Group leader
Saskya van Nouhuys
Associate Professor of Ecology
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
saskya@iisc.ac.in
Google scholar
CV, Further contact info
Current group members
Camila Beraldo, PhD student
University of Helsinki (2020-) – Insect Symbiosis Ecology and Evolution
Co-supervised with Anne Duplouy
Pranoy MS, PhD student
Indian Institute of Science (2022-)
I am a biotechnology and biochemical engineering graduate with a passion for understanding biological systems and evolution. I will be working on poppy plants as a model system to understand the impacts of domestication on plant morphology and defensive chemistry during my doctoral studies under the guidance of Prof Saskya. I am also an aspiring and active entrepreneur dreaming of new and innovative solutions to solve challenging problems faced by humanity. you can write to me at : pranoys@iisc.ac.in
Sonali, PhD student
Indian Institute of Science (2022-)
A warm greeting to all of those who are reading this page. This is Sonali, enrolled in a Ph.D. program at the Centre of Ecological Sciences, this August. From a small town, Deoria to this premiere institute, the journey is full of excitement but has also witnessed many restless nights. After completing my graduation from BRD PG College Deoria and obtaining my Master’s degree from BHU in plant science, I developed my interest in ecology, namely their adaptation and responses to current global climate conditions. It was fun to get messed up with such an entity that is supporting our life system. So primarily, my research would revolve around global changes and their impacts on plants. Meanwhile, I would also try to find a solution to the emerging challenges as to how plants will cope with these situations. As my supervisor Prof. Saskya is been working on the butterfly-parasitoid wasp community, it is exciting to be here in her lab.
Tapasya Thapa, Project associate
Indian Institute of Science (2022-)
Born and brought up in a small city, Dehradun. Did my master’s in Biotechnology in 2018. It was my post-graduation dissertation that sparked my interest in the field of phylogenetics. Just after my masters, I joined Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and gained experience in conservation genetics tools and techniques. And since March 2022, I have been working as a Project Associate in Population and Community Ecology lab, Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISC, Bangalore. Here, I help with the molecular lab work and routine chemistry work. I am keen to understand the effect of the environment on the evolution of characters and the survival of these characters from the molecular point of view. Apart from extracting and amplifying DNA, I love to dance and read some good fiction. Also, a music fanatic and yes, a major Potterhead.
Past postdocs & research visitors and
Dr. Abhilash Nair
Postdoc (2013- 2017)
Spatial population genetics of parasitoid wasps, University of Helsinki
Google Scholar page
Dr. Joanneke Reudler Talsma
Postdoc (2014- 2017)
Multitrophic interactions through volatile organic chemicals. University of Helsinki
Co-hosted with J. K. Holopainen
Google scholar page .
Dr. Kristina Karlsson-Green
Postdoc (2012- 14)
Multitrophic interactions between a plant, a phytopathogen, an herbivore and a parasitoid Co-supervised with A-L Laine and Marjo Saastamoinen), University of Helsinki.
Google Scholar page
Dr. Delia Pinto Zevallos
Postdoc (2012)
Emissions of herbivore-induced volatile organic compounds in Plantago lanceolata and Veronica spicata. University of Helsinki. Co-supervised with J. K. Holopainen.
Dr. Norio Hirai
Research visitor (2010) from Osaka University, Japan- Ecology and Intraspecific competition in pupal parasitoids. University of Helsinki
Dr. Carolina Reigada
Postdoctoral visitor to Metapopulation Research Group (2008)
Density dependent foraging behavior of a hyperparasitoid wasp. University of Helsinki
Google scholar
Dr. Marcela Castelo
Postdoc (2004)
Olfactory attraction of parasitoids to their host and host-food plant complex, University of Helsinki. Now head of the Laboratorio de Entomología Experimental – Grupo de Investigación en Ecofisiología de Parasitoides y otros Insectos (GIEP), Argentina
Past PhD students
Wolfgang Reschka
PhD student, University of Helsinki (2012-2015) Spatial foraging behavior of the parasitoid Hyposotor horticola. University of Helsinki.
Dr. Christelle Couchoux
PhD, University of Helsinki (2009-13)
Intraspecific competition in the foraging behaviour of the parasitoid Hyposoter horticola PhD thesis, University of Helsinki
Dr. Katie Montovan
PhD, Cornell University, Center for applied Math (2008-13)
Dissertation is titled Cooperative behavior in bees, wasps, and burglars.
