Evolutionary ecology of above-below-ground plant-animal interaction
Mechanistic Community Ecology, Soil Ecology
Which biotic and abiotic factors drive variation in species interactions remains a central question in ecology. In our lab we take advantage of natural variation in species interaction generated by ecological gradients, and we use different approaches, including field common gardens, behavioral assays, chemical and phylogenetic analyses to address this question. By studying multitrophic interactions in natural settings we aim at harnessing the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms of community assembly, and ultimately, we hope to use this fundamental knowledge for targeted application related to crop production and biological control of insect pests.
Recent Publications
- Test of communication between potato plants in response to herbivory by the Colorado potato beetle
Abdala-Roberts, Luis; Vazquez-Gonzalez, Carla; Rasmann, Sergio; Moreira, Xoaquin
Agricultural And Forest Entomology 10.1111/afe.12484 JAN 2022 - Functional Traits 2.0: The power of the metabolome for ecology
Walker, Tom W. N.; Alexander, Jake M.; Allard, Pierre-Marie; Baines, Oliver; Baldy, Virginie; et al.
Journal Of Ecology 10.1111/1365-2745.13826 JAN 2022 - Dose-dependent effects of CeO2 nanomaterials on tomato plant chemistry and insect herbivore resistance
Xiao, Zhenggao; Fan, Ningke; Yue, Le; Chen, Feiran; Ji, Haihua; et al.
Environmental Science-nano 10.1039/d1en00837d DEC 9 2021 - The functional role and diversity of soil nematodes are stronger at high elevation in the lesser Himalayan Mountain ranges
Kouser, Yasmeen; Shah, Ali Asghar; Rasmann, Sergio
Ecology And Evolution 10.1002/ece3.8061 OCT 2021 - Reconciling trait based perspectives along a trait-integration continuum
Fontana, Simone; Rasmann, Sergio; de Bello, Francesco; Pomati, Francesco; Moretti, Marco
Ecology 10.1002/ecy.3472 OCT 2021 - Spatial and temporal heterogeneity in pollinator communities maintains within-species floral odour variation
Szenteczki, Mark A.; Godschalx, Adrienne L.; Galman, Andrea; Espindola, Anahi; Gibernau, Marc; et al.
Oikos 10.1111/oik.08445 SEP 2021 - Nanosilicon enhances maize resistance against oriental armyworm (Mythimna separata) by activating the biosynthesis of chemical defenses
Wang, Zhenyu; Zhu, Wenqing; Chen, Feiran; Yue, Le; Ding, Ying; et al.
Science Of The Total Environment 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146378 JUL 15 2021 - Eight key rules for successful data-dependent acquisition in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics
Defossez, Emmanuel; Bourquin, Julien; Reuss, Stephan; Rasmann, Sergio; Glauser, Gaetan
Mass Spectrometry Reviews 10.1002/mas.21715 JUN 2021 - Downregulation of the photosynthetic machinery and carbon storage signaling pathways mediate La2O3 nanoparticle toxicity on radish taproot formation
Xiao, Zhenggao; Yue, Le; Wang, Chuanxi; Chen, Feiran; Ding, Ying; et al.
Journal Of Hazardous Materials 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124971 Published: JUN 5 2021 - Combining phytochemicals and multitrophic interactions to control forest insect pests
Fernandez-Conradi, Pilar; Castagneyrol, Bastien; Jactel, Herve; Rasmann, Sergio
Current Opinion In Insect Science 10.1016/j.cois.2021.04.007 APR 2021 - The effect of community-wide phytochemical diversity on herbivory reverses from low to high elevation
Fernandez-Conradi, Pilar; Defossez, Emmanuel; Delavallade, Adrien; Descombes, Patrice; Pitteloud, Camille; et al.
Journal Of Ecology, 10.1111/1365-2745.13649, MAR 2021 - Spatial and evolutionary predictability of phytochemical diversity
Defossez, E; Pitteloud, C; Descombes, P; Glauser, G; Allard, PM; Walker, TWN; Fernandez-Conradi, P; Wolfender, JL; Pellissier, L; Rasmann, S
Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 10.1073/pnas.2013344118 JAN 19 2021 - The structure of plant-herbivore interaction networks varies along elevational gradients in the European Alps
Pitteloud, Camille; Walser, Jean-Claude; Descombes, Patrice; de Santana, Charles Novaes; Rasmann, Sergio; Pellissier, Loic
Journal Of Biogeography 10.1111/jbi.14014 FEB 2021
Publications 2020
- Bioturbation by endogeic earthworms facilitates entomopathogenic nematode movement toward herbivore-damaged maize roots
Fattore, S; Xiao, ZG; Godschalx, AL; Roder, G; Turlings, TCJ; Le Bayon, RC; Rasmann, S
Scientific Reports 10.1038/s41598-020-78307-0 DEC 4 2020 - Elevational gradients in constitutive and induced oak defences based on individual traits and their correlated expression patterns
Galman, Andrea; Abdala-Roberts, Luis; Wartalska, Pola; Covelo, Felisa; Roder, Gregory; et al.
