Gisela Kopp

I. Which data and analyses are needed to efficiently describe diverse social systems across taxa in a quantitative way?

II. Do these descriptors consistently correlate with measures of genetic structure and diversity across taxa?

III. Is genetic structure and diversity a predictor of diversification and species richness?

IV. Do certain behavioural traits, through their effects on diversity and differentiation, impact diversification patterns on a macroevolutionary scale?

By formulating an explicit framework and addressing all the links within, we will reach a better understanding of the role of interspecific behavioural differences in population dynamics and speciation processes. The force of behavioural variation in macroevolution has been largely ignored and its appreciation will serve as a substantial complement to classical views on the causes of speciation. This will constitute an essential step towards understanding the complex interplay between ecology, social behaviour, and adaptive evolution and the underlying genomic processes.

To accomplish this, we combine meta-analyses across a diverse set of animals, with case studies, for which behavioural and genomic data is collected in wild populations.

Establishing fecalFACS as a method to investigate the genomic relatedness networks that underlie social interaction networks in natural animal populations (with Dr. U. Kalbitzer, PD D. Dechmann, MPI-AB)

How genomic relatedness within and across groups shapes the behavior of vulturine guineafowl (with Dr. D. Papageorgiou, Prof. D. Farine, University of Zurich)

Using non-human primates to unravel ancient biocultural exchange networks (with Prof. N. J. Dominy, Dartmouth College)

The impact of ranging behaviour on genetic diversity and structure in mammals (with Dr. K. Safi, MPI-AB; Dr. M. Tucker, Radboud University, Prof. T. Müller, BiK-F)

Evolutionary consequences of social system variation in primates (with Dr. H. Morlon, ENS Paris)

Population genomics of a fission-fusion society: the influence of relatedness on social networks in Thomson's Gazelles (with Dr. B. Costelloe, MPI-AB)

Comparative sociogenetics of sympatric neotropical bats (with PD D. Dechmann, MPI-AB)

Google Scholar Profile

Peer-reviewed scientific journal publications (*supervised student co-author)

(20.) Kopp GH, Papageorgiou D, *Dorendorf T, Hume B, Nyaguthii B, Kraus RHS, Farine DR (in prep) Low coverage whole genome sequencing sheds new light on the multilevel social organisation of vulturine guineafowl.

19. *Grathwol F, Roos C, Zinner D, Hume B, Porcier S, Berthet D, Cuisin J, Merker S, Ottoni C, Van Neer W, Dominy N, Kopp GH (2023) Adulis and the transshipment of baboons during classical antiquity. eLIFE 2023;12:e87513 PDF. Preprint * covered by e.g. The New Scientist, The Times, The Hindu, Deutschlandfunk, Ars Technica

18. Kopp GH, Sithaldeen R, Trede F, *Grathwol F, Roos C, Zinner D (2023) A comprehensive overview of baboon phylogenetic history. Genes 14(3):614. PDF

17.   Fischer J, Higham JP, Alberts SC, Barrett L, Beehner JC, Bergman TJ, Carter A, Collins A, Elton S, Fagot J, Ferreira da Silva M, Hammerschmidt K, Henzi P, Jolly C, Knauf S, Kopp GH, Rogers J, Roos C, Ross C, Seyfarth RM, Silk J, Snyder-Mackler N, Städele V, Swedell L, Wilson ML, Zinner D (2019) The natural history of model organisms: Insights into the evolution of social systems and species from baboon studies. eLIFE 8:e50989. PDF

16.   Walker JA, …, Baboon Genome Analysis Consortium, Batzer MA (2019) Alu insertion polymorphisms shared by Papio baboons and Theropithecus gelada reveal an intertwined common ancestry. Mobile DNA 10: 46. PDF

15.   Rogers J, …, Kopp GH, et al. (2019) The comparative genomics and complex population history of Papio baboons. ScienceAdvances 5(1): eaau6947. PDF     * covered by e.g. Phys.org, VBiO, Göttinger Tageblatt, DNA Science Blog

14.   Jordan, VE, …, Baboon Genome Analysis Consortium, et al. (2018) A Computational Reconstruction of Papio Phylogeny Using Alu Insertion Polymorphisms. Mobile DNA 9: 13. PDF

13.   Steely CJ, Baker JN, Walker JA, Loupe CD, Baboon Genome Analysis Consortium, Batzer MA (2018) Analysis of Lineage-Specific Alu Subfamilies in the Genome of the Olive Baboon, Papio anubis. Mobile DNA 9: 10. PDF

12.   Ferreira da Silva MJ, Kopp GH, Casanova C, Godinho R, Minhós T, Sá R, Zinner D, Bruford MW (2018) Disrupted dispersal and its genetic consequencs: comparing protected and threatened baboon populations (Papio papio) in West Africa. PLoS ONE 13(4): e0194189. PDF

