ELE-ETHWSL.bsky.social
@ele-ethwsl.bsky.social
Ecosystems and Landscape Evolution Lab @ethzurich and @wslresearch. We study the processes shaping spatial diversity from genes to ecosystems.
The WSL’s new exhibition “Breaking the Code” highlights ELE group research, revealing new insights into biodiversity. Check it out!
December 1, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The WSL’s new exhibition “Breaking the Code” highlights ELE group research, revealing new insights into biodiversity. Check it out!
🌍 New publication alert!
In Ecography, we show how landscape connectivity and climate dynamics shape plant endemism hotspots in the Hengduan Mountains. Endemism peaks at ~3,000–4,000 m, highlighting the complex interplay of geography and biodiversity.
Read the article here: buff.ly/AfI5xOk
In Ecography, we show how landscape connectivity and climate dynamics shape plant endemism hotspots in the Hengduan Mountains. Endemism peaks at ~3,000–4,000 m, highlighting the complex interplay of geography and biodiversity.
Read the article here: buff.ly/AfI5xOk
November 24, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🌍 New publication alert!
In Ecography, we show how landscape connectivity and climate dynamics shape plant endemism hotspots in the Hengduan Mountains. Endemism peaks at ~3,000–4,000 m, highlighting the complex interplay of geography and biodiversity.
Read the article here: buff.ly/AfI5xOk
In Ecography, we show how landscape connectivity and climate dynamics shape plant endemism hotspots in the Hengduan Mountains. Endemism peaks at ~3,000–4,000 m, highlighting the complex interplay of geography and biodiversity.
Read the article here: buff.ly/AfI5xOk
🎉 We did it — 500+ followers on LinkedIn!
A huge thank-you to everyone who supports ELE Group. Your energy keeps us moving forward! Join our LinkedIn community here: www.linkedin.com/company/ecos...
A huge thank-you to everyone who supports ELE Group. Your energy keeps us moving forward! Join our LinkedIn community here: www.linkedin.com/company/ecos...
November 10, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🎉 We did it — 500+ followers on LinkedIn!
A huge thank-you to everyone who supports ELE Group. Your energy keeps us moving forward! Join our LinkedIn community here: www.linkedin.com/company/ecos...
A huge thank-you to everyone who supports ELE Group. Your energy keeps us moving forward! Join our LinkedIn community here: www.linkedin.com/company/ecos...
🌱 Fieldwork in Colombia!
Together with Fundación Universitaria de Popayán, Fundación Biodiversa de Colombia, and Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, our group carried out a pilot eDNA project in Puracé National Park.
Read more: fup.edu.co/impulsamos-i...
Together with Fundación Universitaria de Popayán, Fundación Biodiversa de Colombia, and Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, our group carried out a pilot eDNA project in Puracé National Park.
Read more: fup.edu.co/impulsamos-i...
November 3, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🌱 Fieldwork in Colombia!
Together with Fundación Universitaria de Popayán, Fundación Biodiversa de Colombia, and Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, our group carried out a pilot eDNA project in Puracé National Park.
Read more: fup.edu.co/impulsamos-i...
Together with Fundación Universitaria de Popayán, Fundación Biodiversa de Colombia, and Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, our group carried out a pilot eDNA project in Puracé National Park.
Read more: fup.edu.co/impulsamos-i...
🚀 Our guest Nikita Zychowska was a recent speaker at the COPL Lunch Seminar. She's a BSc student in AI at Johannes Kepler Universität Linz and the co-founder of the Astroyouth society. She'll stay in our group for two more weeks to work on the co-evolution of planets and life project.
October 27, 2025 at 1:45 PM
🚀 Our guest Nikita Zychowska was a recent speaker at the COPL Lunch Seminar. She's a BSc student in AI at Johannes Kepler Universität Linz and the co-founder of the Astroyouth society. She'll stay in our group for two more weeks to work on the co-evolution of planets and life project.
In the recent publication, we show that combining multispecies primers with CRISPR-Dx—a workflow dubbed ampliscanning—matches the effectiveness of metabarcoding for detecting terrestrial mammals via eDNA in remote, high-alpine catchments.
Read the article: buff.ly/9rVajwt
Read the article: buff.ly/9rVajwt
October 20, 2025 at 7:02 AM
In the recent publication, we show that combining multispecies primers with CRISPR-Dx—a workflow dubbed ampliscanning—matches the effectiveness of metabarcoding for detecting terrestrial mammals via eDNA in remote, high-alpine catchments.
