Robert Thomas Bischoff - PhD Student

Insect-plant interactions in fruit growing

I study insects and arachnids in orchard agroecosystems. Specifically, my focus is on the effects of different cultural measures (e.g. use of pesticides, microclimatic changes in the stand due to different canopies) on arthropods in orchards. A better understanding of these influences on biotic interactions forms the basis for establishing new, more environmentally friendly crop protection methods in orchards. We carry out our experiments at the Competence Centre for Fruit Production in the Lake Constance Region (Link) and at the University of Hohenheim. Our research is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection as part of the European Innovation Partnership "Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability" (EIP-AGRI) funding measure.

Ecotoxicology of insecticides using non-target organisms

Another research topic I am involved in is studying the effects of insecticides on non-target insects that inhabit agricultural landscapes. We use native nettle-feeding butterflies (e.g. the small tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae) as a model system. Our goal is to improve our understanding on the role of insecticides in the environment as a potential driver of the insect decline.

Expertise

• Broad taxonomic knowledge of insects
• Statistical evaluation (R and SAS) of experiments, primarily using linear (mixed) models and generalized linear (mixed) models
• Field trials with insects in orchards
• Dose-response bioassays with insecticides