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
Pranoy MS, PhD student
Indian Institute of Science (2022-)
Camila Beraldo, PhD student
University of Helsinki (2020-) – Insect Symbiosis Ecology and Evolution
Co-supervised with Anne Duplouy
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 HelsinkiCo-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 (collaborative project 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 (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.
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 (2012-2015) – Spatial foraging behavior of the parasitoid Hyposotor horticola. University of Helsinki.
Dr. Christelle Couchoux
PhD student (2009-13) – Intraspecific competition in the foraging behaviour of the parasitoid Hyposoter horticola PhD thesis, University of Helsinki
Dr. Katie Montovan
PhD student (2008-13) Cornell University, Center for applied Math. 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 Student (2003-2007) Nertherlands Institute of Ecology (student of A. Biere & J. Harvey). Costs and benefits of iridoids glycosides in multitrophic systems
Google Scholar page
Dr. Maaria Kankare
PhD (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
Emma Hakanen
MSc (gradu) (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
University of Helsinki
Pil Rasmussen
MSc (2013-14) – Multitrophic interactions between a plant, herbivore and parasitoid. University of Helsinki
Currently a researcher at Stockholm University
Marina Granger-Brown
MSc (2014) Harper Adams University, UK. Intraspecific competition by the parasitoid wasp Hyposoter horticola. University of Helsinki
Aapo Ahola
MSc student (2011- 13) – Heritability of traits associated with landscape structure in Plantago lanceolata (co-advised with Anna-Liisa Laine), University of Helsinki
Terhi Lahtinen
MSc (gradu) (2011) – Variation in the response to drought in Plantago lanceolata. University of Helsinki
Peter Kullberg
MSc (gradu) (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 internship (2012) France – The role of group behavior on the relationship of the butterfly M. cinxia with the parasitoid H. horticola. University of Helsinki
Currently an INRA researcher in Antibes, France
Riikka Alanen (Hartikainen)
MSc (gradu) (2010-2012) – Habitat fragmentation and the germination of P. lanceolata and V. spicata
(co-advised with Anna-Liisa laine), University of Helsinki
Suvi Niemikapee (Pakarinen)
MSc (gradu) (2010-2011) – Host-parasitoid relationship in different Cotesia melitaearum and Melitaea cinxia populations around the Baltic Sea, University of Helsinki
Publication from her thesis: van Nouhuys, S., Niemikapee S., Hanski, I. 2012. Insects, 3: 1236-1256
Markku Ojanen
MSc (05-08) – Plant, phytopathogen, parasitoid interaction. (co-advised with Anna-Liisa laine), University of Helsinki
Anne Reichgelt
MSc (07) – Density dependent parasitism by the hyperparasitoid Mesochorus stigmaticus, University of Helsinki
Kaisa Torri
MSc (2005-07) – Natural history of the butterfly Melitaea athalia and its parasitoids in Åland, Finland. University of Helsinki
Publication from her thesis: Reudler Talsma, J., Torri, K. van Nouhuys, S. 2008. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 2: 63-75
Riikka Kaartinen
MSc (03-06) – Spatial foraging behavior of the parasitoid Hyposoter horticola. University of Helsinki
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
Johanna Ehrnsten
MSc (01-03) – Movement and oviposition behavior of an extremely mobile parasitoid wasp, Hyposoter horticola. University of Helsinki
Publication from her thesis: van Nouhuys, S, Ehrnsten, J. 2004. Behavioral Ecology, 15: 661-665
Christian Anton
MSc (00-01) Jena, germany – Behavioral and developmental responses of a specialist parasitoid wasp to host larvae feeding on two host food plant species. University of Helsinki
Currently works for National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
Eeva Punju
MSc (00-02) – Interspecific competition between immature parasitoid wasps within host larvae. University of Helsinki
Publication from her thesis: van Nouhuys, S. and Punju, E. 2010. Oikos, 119: 61-70