RNDr. Martin Volf, Ph.D.
Job Position: Head of Laboratory - Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology
Phone:
+420 387775038; +420 778 729 044
E-mail:
volf@entu.cas.cz
I specialize on insect-plant relationships, evolution of plant defensive traits, and chemical ecology. Mainly, I am interested in the roles that insect-plant coevolution plays in promoting the astonishing chemical diversity in plants.
Throughout my projects, I aim at linking various approaches to studying origins and roles of chemical diversity in plants. My research interests range from macroevolutionary studies showing how chemical diversity evolves in response to interactions with natural enemies, through studies showing how plant chemical diversity varies at intraspecific level along major ecological gradients, to studying temporal changes within individual plants that help them to cope with insect herbivores. This allows me to see the evolution and roles of chemical diversity from a broad perspective.
I am particularly interested in the evolutionary trends in Ficus and Salix chemical defences. Both Ficus and Salix are key plant genera supporting high diversity of insects. Understanding the evolution of their specialized metabolites is thus crucial for understanding not only the evolution of plant chemical diversity but also for understanding the factors driving diversity and specialization of insect herbivores.
Researcher unique identifier(s): ResearcherID: O-4321-2017, ORCID: 0000-0003-4126-3897
EDUCATION
2016 PhD in Entomology: University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, Supervised by V. Novotny
2012 Master in Zoology: University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, Supervised by J. Hrcek
CURRENT POSITION
2019 – present Junior Group Leader, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
2017 – 2019 Postdoc / Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, Molecular Interaction Ecology Group, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Germany
2016 – 2017 Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
2016 – 2017 Postdoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian, USA
2016 Predoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian, USA
2012 – 2016 Postgradual Fellow, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2021 Otto Wichterle Award for outstanding young researchers, Czech Academy of Sciences
2020 Josef Hlávka Award for outstanding students of Prague universities and young researchers of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
2019 – 2020 Humboldt Return Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
2017 – 2019 Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany
2016 Prize of the Czech Entomological Society and 1st prize for the best student talk about invertebrates at national conference in zoology, České Budějovice, CZ
2013 Prize of the Czech Entomological Society and 2nd prize for the best student talk at national conference in zoology, Olomouc, CZ
2012 Rector´s Prize for an outstanding master thesis, University of South Bohemia, CZ
2012 Dean's Prize for an outstanding master thesis, University of South Bohemia, CZ
RESEARCH GRANTS
2020 – 2022 Czech Science Foundation Junior Research Grant, 20-10543Y (330,000 EUR)
2020 – 2021 Czech Academy of Sciences grant within the Programme for Research and Mobility Support of Young Researchers, MSM200962004 (22,000 EUR)
2015 University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science Student Grant, 103-016/2015/P (3,000 EUR)
SUPERVISION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS
2020 – present 1 Postdoc supervisor, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
2020 – present 2 PhD students supervisor, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
2020 – present 2 PhD students co-supervisor, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
2013 – 2015 1 Master student supervisor, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
2020 – 2021 1 Master student co-supervisor, University of Leipzig, Germany
2018 – 2019 2 Master internships supervisor, iDiv, Germany
2021 – present 1 Bachelor student supervisor, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
2014 – 2017 1 Bachelor student supervisor, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
2013 – 2015 1 Bachelor student co-supervisor, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
2020 – present Guarantor, Courses on Scientific Reading and Writing, University of South Bohemia, CZ
2018 Invited speaker, Research seminar in ecology, University in Jena, DE
2014 – 2015 Lecturer, Field Course in Vertebrate and Insect Zoology, University of South Bohemia, CZ
2014 Lecturer, Field Course in Alpine Zoology, University of South Bohemia, CZ
2012 – 2013 Lecturer, Practicals in Insect Systematics and Practicals in Invertebrate Biology, University of South Bohemia, CZ
ORGANISATION AND LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES
2019 – present Junior Group Leader, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic
2013 – present Coordinator of field projects:
Czech Republic (2012 – present): teams of up to 12 researchers and students supervised during multiple projects focused on exploring insect-plant interactions and canopy communities of arthropods