Oikos 10.1111/oik.07588 DEC 2020 - Apparent inhibition of induced plant volatiles by a fungal pathogen prevents airborne communication between potato plants
Moreira, X; Granjel, RR; de la Fuente, M; Fernandez-Conradi, P; Pasch, V; Soengas, P; Turlings, TCJ; Vazquez-Gonzalez, C; Abdala-Roberts, L; Rasmann, S
Plant Cell And Environment 10.1111/pce.13961 DEC 2020 - Novel trophic interactions under climate change promote alpine plant coexistence
Patrice Descombes; Camille Pitteloud; Gaëtan Glauser; Emmanuel Defossez; Alan Kergunteuil; Pierre-Marie Allard; Sergio Rasmann; Loïc Pellissier
Science, https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6523/1469 DEC 2020 - Ecological convergence of secondary phytochemicals along elevational gradients
Bakhtiari, Moe; Glauser, Gaetan; Defossez, Emmanuel; Rasmann, Sergio
New Phytologist DOI: 10.1111/nph.16966 OCT 2020 - Contrasting responses of above- and below-ground herbivore communities along elevation
Pitteloud, Camille; Descombes, Patrice; Sanchez-Moreno, Sara; Kergunteuil, Alan; Ibanez, Sebastien; et al.
Oecologia DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04778-7 NOV 2020 - The effect of root-associated microbes on plant growth and chemical defence traits across two contrasted elevations
Formenti, Ludovico; Caggia, Veronica; Puissant, Jeremy; Goodall, Tim; Glauser, Gaetan; et al.
Journal Of Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13440 JUN 2020 - To bee or not to bee: The 'raison d'etre' of toxic secondary compounds in the pollen of Boraginaceae
Trunz, Vincent; Lucchetti, Matteo A.; Benon, Dimitri; Dorchin, Achik; Desurmont, Gaylord A.; et al.
Functional Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13581 Published: JUL 2020 - Ontogenetic consistency in oak defence syndromes
Moreira, Xoaquin; Abdala-Roberts, Luis; Galman, Andrea; Bartlow, Andrew W.; Berny-Mier y Teran, Jorge C.; et al.
Journal Of Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13376 MAR 2020 - A global database of soil nematode abundance and functional group composition
van den Hoogen, Johan; Geisen, Stefan; Wall, Diana H.; Wardle, David A.; Traunspurger, Walter; et al.
Scientific Data DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-0437-3 MAR 26 2020 - Plant physical and chemical traits associated with herbivory in situ and under a warming treatment
Descombes, Patrice; Kergunteuil, Alan; Glauser, Gaetan; Rasmann, Sergio; Pellissier, Loic
Journal Of Ecology DOI: 10.1111/1365-2745.13286 MAR 2020 - Tritrophic interactions follow phylogenetic escalation and climatic adaptation
Kergunteuil, Alan; Humair, Laureline; Maire, Anne-Laure; Fernanda Moreno-Aguilar, Maria; Godschalx, Adrienne; et al.
Scientific Reports DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59068-2 FEB 7 2020 - Variation in Below-to Aboveground Systemic Induction of Glucosinolates Mediates Plant Fitness Consequences under Herbivore Attack
Bakhtiari, Moe; Rasmann, Sergio
Journal Of Chemical Ecology DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01159-5 FEB 2020 - Modulation of above-belowground plant-herbivore interactions by entomopathogenic nematodes
Li, Yang; Zhen, Shiyu; Shan, Shaojie; Sun, Bingjiao; Li, Jingjing; et al.
Applied Soil Ecology, DOI: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.103479, APR 2020
Publications 2019
- The effect of biochar amendment on N-cycling genes in soils: A meta-analysis
Xiao, Zhenggao; Rasmann, Sergio; Yue, Le; Lian, Fei; Zou, Hua; et al.
Science Of The Total Environment, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133984, Published: DEC 15 2019 - Parallel increases in insect herbivory and defenses with increasing elevation for both saplings and adult trees of oak (Quercus) species
Galman, Andrea; Abdala-Roberts, Luis; Covelo, Felisa; Rasmann, Sergio; Moreira, Xoaquin
American Journal Of Botany, DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1388, Early Access: NOV 2019 - Plant physical and chemical traits associated with herbivory in situ and under a warming treatment
Descombes, P; Kergunteuil, A; Glauser, GG; Rasmann, S; Pellissier, L
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.13286, OCT 2019 - Inducibility of chemical defences in young oak trees is stronger in species with high elevational ranges
Galman, Andrea; Petry, William K.; Abdala-Roberts, Luis; Butron, Ana; de la Fuente, Maria; et al.
