Dr. Sebastian Kirchhof

Aufgabengebiete

• Gastwissenschaftler Herpetologie

Forschung

• I am an organismal biologist with a strong interest in genome evolution and molecular adaptation and their implementation in conservation biology. My current work focuses on genomic adaptation to extreme conditions in amphibians and reptiles combining ecophysiology and niche modeling, genomics and transcriptomics. I am studying desert reptiles high elevation frogs and their physiological adaptations to their respective extreme environments.

Publikationen (Auswahl)

• Koziel G, S’khifa A, Kirchhof S, MacLeod A, Joger U, Sinervo B, Carretero MA, Slimani T & Vences M (2021) Inference of lizard preferred temperatures differs substantially among experimental methods. Salamandra 57(2): 263–273.
• Childers, J.L., Kirchhof, S. and Bauer, A.M., 2021. Lizards of a different stripe: phylogenetics of the Pedioplanis undata species complex (Squamata, Lacertidae), with the description of two new species. Zoosystematics and Evolution, 97, p.249. DOI 10.3897/zse.97.61351
• Kirchhof, S., Lyra, M.L., Rodríguez, A., Ineich, I., Müller, J., Rödel, M.O., Trape, J.F., Vences, M. and Boissinot, S. (2021) Mitogenome analyses elucidate the evolutionary relationships of a probable Eocene wet tropics relic in the xerophilic lizard genus Acanthodactylus. Scientific reports, 11(1), pp.1-15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83422-7
• Wollenberg Valero, K. C., Garcia-Porta, J., Irisarri, I., Feugere, L., Bates, A., Kirchhof, S.,... et al. (under review). Abiotic environmental adaptation in vertebrates is characterized by functional genomic constraint. Journal of Animal Ecology. (bioRxiv, 726240).
• Garcia-Porta, J., Irisarri, I., Kirchner, M., Rodríguez, A., Kirchhof, S. ... et al. (2019) Environmental temperatures shape thermal physiology as well as diversification and genome-wide substitution rates in lizards. Nature Communications 10:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11943-x.
• Sinervo, B., Miles, D. B., Wu, Y., Mendez de la Cruz, F. R., Kirchhof, S. & Qi, Yin (2018) Climate change, thermal niches, extinction risk and maternal‐effect rescue of Toad‐headed lizards, Phrynocephalus, in thermal extremes of the Arabian Peninsula to the Tibetan Plateau. Integrative Zoology. DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12315
• Kirchhof, S., Hetem, R. S., Lease, H. M., Miles, D., Mitchell, D., Müller, J., Rödel, M.-O., Sinervo, B., Wassenaar, T. & Murray, I. W. (2018). Thermoregulatory behaviour and high thermal preference buffer impact of climate change in a Namib Desert lizard. Ecosphere 8(12). DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2033
• Kirchhof, S., Penner, J., Rödel, M.- O. & Müller, J. (2017). Resolution of the types, diagnostic features, and distribution of two easily confused Sand Lizards, Pedioplanis laticeps (Smith, 1845) and P. burchelli (Duméril & Bibron, 1839) (Squamata: Lacertidae). Zootaxa 4328:82-109.
• Kirchhof, S., Mahlow, K. & Tillack, F. (2016). The identity of Stenorhabdium temporale Werner, 1909 (Serpentes: Colubroidea). Vertebrate Zoology 66:179-190.
• Engleder, A., Haring, E., Kirchhof, S. & Mayer, W. (2013): Multiple nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences provide new insights into the phylogeny of South African Lacertids (Lacertidae, Eremiadinae). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 51:132-143.
• Kirchhof, S., Jacobsen, N. H. G. & Richter, K. (2012): Intraspecific variation of morphology, pholidosis and tail loss rate in a relic lacertid of South Africa, Australolacerta rupicola (FitzSimons 1933) (Sauria: Lacertidae). Salamandra 48:125-132.
• Kirchhof, S., Linden, J., Rödder, D. & Richter, K. (2010): Daily activity patterns of Australolacerta rupicola (FitzSimons, 1933) (Sauria: Lacertidae) with comments on niche segregation within a syntopic lizard community. North-Western Journal of Zoology 6:172-181.
• Kirchhof, S., Linden, J., Rödder, D. & Richter, K. (2010): Foraging mode of Australolacerta rupicola (FitzSimons 1933) (Sauria: Lacertidae): Evidence of seasonal variation in an extremely active forager? Journal of Natural History 44:2941-2953.
• Kirchhof, S., Krämer, M., Linden, J. & Richter, K. (2010): The reptile species assemblage of the Soutpansberg (Limpopo Province, South Africa) and its characteristics. Salamandra 46:147-166.