United States (2016 – present): teams of up to 6 students, researchers, and assistants supervised during projects focused on ecology of canopy arthropods and willow ecology
Austria (2020): 2 students and assistants supervised in the field over two months during a project focused on chemical ecology of willows in alpine conditions
Germany (2018 – 2019): teams of up to up to 6 students, researchers and volunteers supervised during several projects focused on chemical ecology of canopy communities and on roles of infochemicals in plant defence
Panama (2016): 5 students and assistants supervised during implementation of protocols on large-scale canopy insect sampling
Japan (2014 – 2015): teams of up to 5 researchers and students supervised over six months during projects focused on ecology of canopy arthropods
REVIEWING ACTIVITIES
2015 – present Reviewer for 14 research journals: Biodiversity Data Journal, Biotropica, Ecography, Ecosphere, Botany, Current Opinion in Insect Science, Ecological Entomology, Ecology, Ecology Letters, European Journal of Entomology, Functional Ecology, Journal of Chemical Ecology, Journal of Ecology, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Scientific Reports,
2017 – present Referee for The Charles University Grant Agency (GA UK), CZ
2017 Referee for South Bohemia University Grant Agency (GAJU), CZ
MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
2019 – present Member, British Ecological Society
2021 – present Member, The Czech Society for Ecology
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Volf M, Weinhold A, Seifert CL, Holicová T, Uthe H, Alander E, Richter R, Salminen JP, Wirth C, van Dam NM. Branch-localized induction promotes efficacy of volatile defences and herbivore predation in trees. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 2021. 47:99-111. IF=2.117 in 2019 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01232-z
Plants employ a broad variety of induced defences, including indirect defences such as various volatiles that attract predators and parasitoids. Here we show that their induction can be highly localized to individual branches. This helps trees to redirect their defences where needed to save on energy investment. Furthermore, localized production of volatile organic compounds allows predators efficiently navigate towards the attacked trees or their branches and to readily remove herbivores. In this study we illustrate how total emissions and diversity of indirect chemical defences affect plants, herbivores, and predators.
Volf M, Laitila JE, Kim J, Sam L, Sam K, Isua B, Sisol M, Wardhaugh CW, Vejmelka F, Miller SE, Weiblen GD, Salminen JP, Novotny V, Segar ST. Compound specific trends of chemical defences in Ficus along an elevational gradient reflect a complex selective landscape. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 2020. 46: 442-454. IF=2.117 in 2019 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01173-7
We show that there are pronounced trends in plant specialized metabolites generated by changes in abiotic conditions and biotic interactions along elevational gradients. The nature of these trends strongly depends on the function of respective metabolites. We argue that studying plant chemistry, insect communities, and abiotic conditions in an integrative way is necessary to understand the drivers of plant chemical diversity.
Volf M, Salminen JP, Segar ST. Evolution of defences in large tropical plant genera: perspectives for exploring insect diversity in a tri-trophic context. Current Opinion in Insect Science. 2019. 32:91-97. IF=4.565 in 2019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2018.12.005
We review how plant specialized metabolites govern insect-plant reciprocal interactions and diversification of the two groups. We show that escalation and divergence in chemical defences generate different dimensions of plant chemical diversity and how its effects cascade to higher trophic levels. We propose that the effects of chemical α- and β-diversity on herbivores, predators, and parasitoids, depend on the type of metabolite in play and its potency. This review served as a basis for formulating some of the key hypotheses proposed in this project.
Volf M, Segar ST, Miller SE, Isua B, Sisol M, Aubona G, Šimek P, Moos M, Laitila J, Kim J, Zima Jr J, Rota J, Weiblen GD, Wossa S, Salminen JP, Basset Y, Novotny V. Community structure of insect herbivores is driven by conservatism, escalation and divergence of defensive traits in Ficus. Ecology Letters. 2018. 21:83-92. IF=8.699 in 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12875
We demonstrate that herbivores with different levels of specialization respond to plant traits with various evolutionary histories. While generalists are affected by escalating defences, specialists are affected by divergent defences of their hosts. This supports differential evolutionary trends among plant defences and their diversity. We propose that the composition of herbivore communities and the nature of biotic selection agents in play can fundamentally affect the trajectories by which plant chemical diversity evolves.