Now a faculty member in Math at Bennington College, USA
Dr. Joanneke Reudler Talsma
PhD Nertherlands Institute of Ecology (2003-2007) (student of A. Biere & J. Harvey). Costs and benefits of iridoids glycosides in multitrophic systems
Google Scholar page
Dr. Maaria Kankare
PhD, University of Helsinki (1999-2004) (primary advisor I. Hanski)
Phylogeny and host associations of Cotesia parasitoids attacking checkerspot butterflies.University of Helsinki
Currently a Researcher at Jyväskylä University
Google Scholar page
Past MSc students & undergraduate researchers
Aditya Nayak
Indian Institute of Science, undergraduate intern (Summer 2022) BS-MS student from IISER Mohali.
Aditya worked on finding parasitoids of Lepidoptera on Citrus, and did a literature review of change in genome size assoiated with plant domestication.
Emma Hakanen
University of Helsinki, MSc (2014-2017)
Mating structure of the parasitoid Cotesia melitaearum.
Currently a PhD student at the University of Helsinki
Yann Bailly
MSc intern from Lyon, France (2017)
Sex determination in the parasitoid Cotesia glomerata, and the costs of parasitism for developing caterpillars
Pil Rasmussen
University of Helsinki, MSc (2013-14)
Multitrophic interactions between a plant, herbivore and parasitoid.
Currently a researcher at Stockholm University
Marina Granger-Brown
Harper Adams University, UK, MSc (2014)
Intraspecific competition by the parasitoid wasp Hyposoter horticola.
Aapo Ahola
University of Helsinki, MSc (2011- 13)
Heritability of traits associated with landscape structure in Plantago lanceolata (co-advised with Anna-Liisa Laine)
Terhi Lahtinen
University of Helsinki, MSc student (2010-2012)
Variation in the response to drought in Plantago lanceolata. University of Helsinki
Peter Kullberg
University of Helsinki, MSc (2010-12)
Habitat fragmentation and the performance of P. lanceolata and V. spicata. Co-advised with Anna-Liisa Laine), University of Helsinki
David Muru
MSc intern from France (2012)
The role of group behavior on the relationship of the butterfly M. cinxia with the parasitoid H. horticola.
Riikka Alanen (Hartikainen)
University of Helsinki, MSc (2010-2012)
Habitat fragmentation and the germination of P. lanceolata and V. spicata
(co-advised with Anna-Liisa laine)
Suvi Niemikapee (Pakarinen)
University of Helsinki, MSc (2010-2011)
Host-parasitoid relationship in different Cotesia melitaearum and Melitaea cinxia populations around the Baltic Sea
Publication from her thesis: van Nouhuys, S., Niemikapee S., Hanski, I. 2012. Insects, 3: 1236-1256
Tom S. Kraft
Undergraduate Honours thesis, Cornell University (08-10). Indirect interaction between butterflies mediated by pupal parasitoids Publications from his thesis:
Kraft & van Nouhuys 2013, Ecological Entomology
van Nouhuys & Kraft, 2012, Population Ecology
Currently a postdoc at UCSB
Markku Ojanen
University of Helsinki, MSc (05-08)
Plant, phytopathogen, parasitoid interaction. (co-advised with Anna-Liisa laine)
Anne Reichgelt
University of Helsinki, MSc (07)
Density dependent parasitism by the hyperparasitoid Mesochorus stigmaticus
Kaisa Torri
University of Helsinki, MSc (2005-07) – Natural history of the butterfly Melitaea athalia and its parasitoids in Åland, Finland.
Publication from her thesis: Reudler Talsma, J., Torri, K. van Nouhuys, S. 2008. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 2: 63-75
Riikka Kaartinen
University of Helsinki, MSc (03-06)
Spatial foraging behavior of the parasitoid Hyposoter horticola. Currently a journalist for Suomen Lounto (Finnish Nature)
Publication from her thesis: van Nouhuys, S. Kaartinen, R. 2008. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 275: 377-385
Lucie Salvaudon
MSc intern Paris, France (2002)
Experimental test of host avoidance of parasitism byHyposoter horticola
Currently works at the Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris
Johanna Ehrnsten
University of Helsinki, MSc (01-03)
Movement and oviposition behavior of an extremely mobile parasitoid wasp, Hyposoter horticola.
Publication from her thesis: van Nouhuys, S, Ehrnsten, J. 2004. Behavioral Ecology, 15: 661-665
Christian Anton
MSc Jena, Germany (00-01)
Behavioral and developmental responses of a specialist parasitoid wasp to host larvae feeding on two host food plant species.
Currently works for National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
Eeva Punju
University of Helsinki, MSc (00-02)
Interspecific competition between immature parasitoid wasps within host larvae.
Publication from her thesis: van Nouhuys, S. and Punju, E. 2010. Oikos, 119: 61-70