Dr. Dirk J. Mikolajewski

Rolff Group - Evolutionary Biology
Institute of Biology
Freie Universität Berlin
Group leader
14195 Berlin
Coming soon!
The enormous diversity of organisms in the natural world provides ample motivation for biologists to study the mechanisms producing and shaping such variety. My research revolves around embodied variation in selection by environmental heterogeneity shaping phenotypes in a macro- and microevolutionary context. I focus on the evolution and ecology of phenotypic diversification studying the interaction of individuals with their environment. My work examines multiple trait divergence and phenotypic plasticity in behaviour, morphology, physiology and life-history using larval dragonflies and daphnids as model organisms. I specifically ask how phenotypes alter and become adapted to modifications in predator composition, food availability and time constraints as well as how multivariate trait responses effectively function as an integrated response to environmental challenges and to increase fitness.
Published, peer reviewed
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, L. Ruesen, R. Mauersberger, F. Johansson & J. Rolff (2015). Relaxed selection results in reduced phenotypic integration in a suite of dragonflies. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 28, 1354-1363. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jeb.12658/abstract
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, M. DeBlock & R. Stoks (2015). The interplay of adult and larval time constraints shape species differences in larval life history. Ecology in press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/14-0262.1
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, B. Wohlfahrt, G. Joop & A.P. Beckerman (2013). Sexual size dimorphism and the integration of phenotypically plastic traits. Ecological Entomology, 38, 418-428.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/een.12034/abstract
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, M. De Block, J. Rolff, F. Johansson, A.P. Beckerman & R. Stoks (2010). Predator-driven trait diversification in an odonate genus: covariation in behavioral, morphological and physiological antipredator defense. Evolution, 64, 3327-3335. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2010.01078.x/abstract
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, R. Stoks, J. Rolff & G. Joop (2008). Predators and cannibals modulate sex-specific plasticity in life history and immune traits. Functional Ecology, 22, 114-120. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2007.01357.x/abstract
Wohlfahrt, B.*, D.J. Mikolajewski, G. Joop & S.M. Vamosi (2007). Ontogenetic changes in the association between antipredator responses and growth variables. Ecological Entomology, 32, 567-574.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2311.2007.00902.x/abstract
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, G. Joop & B. Wohlfahrt (2007). Coping with predators and food limitation: testing life history theory for sex-specific larval development. Oikos, 116, 642-649. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2007.15139.x/abstract
Joop, G.*, A. Gillen & D.J. Mikolajewski (2007). Colour polymorphism in female Coenagrion puella: differences in egg shape (Odonata: Coenagrionidae). International Journal of Odonatology, 10, 71-80. pdf
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, F. Johansson, B. Wohlfahrt & R. Stoks (2006). Invertebrate predation selects for the loss of a morphological antipredator trait. Evolution, 60, 1305-1310. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0014-3820.2006.tb01208.x/abstract
Wohlfahrt, B., D.J. Mikolajewski*, G. Joop & F. Suhling (2006). Are behavioural traits in prey sensitive to the risk imposed by predatory fish? Freshwater Biology, 51, 76-84. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2005.01475.x/abstract
Brodin, T.*, D.J. Mikolajewski & F. Johansson (2006). Behavioural and life history effects of predator diet cues during ontogeny in damselfly larvae. Oecologia, 148, 162-169. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16421756
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, T. Brodin, F. Johansson & G. Joop (2005). Phenotypic plasticity in gender specific life-history: effects of food availability and predation. Oikos, 110, 91-100. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2005.13766.x/abstract
Mikolajewski, D.J.* & J. Rolff (2004). Benefits of morphological defence demonstrated by direct manipulation in larval dragonflies. Evolutionary Ecology Research, 6, 619-626. pdf
Mikolajewski, D.J.* & F. Johansson (2004). Morphological and behavioral defenses in dragonfly larvae: trait compensation and cospezialization. Behavioral Ecology, 15, 614-620.http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/4/614.abstract
Mikolajewski, D.J.*, F. Johansson & T. Brodin (2004). Condition-dependent behaviour among damselfly populations. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 82, 653-659. pdf
Book Chapters
Johansson, F. & D.J. Mikolajewski (2008). Evolution of morphological defences. In Dragonflies & Damselflies: Model Organisms for Ecological and Evolutionary Research (ed.) A. Córdoba- Aguilar. Pp. 127-137, Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. pdf
Other Publications
Schütte, C.*, G. Joop, D.J. Mikolajewski, E.C. Mosch, K. Schenk & B. Wohlfahrt (2005). Die FFH-Art Coenagrion mercuriale (Charpentier, 1840) (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) im Niedermoorgebiet “Großes Bruch” in Niedersachsen. Braunschweiger Naturkundliche Schriften, 7,345-354. pdf
Mikolajewski D.J.*, K.G. Leipelt, A. Conrad, S. Giere & J. Weyer (2004). Schneller als gedacht: einjährige Larvalentwicklung und slow life style bei Leucorrhinia caudalis (Odonata: Libellulidae). Libellula, 23, 161-171. pdf
Mikolajewski D.J.* (2001). Dornenausbildung bei Larven der Gattung Sympetrum (Odonata: Anisoptera): Induzierbarer Schutz gegen Fischprädation. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Naturkundemuseums Görlitz, 73, 57-58.
Mikolajewski D.J.*, D. Miksche, K.G. Leipelt & F. Suhling (2000). Weibchenpolymorphismus, Geschlechterverhältnis und Größenunterschied in französischen Populationen von Boyeria irene (Odonata: Anisoptera). Libellula, 19, 1-15.
(*corresponding author)