Refine
Document Type
- Article (1)
- Doctoral Thesis (1)
Language
- English (2) (remove)
Has Fulltext
- yes (2)
Keywords
- Arthropods (1)
- Greenland (1)
- Ovibos moschatus (1)
- eDNA (1)
- nematodes (1)
- tundra (1)
Faculty / Organisational entity
This thesis comprises several independent research studies on transition metal complexes as trapped ions in isolation. Electrospray Ionization (ESI) serves to transfer ions from solution into the gas phase for mass spectrometric investigations. Subsequently, a variety of experimental and theoretical methods provide fundamental insights into molecular properties of the isolated complexes: InfraRed (Multiple) Photon Dissociation (IR-(M)PD) spectroscopy provides information on binding motifs and molecular structures at cryo temperatures as well as at room temperature. Collision Induced Dissociation (CID) serves to elucidate molecular fragmentation pathways as well as relative stabilities of the complexes at room temperature. Quantum chemical calculations via Density Functional Theory (DFT) substantiate the experimental results and deepen the fundamental insights into the molecular properties of the complexes. Magnetic couplings between metal centers in oligonuclear complexes are investigated by Broken Symmetry DFT modelling and X Ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism (XMCD) spectroscopy.
The Arctic is undergoing strong environmental changes, affecting species and
whole biological communities. To assess the impact on these communities,
including their composition and functions, we need more information on their
current distribution and biology. In the High-Arctic tundra, dung from animals,
such as muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), is a relatively understudied microhabitat
that may be attractive for organisms like dung-feeding insects as well as gastrointestinal
parasites. Using a DNA barcoding approach, we examined muskox
droppings from two Greenlandic regions for dung-dwelling invertebrates. In
15% of all samples, we found the DNA of insect species in the orders Diptera
and Lepidoptera. The saprophagous Diptera colonized dung differently in west
versus north-east Greenland and summer versus winter. In addition, we found
muskox dung harbouring endoparasitic nematodes in samples from both
regions. However, we could not find traces of saprophagous arthropods, such as
collembolans and mites, from the soil sphere. Our pilot study sheds a first light on the invertebrates living in this neglected Arctic microhabitat.