Volf M, Hrcek J, Julkunen-Tiitto R, Novotny V. To each its own: differential response of specialist and generalist herbivores to plant defence in willows. Journal of Animal Ecology. 2015. 84:1123–1132. IF=4.827 in 2015 https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12349
Plants are involved in diffuse co-evolution with diverse insects. Here we show that it is essential to take this into account when interpreting the evolution of plant defences. It is not the pressure by individual insect species but by their whole assemblages what drives the evolution of plant chemical defences. We show that assemblages of insects with various life-history traits respond to different plant defences. This differential response of herbivore assemblages to plant defences prevents plants from evolving a single, universally efficient defence. Such trends promote the astonishing diversity of plant chemical defences.
Advances in Ecology
University of South Bohemia
Practical writing and communication in biology
University of South Bohemia
Critical Reading in Ecology
University of South Bohemia
| Total found: 28 records
|
|---|
| Abe T., Volf M., Libra M., Kumar R., Abe H., Fukushima H., Lilip R., Salminen J.-P., Novotný V., Kamata N., Murakami M. (2021) Effects of plant traits on caterpillar communities depend on host specialisation. Insect Conservation and Diversity early view : DOI: 10.1111/icad.12510 |
|
Seifert C. L.,
Ré Jorge L., Volf M., Wagner D.L.,
Lamarre G., Miller S., Gonzalez-Akre E., Anderson-Teixeira K.,
Novotný V. (2021) Seasonality affects specialisation of a temperate forest herbivore community. Oikos
130
: 1450-1461. DOI: 10.1111/oik.08265 |
|
Volf M., Weinhold A.,
Seifert C. L.,
Holicová T., Uthe H., Alander E., Richter R., Salminen J.-P., Wirth C., van Dam N.M. (2021) Branch-localized induction promotes efficacy of volatile defences and herbivore predation in trees. Journal of Chemical Ecology
47
: 99-111. DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01232-z |
|
Wagner N.D., Volf M., Hörandl E. (2021) Highly Diverse Shrub Willows (Salix L.) Share Highly Similar Plastomes. Frontiers in Plant Science
12
: 662715. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.662715 |
|
Klimm F.S., Weinhold A., Volf M. (2020) Volatile production differs between oak leaves infested by leaf-miner Phyllonorycter harrisella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and galler Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae). European Journal of Entomology
117
: 101-109. DOI: 10.14411/eje.2020.011 |
|
Mottl O.,
Fibich P.,
Klimeš P., Volf M.,
Tropek R., Anderson-Teixeira K., Auga J., Blair T.,
Butterill P. T., Carscallen G., Gonzalez-Akre E., Goodman A.,
Kaman O.,
Lamarre G.,
Libra M., Losada M.E., Manumbor M., Miller S., Molem K., Nichols G.,
Plowman N.,
Redmond C. M.,
Seifert C. L., Vrána J., Weiblen G.,
Novotný V. (2020) Spatial covariance of herbivorous and predatory guilds of forest canopy arthropods along a latitudinal gradient. Ecology Letters
23
: 1499–1510. DOI: 10.1111/ele.13579 |
|
Sam K., Koane B.,
Sam L.,
Mrázová A.,
Segar S. T., Volf M.,
Moos M.,
Šimek P., Sisol M.,
Novotný V. (2020) Insect herbivory and herbivores of Ficus species along a rain forest elevational gradient on Papua New Guinea. Biotropica
52
: 263-276. DOI: 10.1111/btp.12741 |
|
Seifert C. L.,
Lamarre G., Volf M.,
Ré Jorge L., Miller S., Wagner D.L., Anderson-Teixeira K.,
Novotný V. (2020) Vertical stratification of a temperate forest caterpillar community in eastern North America. Oecologia
192
: 501-514. DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04584-w |
|
Seifert C. L., Volf M.,
Ré Jorge L., Abe T., Carscallen G., Drozd P., Kumar R.,
Lamarre G.,
Libra M., Losada M.E., Miller S., Murakami M., Nichols G., Pyszko P., Šigut M., Wagner D.L.,