Tree Physiology, DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpy139, Published: APR 2019 - Soil nematode abundance and functional group composition at a global scale
van den Hoogen, J; Geisen, S; Routh, D; Ferris, H; Traunspurger, W; Wardle, DA; de Goede, RGM; Adams, BJ; Ahmad, W; Andriuzzi, WS; Bardgett, RD; Bonkowski, M; Campos-Herrera, R; Cares, JE; Caruso, T; Caixeta, LD; Chen, XY; Costa, SR; Creamer, R; Castro, JMD; Dam, M; Djigal, D; Escuer, M; Griffiths, BS; Gutierrez, C; Hohberg, K; Kalinkina, D; Kardol, P; Kergunteuil, A; Korthals, G; Krashevska, V; Kudrin, AA; Li, Q; Liang, WJ; Magilton, M; Marais, M; Martin, JAR; Matveeva, E; Mayad, E; Mulder, C; Mullin, P; Neilson, R; Nguyen, TAD; Nielsen, UN; Okada, H; Rius, JEP;
Pan, K; Peneva, V; Pellissier, L; da Silva, JCP; Pitteloud, C; Powers, TO; Powers, K; Quist, CW; Rasmann, S; Moreno, SS; Scheu, S; Setala, H; Sushchuk, A; Tiunov, AV; Trap, J; van der Putten, W; Vestergard, M; Villenave, C; Waeyenberge, L; Wall, DH; Wilschut, R; Wright, DG; Yang, JI; Crowther, TW - Deicing Salt Pollution Affects the Foliar Traits and Arthropods' Biodiversity of Lime Trees in Riga's Street Greeneries
Bouraoui, D; Cekstere, G; Osvalde, A; Vollenweider, P; Rasmann, S
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, 7 10.3389/fevo.2019.00282 JUL 31 2019 - Plant adaptation to different climates shapes the strengths of chemically mediated tritrophic interactions
Kergunteuil, A; Humair, L; Munzbergova, Z; Rasmann, S
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, 10.1111/1365-2435.13396 - Correlated Induction of Phytohormones and Glucosinolates Shapes Insect Herbivore Resistance of Cardamine Species Along Elevational Gradients
Robert, CAM; Pellissier, L; Moreira, X; Defossez, E; Pfander, M; Guyer, A; van Dam, NM; Rasmann, S
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ECOLOGY, 45 (7):638-648; 10.1007/s10886-019-01084-2 JUL 2019 - The symbiotic bacteria Alcaligenes faecalis of the entomopathogenic nematodes Oscheius spp. exhibit potential biocontrol of plant- and entomopathogenic fungi
Shan, SJ; Wang, WW; Song, CX; Wang, MG; Sun, BJ; Li, Y; Fu, YQ; Gu, XH; Ruan, WB; Rasmann, S
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY, 12 (3):459-471; 10.1111/1751-7915.13365 MAY 2019 - Contribution of different predator guilds to tritrophic interactions along ecological clines
Godschalx, AL; Rodriguez-Castaneda, G; Rasmann, S
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE, 32 104-109; SI 10.1016/j.cois.2019.01.002 APR 2019 - Variable effects on growth and defense traits for plant ecotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity along elevation gradients
Bakhtiari, M; Formenti, L; Caggia, V; Glauser, G; Rasmann, S
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, 9 (7):3740-3755; 10.1002/ece3.4999 APR 2019 - Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Resistance to Herbivores in Tomato Plants with Reduced Jasmonic Acid Production
Formenti, L; Rasmann, S
AGRONOMY-BASEL, 9 (3):10.3390/agronomy9030131 MAR 12 2019 - Earthworms suppress thrips attack on tomato plants by concomitantly modulating soil properties and plant chemistry
Xiao, ZG; Jiang, LH; Chen, XY; Zhang, Y; Defossez, E; Hu, F; Liu, MQ; Rasmann, S
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY, 130 23-32; 10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.11.023 MAR 2019 - Evolutionary dynamics of specialisation in herbivorous stick insects
Larose, Chloe; Rasmann, Sergio; Schwander, Tanja
ECOLOGY LETTERS, 22 (2):354-364; 10.1111/ele.13197 FEB 2019 - Environmental gradients and the evolution of tri-trophic interactions
Kergunteuil, Alan; Roeder, Gregory; Rasmann, Sergio
ECOLOGY LETTERS, 22 (2):292-301; 10.1111/ele.13190 FEB 2019 - …

Prof. Dr. Sergio Rasmann
University of Neuchâtel
Institute of Biology
2000 Neuchâtel
Tel: +41 (0)32 718 23 37
Research topics
- Plant-animal interactions
- Community ecology along ecological gradients
- Above-belowground interactions
- Plant-herbivore-microbe interaction
- Evolutionary ecology of plant defense strategies
Interdisciplinary
- Chemical ecology
- Metabolomics
- Genomics
- Entomology
- Soil ecology