Read the article: buff.ly/9rVajwt
Read the article: buff.ly/9rVajwt
🌋 Let's welcome Roos van Wees, a new postdoctoral researcher in our group.
Roos's background is in geomorphology, having examined how erosion shapes volcanic landscapes over time. In BurGeoN project, she will investigate how geomorphological dynamics influence biodiversity in mountain regions.
Roos's background is in geomorphology, having examined how erosion shapes volcanic landscapes over time. In BurGeoN project, she will investigate how geomorphological dynamics influence biodiversity in mountain regions.
October 13, 2025 at 7:02 AM
🌋 Let's welcome Roos van Wees, a new postdoctoral researcher in our group.
Roos's background is in geomorphology, having examined how erosion shapes volcanic landscapes over time. In BurGeoN project, she will investigate how geomorphological dynamics influence biodiversity in mountain regions.
Roos's background is in geomorphology, having examined how erosion shapes volcanic landscapes over time. In BurGeoN project, she will investigate how geomorphological dynamics influence biodiversity in mountain regions.
🌍 New publication alert!
In our latest piece in Nature Cities, we highlight how biodiversity modeling can support urban planning by balancing human well-being with nature. This helps cities meet biodiversity targets while ensuring access to healthy ecosystems.
Read the article: buff.ly/zeRBrYh
In our latest piece in Nature Cities, we highlight how biodiversity modeling can support urban planning by balancing human well-being with nature. This helps cities meet biodiversity targets while ensuring access to healthy ecosystems.
Read the article: buff.ly/zeRBrYh
October 6, 2025 at 7:01 AM
🌍 New publication alert!
In our latest piece in Nature Cities, we highlight how biodiversity modeling can support urban planning by balancing human well-being with nature. This helps cities meet biodiversity targets while ensuring access to healthy ecosystems.
Read the article: buff.ly/zeRBrYh
In our latest piece in Nature Cities, we highlight how biodiversity modeling can support urban planning by balancing human well-being with nature. This helps cities meet biodiversity targets while ensuring access to healthy ecosystems.
Read the article: buff.ly/zeRBrYh
🎉 Warm welcome to Antonin Affholder, a new NOMIS fellow and postdoc in our group.
He will research the dynamical mechanisms that caused the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere to occur hundreds of millions of years after the emergence of photosynthesis.
Exciting research is coming, stay tuned!
He will research the dynamical mechanisms that caused the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere to occur hundreds of millions of years after the emergence of photosynthesis.
Exciting research is coming, stay tuned!
September 29, 2025 at 7:02 AM
🎉 Warm welcome to Antonin Affholder, a new NOMIS fellow and postdoc in our group.
He will research the dynamical mechanisms that caused the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere to occur hundreds of millions of years after the emergence of photosynthesis.
Exciting research is coming, stay tuned!
He will research the dynamical mechanisms that caused the oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere to occur hundreds of millions of years after the emergence of photosynthesis.
Exciting research is coming, stay tuned!
New publication alert!
Together with colleagues, we show how combining eDNA with remote sensing can improve models of fish biodiversity in tropical rivers.
🔗 Read the article here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Together with colleagues, we show how combining eDNA with remote sensing can improve models of fish biodiversity in tropical rivers.
🔗 Read the article here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 22, 2025 at 7:01 AM
New publication alert!
Together with colleagues, we show how combining eDNA with remote sensing can improve models of fish biodiversity in tropical rivers.
🔗 Read the article here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Together with colleagues, we show how combining eDNA with remote sensing can improve models of fish biodiversity in tropical rivers.
🔗 Read the article here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
🌱 We’ve just completed the first sampling mission of Project Burgeon, supported by the SNSF. Over the summer, we explored multiple locations across the Puracé National Park to map the rich plant diversity of the Andean forest. We aim to uncover how geological dynamics shape mountain biodiversity.
September 15, 2025 at 7:01 AM
🌱 We’ve just completed the first sampling mission of Project Burgeon, supported by the SNSF. Over the summer, we explored multiple locations across the Puracé National Park to map the rich plant diversity of the Andean forest. We aim to uncover how geological dynamics shape mountain biodiversity.
Proud to see our work showcased at the Swiss Pavilion of the Expo 2025 in Osaka!
