Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik

Curriculum Vitae

31.07. 1970

Born in Dieburg, Germany

May 1989

High School degree

11/1989- 3/1995

Student at the Julius Maximilians University in Würzburg, Subject: Biology

1992-1993

2 semester fellowship of the German Academic Exchange Service to study in the graduate program of State University of New York in Albany, USA

March 1995

Final examinations in Würzburg; Title of the Diploma thesis: with the title: "Competition and evolutionary niches of species of the genus Leptothorax ", Scientific advisers: Prof. Bert Hölldobler and Dr. Jürgen Heinze.

5/1995 – 6/1998

Ph D Thesis at the Julius Maximilian University in Würzburg, Title: "Population structure and sex allocation in the ant species Leptothorax nylanderi".  Ph D advisors: Prof. Bert Hölldobler and Dr. Jürgen Heinze;

7/1998 – 4/2000

Post-Doc in the group of Prof. Joan M. Herbers, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA

5/2000 – 6/2004

Scientific assistant in the Department Biology I (Prof. Dr. J. Heinze), University of Regensburg

Since July 2004

Professor for Behavioural Ecology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Department Biology II

Research interests

Ecology, evolution, behaviour, sociogenetics and phylogeography of ants, coevolution between social parasites and their hosts, reproductive tactics of males and queens, sex allocation patterns, nest mate recognition, population structure, hybridisation

Recent research projects

Coevolutionary interactions between social parasites and their hosts

Coevolution between parasites and their hosts has been strongly debated in recent years. New studies on birds could demonstrate that hosts of avian brood parasites can develop defence mechanisms, which can be counteracted by the parasites such as cuckoos and cowbirds. In social insects, a similar parasite-host system has only recently been studied under a coevolutionary perspective. Work in my group demonstrates a severe impact of the slavemaking ants Protomognathus americanus and Harpagoxenus sublaevis on their Temnothorax / Leptothorax host species. Behavioural adaptations, as well as changes in the genetic, social and demographic composition of host colonies could be demonstrated as a reaction to high parasite pressure via frequent and destructive slave raids. Ecological field studies investigate the impact of social parasites on the demographic and genetic composition of host populations by local manipulation of slavemaker density. Staged slave raids in the laboratory allow to analyse patterns of local co-adaptation of host and parasite populations. Our studies demonstrate that the advance of the coevolutionary arms race depends on local parasite pressure and community structure. The presence of multiple host species at a site prohibits parasite specialization and can disrupt the arms race. We investigate with population genetic methods the impact of gene flow and migration rates on the occurrence of local adaptation in these parasite / host systems. Local adaptation can lead to chemical mimicry of the parasite, and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry are used to study the chemical weapons of slavemakers.

Reproductive tactics in Hypoponera ants

In many animals, males have evolved weapons, elaborate courtship displays, or costly ornaments to increase their reproductive success. Ants, in contrast, commonly mate during nuptial flights, in which males do not profit from fighting or attempting to monopolize females. However, where mating occurs in the nest, males can use other reproductive tactics. We documented that wingless (apterous) males of Hypoponera opacior ensure their reproductive success by copulatory mate guarding of young queens still partially enclosed in the cocoon, but do not fight for access to these females. Mate guarding, though time-consuming, presumably reduces the likelihood of subsequent inseminations by other males. Apterous H. opacior males have only a limited amount of sperm available and their testes degenerate in early adult life. Males of H. opacior have relatively few mating opportunities. Although some wingless males are reproductively active over more than three weeks, a maximum of only six matings per male, with a mean slightly above one were observed. Some H. opacior males employ an alternative reproductive tactic of dispersal and outbreeding. We found colonies headed by single, dealate queens, which did not raise wingless sexuals but reproduce through winged reproductives that mate in nuptial flights in June. The social structure of those colonies stood in stark contrast to nests containing wingless reproductives, which were highly polygynous and polydomous. The ecological parameters, which influence the diversity of reproductive strategies in Hypoponera ants are currently investigated using behavioural, genetic and ecological methods.

Publications (send request)

