can measure it and use it in a sustainable way. I specialized in the study of diatoms, a group of microscopic algae that produce more than 20% of the earth’s oxygen. In the last few years, I transitioned from the study of diatoms to all groups of algae including cyanobacteria, utilising DNA and eDNA based methods for assessing the species composition of phytoplankton and phytobenthos communities in rivers and streams. A highlight of this work is the molecular characterization of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) caused by the toxin-producing species Prymnesium parvum, with this HAB leading to mass mortalities of fish and other aquatic organisms in the river Oder (Poland and Germany) in summer 2022. Additionally, I have been involved in projects evaluating the state of DNA metabarcoding for ecological status class assessments of Biological Quality Elements (BQEs: benthic invertebrates and diatoms) and their implementation options under the EU Water Framework Directive. Overall, my core aims are 1) to develop and implement methods applied to environmental DNA to contribute to the sustainable use of freshwaters; 2) to promote the careers of students and young scientists; and 3) to share scientific knowledge with general audiences.
I am involved in projects tasked with the detection of species from several organism groups (diatoms, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, mammals, and reptiles) utilising DNA and eDNA based methods (e.g., barcoding, metabarcoding, and ddPCR assays), from a variety of sample types including biofilms, water, soils and sediments.
<p>Macher T.H., Beermann A.J., Arle J., Foerster J., Greyer M., Mora D., Koschorreck J., Rolauffs P., Rother A., Schüler S., Zimmermann J., Hering D., Leese F.</p>
<p>Water Research, vol. 272, art. no. 122987, 2025</p>
<p>Jahn R., Mora D., Abarca N., Kusber W.H., Zimmermann J., Skibbe O.</p>
<p>Nova Hedwigia, vol. 120, n° 1-4, pp. 263-285, 2025</p>
