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Facilities
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Have a look at our facilities
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Molecular facilities
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The three molecular labs of our group are fully equipped for DNA isolation, amplification, sequencing, and genotyping. Among others, lab members have a NanoDrop2000 DNA-photometer, four gradient thermocyclers, and two LiCor Long Read 4200 sequencers at their disposal. In order to generate reliable data and minimize any form of contamination, our lab members are provided with an individual workplace and have personal sets of pipettes and chemicals. Laboratory manager is Silvia Nachtigall. |
Collection facilities
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The University of Giessen Systematics and Biodiversity collection (UGSB) is curated by our group. The collection is equipped with explosion proof freezers (-20 and -80°C) and security measures such as a temperature-alarm system and a CO2 fire extinguishing system. It harbors freshwater, marine and terrestrial molluscs, but also bird, fish, leech, crustacean and coral samples. The DNA-enabled items (whole specimens or tissues) are typically stored in 80% ethanol at -20 °C. Currently the collection database includes around 6000 lots with full collecting information and voucher images, if applicable. Furthermore, our collection holds approximately 15,000 DNA preps, stored at -80°C. Our group started to use the databank developed by the DNA Bank Network (http://www.dnabank-network.org/) and all DNA information will eventually become available to the scientific community through the internet. |
Optical facilities
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Our optical facilities harbor both dissecting microscope for sample preparation as well as high quality stereo microscope (such as the Olympus SZX12) equipped with digital cameras for morphological and histological research. Centerpiece of the optical facilities is the new high-end 3D digital microscope Keyence VHX-600 with an auto montage system for 3D sample documentation. The system, located in our optical lab, is a joined acquisition of 5 IFZ work groups. |
Animal facilities
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Our animal facilities offer room for many fresh- and seawater aquaria. Currently, 85 aquaria, holding 10 to 1400 liters of seawater, are used to keep a variety of marine organisms. The majority of species belong to the Cnidaria (stony and soft corals, Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa), Polychaeta, Echinodermata, Crustacea, Mollusca and fishes. Furthermore we maintain live food cultivation (phytoplankton, rotifers, Artemia, copepods, Moina salina and shrimps). We breed many different stony corals, crutaceans (Lysmata, Clibanarius & Hymenocera), molluscs (especially Aeolidiella stephanieae) and fishes (Amphiprion, Hippocampus, Pseudochromis). The marine animal husbandry constitutes an essential part for laboratory investigations of the CEMarin, especially for stony corals. The freshwater tanks accommodate mainly gastropods, for example African ampullariids. |
Climate chambers
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The three climate chambers used by our group provide the opportunity to perform standardized experiments with living animals. These chambers harbor aquaria with flow-through systems as well as stand-alone aquaria that are used for different experiments on aquatic invertebrates. These studies include competition experiments between invasive bivalve species and experiments on phenotypic plasticity in response to different environmental conditions. |
14.01.2011 14:24