Over the years, we have co-designed robotic and eDNA technologies that can reveal the hidden presence of species and provide an early warning against invasive ones.
Image credits:
© FDFA, Presence Switzerland
Over the years, we have co-designed robotic and eDNA technologies that can reveal the hidden presence of species and provide an early warning against invasive ones.
Image credits:
© FDFA, Presence Switzerland
September 8, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Proud to see our work showcased at the Swiss Pavilion of the Expo 2025 in Osaka!
Over the years, we have co-designed robotic and eDNA technologies that can reveal the hidden presence of species and provide an early warning against invasive ones.
Image credits:
© FDFA, Presence Switzerland
Over the years, we have co-designed robotic and eDNA technologies that can reveal the hidden presence of species and provide an early warning against invasive ones.
Image credits:
© FDFA, Presence Switzerland
🌱 This summer, we kicked off our first biodiversity monitoring initiative at ETH Zentrum and Hönggerberg using eDNA sampling. A big shoutout to everyone who made this day such a success!
September 1, 2025 at 7:01 AM
🌱 This summer, we kicked off our first biodiversity monitoring initiative at ETH Zentrum and Hönggerberg using eDNA sampling. A big shoutout to everyone who made this day such a success!
Our PhD student Anna Lewkowicz is part of a team that recently raised nearly 13,000 CHF to organize an innovative astrobiology-themed hackathon. They're currently looking for hackathon co-hosts. DM us or write them an email if you'd like to get involved!
August 25, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Our PhD student Anna Lewkowicz is part of a team that recently raised nearly 13,000 CHF to organize an innovative astrobiology-themed hackathon. They're currently looking for hackathon co-hosts. DM us or write them an email if you'd like to get involved!
🌍 Congratulations to our PhD student Anna Lewkowicz for receiving an ESA Academy scholarship, which allowed her to participate in the XXI International School of Astrobiology ‘Josep Comas i Solà’: Origins to Organisms: Understanding Life’s Beginnings. Great job!
August 18, 2025 at 7:01 AM
🌍 Congratulations to our PhD student Anna Lewkowicz for receiving an ESA Academy scholarship, which allowed her to participate in the XXI International School of Astrobiology ‘Josep Comas i Solà’: Origins to Organisms: Understanding Life’s Beginnings. Great job!
👨🎓 Let's welcome our new PhD student, Merlin Weiß! He works on the BiOcean5D project to understand how marine biodiversity changes across space, time, and environmental gradients. Welcome, and we hope you'll have a wonderful time here!
August 11, 2025 at 7:01 AM
👨🎓 Let's welcome our new PhD student, Merlin Weiß! He works on the BiOcean5D project to understand how marine biodiversity changes across space, time, and environmental gradients. Welcome, and we hope you'll have a wonderful time here!
📚 For his MSc thesis at ETH Zurich, David Racine is developing a rapid biodiversity assessment method across various land uses. He uses eDNA swabbing to detect insects and mammals, and automated plant ID via the FlorID and Pl@ntNet APIs.
David, we are so proud of you and wish you all the best!
David, we are so proud of you and wish you all the best!
August 4, 2025 at 7:01 AM
📚 For his MSc thesis at ETH Zurich, David Racine is developing a rapid biodiversity assessment method across various land uses. He uses eDNA swabbing to detect insects and mammals, and automated plant ID via the FlorID and Pl@ntNet APIs.
David, we are so proud of you and wish you all the best!
David, we are so proud of you and wish you all the best!
Our MSc student, Deniz Imir, is trying to better understand the relationship between landscape perception and biodiversity. He conducted eDNA-based biodiversity monitoring in various catchments across Switzerland (see the map) to assess the presence of mammals and insects in the region. Good luck!
July 28, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Our MSc student, Deniz Imir, is trying to better understand the relationship between landscape perception and biodiversity. He conducted eDNA-based biodiversity monitoring in various catchments across Switzerland (see the map) to assess the presence of mammals and insects in the region. Good luck!
Congratulations to Monika Goralczyk, who recently defended her PhD thesis "Uncovering mammal diversity patterns and tropical forest dynamics with environmental DNA". We are very proud of you and wish you all the best in the future!
July 14, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Congratulations to Monika Goralczyk, who recently defended her PhD thesis "Uncovering mammal diversity patterns and tropical forest dynamics with environmental DNA". We are very proud of you and wish you all the best in the future!