1. Brandt, M., Fischer-Blass, B., Heinze, J., Foitzik, S. Patterns of gene flow and genetic variability influence local adaptation in social parasites and their hosts: II. The North American system. Molecular Ecology, in review.
2. Fischer-Blass, B., Brandt, M., Heinze, J., Foitzik, S., Patterns of gene flow and genetic variability influence local adaptation in social parasites and their hosts: I. The European system. Molecular Ecology, in review.
3. Pusch, K., Heinze, J., Foitzik, S.  The influence of hybridization on colony structure in the ant species pair Temnothorax nylanderi and T. crassispinus, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, in review.
4. Foitzik, S., Sturm, H., Pusch, K., D’Ettorre, P., Heinze, J. Variation in nestmate recognition abilities, chemical cues and genetic diversity in Temnothorax ants, Behavioral Ecology, in revision.
5. Fischer-Blass, B., Foitzik, S.. Temporal variation in selection regimes in ants: the varying impact of ecology and social parasites. Oecologia, in revision.
6. Brandt, M., Heinze, J., Foitzik, S. Dufour's gland secretion as a propaganda substance in the slavemaking ant Protomognathus americanus. Insectes Sociaux, in revision.
7. Pusch, K., Seifert, B., Foitzik, S., Heinze, J. Distribution and genetic divergence of two parapatric sibling ant species in Central Europe. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, in press.
8. Fischer-Blass, B., Heinze, J., Foitzik, S. Microsatellite analysis reveals strong, but differential impact of a social parasite on its two host species. Molecular Ecology, in press.
9. Beibl J., Stuart RJ,  Heinze, J., Foitzik, S. 2005. Six origins of slavery in formicoxenine ants. Insectes Sociaux, 52: 291–297.
10. Brandt, M., Heinze, J., Schmitt, T., Foitzik, S. 2005 A chemical level in the coevolutionary arms race between an ant social parasite and its hosts. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 18: 576–586.
11. Brandt, M., Foitzik, S., Fischer-Blass, B., Heinze, J. 2005 The coevolutionary dynamics of obligate ant social parasites: Between prudence and antagonism. Biological Reviews, 80: 1–17.
12. Rüger, MH, Heinze, J., Foitzik, S. 2005. Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the ponerine ant Hypoponera opacior (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Molecular Ecology Notes 5: 236–238.
13. Brandt, M., Foitzik, S. 2004. Community context and specialization influence coevolution in a slavemaking ant and its hosts. Ecology, 85 (11): 2997–3009.
14. Fischer, B. Foitzik, S. 2004 Local co-adaptation leading to a geographic mosaic of coevolution in a social parasite system. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 17: 1026-1034.
15. Foitzik, S., Backus, V. L., Trindl, A., Herbers, J. M. 2004. Ecology of Leptothorax ants: impact of food, nest sites and social parasites. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 55: 484-455.
16. Foitzik, S., Strätz, M. Heinze, J. 2003. Ecology, life history, and resource allocation in the ant, Leptothorax nylanderi. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 16: 670-680.
17. Foitzik, S., Fischer, B., Heinze, J. 2003. Arms-races between social parasites and their hosts: Geographic patterns of manipulation and resistance. Behavioral Ecology, 14: 80-88.
18. Heinze, J, Foitzik, S., Fischer, B., Wanke, T. Kipyatkov, V. E. 2003. The significance of latitudinal variation in body size in a holarctic ant, Leptothorax acervorum. Ecography, 26: 349-355.
19. Foitzik, S., Heinze, J., Oberstadt, B., Herbers, J. M. 2002. Mate guarding and alternative reproductive tactics in the ant Hypoponera opacior. Animal Behaviour 63: 597-604.
20. Herbers, J. M., Foitzik, S. 2002. Ecology of slavemaking ants and their hosts in north-temperate forests. Ecology 83(1): 148-163.
21. Strätz, M., Foitzik, S., Heinze, J. 2002. First description of Leptothorax crassispinus from Bavaria. Nachrichtenblatt bayerischer Entomologen, 51: 26-29.
22. Foitzik, S., DeHeer, C. J.,  Hunjan, D. N.,  Herbers,  J. M. 2001. Coevolution in host-parasite systems: Behavioral strategies of slavemaking ants and their hosts. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, London 268: 1139 – 1146.
23. Foitzik, S., Herbers, J. M. 2001. Colony structure of a slavemaking ant: I. Intra-colony relatedness, worker reproduction and polydomy. Evolution 55: 307-315.
24. Foitzik, S., Herbers, J. M.  2001. Colony structure of a slavemaking ant: II. Frequency of slave raids and impact on the host population. Evolution 55: 316-323.
25. Foitzik, S., Heinze, J. 2001. Microgeographic genetic structure and intraspecific parasitism in the ant Leptothorax nylanderi. Ecological Entomology 26: 449-456.
26. Herbers, J. M., DeHeer, C. J., Foitzik, S. 2001 Conflict over sex allocation drives conflict over reproductive allocation in perennial social insect colonies. American Naturalist 158: 178-192.
27. Foitzik, S., Heinze, J. 2000. Intraspecific parasitism and split sex ratios in a monogynous and monandrous ant. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 47: 424-431.
28. Foitzik, S., Heinze, J. 1999. Non-random size differences between sympatric Leptothorax ants. Entomologia Generalis 24: 65-74.
29. Heinze, J., Foitzik, S., Oberstadt, B., Rüppell, O., Hölldobler, B. 1999. A female caste specialized for the production of unfertilized eggs in the ant Crematogaster smithi. Naturwissenschaften, 86: 93-95.
30. Foitzik, S., Heinze, J. 1998. Nest site limitation and colony take-over in the ant Leptothorax nylanderi. Behavioral Ecology, 9: 367-375.
31. Heinze, J., Rüppell, O., Foitzik, S., Buschinger, A. 1998. First records of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with cysticercoids of tapeworms (Cestoda: Dilepididae) from the Southwestern United States. Florida Entomologist, Vol. 81(1): 122-125.
32. Heinze, J., Foitzik, S., Kipyatkov, V.E., Lopatina, E.B. 1998. Laditudinal variation in cold hardiness and body size in the boreal ant Leptothorax acervorum. Entomologia Generalis, 22: 305-312.
33. Foitzik, S., Haberl, M., Gadau, J., Heinze, J. 1997. Mating frequency of Leptothorax nylanderi ant queens determined by microsatellite analysis. Insectes Sociaux, 44: 219-227.
34. Heinze, J., Foitzik, S., Hippert, A., Hölldobler, B. 1996. Apparent dear-enemy phenomenon and environmental-based recognition cues in the ant Leptothorax nylanderi. Ethology 102: 510-522.