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THE BIOCENTER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WÜRZBURG

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It took months of computer work to decipher the spatial structure of the viral RNA polymerase. The picture shows the protein complex with its specific subunits from different sides.

Vaccinia viruses serve as a vaccine against human smallpox and as the basis of new cancer therapies. Two studies now provide fascinating insights into their unusual propagation strategy at the atomic level.

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Wild honeybees at their nesting place in a tree cavity.

The forests in Europe provide habitat for around 80,000 colonies of wild honeybees. That is why more attention should be paid to preserving the nesting sites for these threatened insects, according to researchers.

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Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Juliano Sarmento Cabral, Ludmilla Figueiredo und Jochen Krauß (v.l).

If ecosystems are disturbed, this can trigger the extinction of species. For her research in this field, the journal Ecography awards biologist Ludmilla Figueiredo with a prize.

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Highly Cited Researchers 2019 at JMU: Hermann Einsele, Rainer Hedrich, Andreas Rosenwald, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Hans Konrad Müller-Hermelink, Jörg Vogel, Frank Würthner, Laurens Molenkamp, and Christoph Wanner.

Their work is most frequently cited in publications of other scientists. Eight researchers from the University of Würzburg have therefore been added to the Highly Cited Researchers 2019 List.

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In temperate latitudes, the circadian clock of the fruit fly follows a clear rhythm. Animals that live near the poles in contrast exhibit a highly arrhythmic behaviour.

Circadian clocks coordinate the organism to the alternating cycles of day and night. Scientists from the University of Würzburg have studied how these clocks work in polar regions where days or nights can last for weeks.

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Radar can be used to survey the diversity of species in forests. The picture shows a complex mixed mountain forest.

With freely available radar data from satellites, biodiversity in forests can be analysed very well. In Nature Communications, researchers report that biodiversity even of tiny insects can be reliably modelled from space.

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A pantaloon bee with pollen baskets visiting blue weed: multiple bee species contribute to pollination services in agricultural landscapes.

Around 20 percent of the world's agricultural areas yields less than it did 20 years ago. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization FAO, humans are the culprit: we have not done enough to protect biodiversity.

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Pflanzen schützen sich vor Pilzen und anderen Krankheitserregern (Pathogenen), indem sie ihre Stomata verschließen.

Using special receptors, plants recognize when they are at risk of fungal infection. This new finding could help cultivate resistant crops and reduce pesticide usage.

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Spruces killed by bark beetles in the Bavarian Forest National Park

Removing dead trees from the forests and reforesting on a large scale: this is the German Federal Government's strategy against "Forest Dieback 2.0". Ecologists from the University of Würzburg call for other solutions.

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A spider’s web together with the molecular structure of the investigated domain

Scientists from the University of Würzburg have discovered that spider silk contains an exceptional protein. It generates high bonding strength by making use of an amino acid scientists have hitherto paid little attention to.

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A solitary bee leaves an artificial nest. The individual breeding chambers are separated and each contains only one larva. This prevents direct contact with sisters or mothers.

More than 90 percent of all bee species are not organized in colonies, but fight their way through life alone. They are also threatened. Scientists from Würzburg demand more research on the ecology of these insects.

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Gas exchange through the stomata: Carbon dioxide is taken in; at the same time a hundred water molecules (H2O) escape for each CO2 molecule that is taken up.

Plants face a dilemma in dry conditions: they have to seal themselves off to prevent losing too much water but this also limits their uptake of carbon dioxide. A sensory network assures that the plant strikes the right balance.

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Three examples of the animal species filmed at Kilimanjaro (from left): an Abbott’s duiker, a blue monkey and a black serval.

Numerous large mammals have been documented with video traps on Mount Kilimanjaro by a research group of Würzburg University. The protected areas of the mountain are of tremendous importance for the biodiversity of this animal group.

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Epichloë hypha between plant cells.

Stories of mass poisoning incidents of livestock due to toxic grasses made headlines especially overseas. Animal ecologists from Würzburg have studied whether this hazard is also lurking on German pastures.

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