11.   Fischer J, Kopp GH, Dal Pesco F, Goffe A, Hammerschmidt K, Kalbitzer U, Klapproth M, Maciej P, Ndao I, Patzelt A, Zinner D (2017) Charting the neglected West: the social system of Guinea baboons. Am J Phys Anthropol 162: 15-31. PDF

10.   Kalbitzer U, Roos C, Kopp GH, Butynski TM, Knauf S, Zinner D, Fischer J (2016) Insights into the genetic foundation of aggression in Papio and the evolution of two length-polymorphisms in the promoter regions of serotonin-related genes (5-HTTLPR and MAOALPR) in Papionini. BMC Evol Biol 16: 121. PDF     * covered by BMC OnBiology Blog

9.     Snyder-Mackler N, Majoros WH, Yuan ML, Shaver AO, Gordon, JB, Kopp GH, Schlebusch SA, Wall JA, Alberts SC, Mukherjee S, Zhou X, Tung J (2016). Efficient genome-wide sequencing and low coverage pedigree analysis from non-invasively collected samples. Genetics 203: 699–714. PDF     * covered by Genes to Genomes Blog

8.     Kopp GH, Patzelt A, Fischer J, Roos C, Zinner D (2015) Population genetic insights into the social organization of Guinea baboons (Papio papio): Evidence for female-biased dispersal. Am J Primatol. 77: 878-889. PDF

7.     Kopp GH, Roos C, Butynski TM, Wildman DE, Alagaili AN, Groeneveld LF, Zinner D (2014) Out of Africa, but how and when? The case of hamadryas baboons (Papio hamadryas). J Hum Evol 76: 154-164. PDF     * notable paper on John Hawks Weblog

6.     Patzelt A, Kopp GH, Ndao I, Kalbitzer U, Zinner D, Fischer J (2014) Male tolerance and male-male bonds in a multi-level primate society. PNAS 111(41): 14740–14745. PDF     * covered by e.g. ScienceDaily, Phys.org, Scinexx, Süddeutsche Zeitung

5.     Kopp GH, Ferreira da Silva MJ, Fischer J, Brito JC, Regnaut S, Roos C, Zinner D (2014) The influence of social systems on patterns of mitochondrial DNA variation in baboons. Int J Primatol 35: 210-225. PDF

4.     Yang M, Yang Y, Cui D, Fickenscher G, Zinner D, Roos C, Brameier M (2012) Population genetic structure of Guizhou snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus brelichi) as inferred from mitochondrial control region sequences, and comparison with R. roxellana and R. bieti. Am J Phys Anthropol 147: 1-10. PDF

3.     Fischer J, Semple S, Fickenscher G, Jürgens R, Kruse E, Heistermann M, Amir O (2011) Do women’s voices provide cues of the likelihood of ovulation? The importance of sampling regime. PLoS ONE 6: e24490. PDF        * covered by e.g. Deutsche Welle, Süddeutsche Zeitung

2.     Patzelt A, Zinner D, Fickenscher G, Diedhiou S, Camara B, Stahl D, Fischer J (2011) Group composition of Guinea baboons (Papio papio) at a water place suggests a fluid social organization. Int J Primatol 32: 652-668. PDF

1.     Lehmann J, Fickenscher G, Boesch C (2006) Kin biased investment in wild chimpanzees. Behaviour, 143: 931-955. PDF

Book chapters

1.     Zinner D, Fickenscher G, Roos C (2013) Family Cercopithecidae (Old World Monkeys). In: RA Mittermeier, DE Wilson (eds.) Handbook of the Mammals of the World, Volume 3: Primates. Lynx Ediciones, Barcelona. Pp. 550-627

Edited Book

1.     Holzapfel M (2023) Young Scientists - 30 Forschende und ihre Wege in die Wissenschaft. Die Junge Akademie (ed). Hanser Verlag. PREVIEW

Technical Report

1.     Wallis J, Alonso C, Barlow C, Brito J, Ferreira da Silva MJ, Hernansaiz A, Kopp GH, Vale C, Zinner D (2020) Papio papio. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T16018A17952926. LINK

Code

1.     Kopp GH, Dorendorf T, Hume B. (2022) A workflow for sWGS genotype likelihood calling and relatedness estimation (with no known variant sets). Nextflow Pipeline LINK

(Science) Policy publications

3.     ALLEA’s Working Group ERA (2022) ALLEA statement for an ERA of freedom and excellence. Berlin: ALLEA LINK

2.     Eichhorn A, Fuchs SW, Kopp GH, Kretschmer R, Merl T, Segets D, de Wolff T (2022) Perspektiven auf das Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz. Berlin: Die Junge Akademie LINK

1.     Kopp GH, Kretschmer R (2020) Ein Tarif für Doktoranden? Ja – wir brauchen eine einheitliche Bezahlung für Promovierende! Die ZEIT 46/2020:41 LINK

download CV

Scientific Career

Since 03/2018 Research Fellow, Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz

Additional affiliations: Department of Biology & Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz; Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

06/2016 – 02/2018 Postdoctoral Scientist; Disease Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics Group, Department of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell

07/2010 – 04/2015 Doctoral Scientist, Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen

04 – 09/2007 Field assistant, Centre de Recherche de Primatologie Simenti, Senegal

12/2004 – 04/2009 Student research assistant, Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen

10/2003 – 04/2004 Research intern, Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig

Education

07/2010 – 04/2015 PhD, Biodiversity and Ecology, Georg-August-University Göttingen

Dissertation: Gene Flow Dynamics in Baboons: The Influence of Social Systems.   PDF

Grade: summa cum laude

10/2004 – 05/2010 Diploma, Biology (Major: Anthropology, Zoology, Human Genetics), Georg-August-University Göttingen

Diploma thesis: Genetic Population Structure of Free-Ranging Guinea Baboons (Papio papio) in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal.

Advisors: Dr. D. Zinner, Prof. Dr. J. Fischer

Grade: sehr gut

Awards & Honours

2023 Harris Distinguished Visiting Professorship, Dartmouth College

2022 University Council Award, University Council of the University of Konstanz

2020 Member of Die Junge Akademie at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

2016 DPZ sponsorship Award, Sponsorship Society of the German Primate Center

2010 GfP-Award for Young Researchers, Gesellschaft für Primatologie

Fellowships & Grants

2022 Workshop grant, Wenner-Gren Foundation

2021 Project grant, Die Junge Akademie

2021 Project grant, Die Junge Akademie

2018 Hector Pioneer fellowship, Hector Stiftung II

2017 Brigitte Schlieben Lange Postdoc fellowship, Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Württemberg

2016 Research grant, German Society for Mammalian Biology

2016 Postdoc stipend, Sponsorship Society of the German Primate Center

2014 Stipend, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard-Foundation

2014 Conference travel grant, DAAD

2012 Research grant, The Leakey Foundation

2012 Field travel grant, DAAD

2011 Student bursary, European Federation for Primatology

2011 Conference travel grant, Universitätsbund Göttingen

2010 Conference travel grant, DAAD

2009 Field travel grant, DAAD

2009 Field research grant, Christian-Vogel-Fonds

Grants & Fellowships supported as Host

2023 Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt MOE Fellowship, Nia Toshkova, National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences/Bulgaria

2022 Zukunftskolleg Senior Fellowship, Prof. Nathaniel Dominy, Dartmouth College/US

2022 Zukunftskolleg Senior Fellowship, Prof. James Higham, New York University/US

2022 Zukunftskolleg Senior Fellowship, Prof. Amanda Melin, University of Calgary/Canada

Intramural competitive research funding, University of Konstanz

2021 & 2022 Medium & small project grant, Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour

2020 Konstanzia fellowship, Equal Opportunities Office

2019 Internationalisation measures grant, International Office

2018 – 2023 Flexible working conditions for Postdocs with Family Duties, Equal Opportunities Office

2017, 2020 Young scholar fund, Committee on Research

2017 Interdisciplinary collaborative projects grant, Zukunftskolleg

2017 – 2018 Mentorship programme, Zukunftskolleg

Zukunft der BBAW, Panel discussion, Leibniztag of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW). Berlin, 16.6.2023.

Wie geht es Hannah in anderen OECD-Ländern? Reformoptionen für wissenschaftliche Karrieren, Panel discussion, OECD Berlin Centre. Online, 10.1.2023.

Young Scientists - 30 Forschende und ihre Wege in die Wissenschaft, Children’s book (in press, Hanser Verlag), contribution to conceptualization and content LINK

An evening with Dian, introductory talk to “Gorillas in the Mist”, SFB 969, Equal Opportunity Office and Lumière University Cinema: Movie series with female role models. Konstanz, 8.6.2022.

„Wissen – Handeln?“, Podcast: discussions on science, outreach and activism with various researchers, contribution to conceptualization and content. Since 2021. LINK

#IchbinHanna – Machen Zeitverträge die Wissenschaft in Deutschland kaputt? Radio interview at SWR2 Impuls. 17.6.2021.

Research and family in the pandemic, Panel discussion, ERUA event: Our Europe today. Online, 17.6.2021.

Junge Forscherinnen ausgebremst, Panel discussion, Körber-Stiftung. Online, 6.5.2021

Migration – Perspective from Biology, lightning talk at midissage of “Anima Mundi” exhibition, UBiAS topic of the year event: Migration Stories, University of Konstanz. Konstanz, 25.6.2019

[Damals, neu an der Uni…], contribution to Facebook-Portrait Series of the University of Konstanz. 20.4.2018, LINK

A Primer to the German Academic System, contribution to the “Academic life histories” blog. 24.4.2018, LINK