📢 New research published in Ecological Modelling explores sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasting of thermal stress for Swiss river fishes. The study aims to enhance our understanding of thermal stress impacts on freshwater ecosystems.
Read the full paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...
#S2S
Read the full paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...
#S2S
July 7, 2025 at 7:02 AM
📢 New research published in Ecological Modelling explores sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) forecasting of thermal stress for Swiss river fishes. The study aims to enhance our understanding of thermal stress impacts on freshwater ecosystems.
Read the full paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...
#S2S
Read the full paper here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...
#S2S
Congratulations to Dr. Shuo Zong for defending his PhD thesis, "Combining remote sensing and eDNA for fish diversity monitoring in large river corridors". It was a pleasure having you on our team, and we wish you all the best in the future!
June 30, 2025 at 7:01 AM
Congratulations to Dr. Shuo Zong for defending his PhD thesis, "Combining remote sensing and eDNA for fish diversity monitoring in large river corridors". It was a pleasure having you on our team, and we wish you all the best in the future!
📢 New paper out in Nature Communications! Using sedimentary ancient DNA from 14 alpine lakes, this study reveals how wild and domesticated herbivores have shaped plant diversity in the Alps over the past 14,000 years.
Check it out here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #ancientDNA #alps
Check it out here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #ancientDNA #alps
June 16, 2025 at 7:02 AM
📢 New paper out in Nature Communications! Using sedimentary ancient DNA from 14 alpine lakes, this study reveals how wild and domesticated herbivores have shaped plant diversity in the Alps over the past 14,000 years.
Check it out here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #ancientDNA #alps
Check it out here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#biodiversity #ancientDNA #alps
😎 We launched an eDNA lab in Bhutan!
The eDNA Laboratory for biodiversity research and conservation was officially launched at the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, on 25 April 2025. We thank all individuals and partners who contributed to it.
#eDNA #Bhutan #Biodiversity
The eDNA Laboratory for biodiversity research and conservation was officially launched at the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, on 25 April 2025. We thank all individuals and partners who contributed to it.
#eDNA #Bhutan #Biodiversity
June 9, 2025 at 7:01 AM
😎 We launched an eDNA lab in Bhutan!
The eDNA Laboratory for biodiversity research and conservation was officially launched at the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, on 25 April 2025. We thank all individuals and partners who contributed to it.
#eDNA #Bhutan #Biodiversity
The eDNA Laboratory for biodiversity research and conservation was officially launched at the College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, on 25 April 2025. We thank all individuals and partners who contributed to it.
#eDNA #Bhutan #Biodiversity
📄 Congratulations to Théophile Sanchez and co-authors on the new publication "Deep-learning-based ordination for raw environmental DNA samples" in Methods in Ecology and Evolution!
Read more: doi.org/10.1111/2041...
#eDNA #deeplearning #biodiversity #ordination #AIinEcology #MethodsInEcology
Read more: doi.org/10.1111/2041...
#eDNA #deeplearning #biodiversity #ordination #AIinEcology #MethodsInEcology
June 2, 2025 at 10:25 AM
📄 Congratulations to Théophile Sanchez and co-authors on the new publication "Deep-learning-based ordination for raw environmental DNA samples" in Methods in Ecology and Evolution!
Read more: doi.org/10.1111/2041...
#eDNA #deeplearning #biodiversity #ordination #AIinEcology #MethodsInEcology
Read more: doi.org/10.1111/2041...
#eDNA #deeplearning #biodiversity #ordination #AIinEcology #MethodsInEcology
📄 Congratulations to Monika Goralczyk and co-authors on the recent publication in Environmental DNA! "Combining eDNA Metabarcoding, Hydrology-Based Modeling and Camera Trap Datasets to Assess the Potential of River eDNA in Monitoring Terrestrial Mammals "
Read more: doi.org/10.1002/edn3...
Read more: doi.org/10.1002/edn3...
May 26, 2025 at 7:02 AM
📄 Congratulations to Monika Goralczyk and co-authors on the recent publication in Environmental DNA! "Combining eDNA Metabarcoding, Hydrology-Based Modeling and Camera Trap Datasets to Assess the Potential of River eDNA in Monitoring Terrestrial Mammals "
Read more: doi.org/10.1002/edn3...
Read more: doi.org/10.1002/edn3...