Research and development project since 2021 The connectivity of maritime and inland waterways promotes the risk of unnoticed distribution of non-indigenous species in the form of biofouling on ship hulls or by ballast water. While impacts of invasive species on land are rather quickly visible, impacts within the water regime remain invisible at first. This may result in potentially irreparable interference with the existing local flora and fauna and the impairment of an established ecosystem.
This research and development project in cooperation with the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) aims to establish an early warning system for the identification of non-indigenous species based on genetic analysis methods.
The leading research questions are as follows:
Is there a difference in which organisms are detected by traditional methods (RA, JHP) and by molecular biological methods (metabarcoding)?
Which method shows a higher specificity when it comes to the detection of non-indigenous species?
Which taxonomic groups are covered more successfully with either of the methods?
Is any of the methods more successful in recovering taxa up to species level?
Are genetic methods able to replace traditional methods or should they be considered as supplementary? What is the best possible cost-benefit combination of both techniques?
Since 2021 Research Assistant, Senckenberg am Meer (Wilhelmshaven), Department German Center for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB)
Research focus: Development of genetic methods for the monitoring of non-indigenous species (NIS) in harbour regions (BSH Neobiota); Genetic tools for Ecosystem health Assessment in the North Sea region (GEANS project)
2016 – 2020 M.Sc. in Biology, Universität Hamburg (Hamburg), Master’s thesis: Morphological and molecular diversity of Cumacea (Crustacea; Peracarida) within Northern European Ocean ecoregions. Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ralf Thiel, Dr. Saskia Brix, Dr. Martin Schwenter.
2012-2015 B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität (Frankfurt am Main), Bachelor’s Thesis: Phylogeny and taxonomy of the spider crab genus Inachus (Decapoda, Brachyura, Inachidae). Supervisor: Dr. Sebastian Klaus.
2009-2012 Apprenticeship: Chemical-Technician, Odenwaldschule (Ober-Hambach), Instructor: Dr. Angela Maximini.
14.-23.08.2019 Teaching cruise PhD-/Master Module AB-321/-821 Ecology of Arctic Marine Benthos, University of Svalbard, Norway, Arctic Ocean, RV Helmer Hanssen (Chief Scientist Prof. Dr. Jørgen Berge)
27.04.-01.05.2019 Expedition KB 2019611, Sognefjorden, University of Bergen, Norway, RV Kristine Bonnevie (Chief Scientist Prof. Dr. Henrik Glenner)
23.05.-21.06.2017 PASCAL project, Expedition PS106.1, Arctic Ocean, FS Polarstern (Chief Scientist Prof. Dr. Andreas Macke)
Publications Uhlir C, Brix S, Brandt A, Schwentner M, Loerz AN, Meland K, Glenner H, Kongsrud JA, Svavarsson J, R Thiel R. 2021. Adding pieces to the puzzle: insights into diversity and distribution patterns of Cumacea (Crustacea: Peracarida) from the deep North Atlantic to the Arctic Ocean. Peer J – Life & Environment. (in review)
Goecke C, Hestetun JT, Uhlir C, Freiwald A, Beuck L, Janussen D. 2016. Cladorhiza corallophila sp. nov., a new carnivorous sponge (Cladorhizidae, Demospongiae) living in close association with Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata (Scleractinia). Zootaxa. 4168(3):512-24.
Conference presentations
Oral Uhlir C, Brix S, Brandt A, Schwentner M, Loerz AN, Meland K, Glenner H, Kongsrud JA, Svavarsson J, R Thiel R. Diversity of Cumacea (Crustacea; Peracarida) within Northern European Ocean ecoregions. 5th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity (WCMB). 13.-16. Dec 2020, Virtual Conference.
Uhlir C, Brix S, Brandt A, Schwentner M, Loerz AN, Meland K, Glenner H, Kongsrud JA, Svavarsson J, R Thiel R. Diversity of Cumacea (Crustacea; Peracarida) within Northern European Ocean ecoregions. 21. Annual meeting of The Society for Biological Systematics (Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik, GfBS). 12.-15. Feb 2020, Hamburg, Germany. Awarded ‘Best student presentation’.
Poster Uhlir C, Schwentner M, Brix S. Biogeografische Untersuchung arktischer Cumacea (Malacostraca: Peracarida). 19. Crustaceologentagung. 28.-31. Mar 2019, München, Germany.
Kuerzel K, Uhlir C, Perez R, Beja J, Vandepitte L, Brix S, Lörz AN. OBIS- A Biogeographic tool for North Atlantic Peracarida. 21. Annual meeting of The Society for Biological Systematics (Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik, GfBS). 12.-15. Feb 2020, Hamburg, Germany.
Uhlir C, Tuerkay M, Jourdan J, Klaus S, Raupach M. Vom DNA-Barcode zum Artnamen – Der Inachus-Artkomplex in der Nordsee. 17. Crustaceologentagung. 26.-29. Mar 2015, Bremerhaven, Germany.
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