Novotný V. (2020) Plant phylogeny drivers arboreal caterpillar assemblages across the Holartic. Ecology and Evolution
10
: 14137-14151. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7005 |
|
Volf M. (2020) Chemická diverzita rostlin – důsledek závodů ve zbrojení s býložravým hmyzem? Živa
4/2020
: 170-172. |
|
Volf M., Laitila J., Kim J.,
Sam L.,
Sam K., Isua B., Sisol M.,
Wardhaugh C. W.,
Vejmělka F., Miller S., Weiblen G., Salminen J.-P.,
Novotný V.,
Segar S. T. (2020) Compound specific trends of chemical defence in Ficus along an elavational gradient reflect a complex selective landscape. Journal of Chemical Ecology
46
: 442-454. DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01173-7 |
|
Volf M., Wirth C., van Dam N.M. (2020) Localized defense induction in trees: a mosaic of leaf traits promoting variation in plant traits, predation, and communities of canopy arthropods? American Journal of Botany
107
: 1-4. DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1457 |
|
Redmond C. M., Auga J., Gewa B.,
Segar S. T., Miller S., Molem K., Weiblen G.,
Butterill P. T., Maiyah G., Hood A.S.C., Volf M., Jorge L.R.,
Basset Y. F.,
Novotný V. (2019) High specialization and limited structural change in plant-herbivore networks along a successional chronosequence in tropical montane forest. Ecography
42
: 162-172. DOI: 10.1111/ecog.03849 |
|
Segar S. T., Volf M., Sisol M.,
Pardikes N.,
Souto-Vilarós D. (2019) Chemical cues and genetic divergence in insects on plants: conceptual cross pollination between mutualistic and antagonistic systems. Current Opinion in Insect Science
32
: 83-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.11.009 |
|
Volf M.,
Klimeš P.,
Lamarre G.,
Redmond C. M.,
Seifert C. L., Abe T., Auga J., Anderson-Teixeira K.,
Basset Y. F., Beckett S.,
Butterill P. T., Drozd P., Gonzalez-Akre E.,
Kaman O., Kamata N.,
Laird-Hopkins B.,
Libra M., Manumbor M., Miller S., Molem K.,
Mottl O., Murakami M., Nakaji T.,
Plowman N., Pyszko P., Šigut M., Šipoš J.,
Tropek R., Weiblen G.,
Novotný V. (2019) Quantitative assessment of plant-arthropod interactions in forest canopies: A plot-based approach. PLOS One
14
: e0222119. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222119 |
|
Volf M., Salminen J.-P.,
Segar S. T. (2019) Evolution of defences in large tropical plant genera: perspectives for exploring insects diversity in a tri-trophic context. Current Opinion in Insects Science
32
: 91-97. DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.12.005 |
|
Volf M. (2018) Differential Response of Herbivores to Plant Defence. In J.-M. Merillon and K. G. Ramawat [eds.], Co-Evolution of Secondary Metabolites, Reference Series in Phytochemistry
1-24. Springer International Publishing.. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-76887-8_38-1 |
|
Volf M., Holec M., Holcová D., Jaroš P., Hejda R.,
Drag L., Blízek J.,
Šebek P.,
Čížek L. (2018) Microhabitat mosaics are key to the survival of an endangered ground beetle (Carabus nitens) in its post-industrial refugia. Journal of Insect Conservation
22
: 321-328. DOI: 10.1007/s10841-018-0064-x |
|
Volf M.,
Segar S. T., Miller S. E., Isua B., Sisol M., Aubona G.,
Šimek P.,
Moos M., Laitila J., Kim J.,
Zima J., Rota J., Weiblen G. D., Wossa S., Salminen J.-P.,
Basset Y. F.,
Novotný V. (2018) Community structure of insect herbivores is driven by conservatism, escalation and divergence of defensive traits in Ficus. Ecology Letters
21
: 83-92. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12875 |
|
Biranvand Amir,
Nedvěd O., Shakarami Jahanshir, Fekrat Lida, Hamidi Elnaz, Volf M., Hanley Guy A. (2017) The ladybeetle community (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in north east of Iran. Baltic Journal of Coleopterology
17
: 49-67. |
