Benjamin Fuchs
benjamin.fuchs@utu.fi +358 29 450 3470 +358 50 477 0651 Vesilinnantie 5 Turku ORCID-tunniste: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3678-3284 |
Multi-trophic levels
Plant-insect interactions
Plant chemical defense
Fungal endophytes
Sustainable Pestcontrol
- 2023-2027 Academy of Finland Research Fellow
- 2022-2023 Senior Research Fellow, University of Turku, Biodiversity Unit
- 2022 Docentship "Chemical Ecology", University of Turku, Biodiversity Unit
- 2019-2022 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Turku, Biodiversity Unit
- 2017-2019 Research Associate, Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Applied Zoology
- 2013-2016 PhD, University of Würzburg Department of Animal Ecology
- 2006-2012 Biology Diploma (MSc), University of Würzburg
Multi-trophic and multi-species interactions are urgently needed to ultimately understand and efficiently implement natural systems into integrated pest control.
My work focuses on the interaction and chemical signalling between systemic fungal endophytes, their grass host, herbivorous insects and predatory insects. I focus on biocontrol mechanisms in a multi-trophic approach where I study both,
(1) how biotic and abiotic factors affect endophyte growth and the production of defensive metabolites, and
(2) how fungal plant symbionts shape the biotic interactions around their host grass.
Residues of agro-chemicals are reported in soils from diverse environments, but the effects on plant physiology and consequences for species interactions are largely unknown. My work uncovers the effect of herbicide residues on
(3) plant physiological and biochemical processes (phytohormones, defense metabolites, volatiles) and cascading effects on
(4) interactions between plants, herbivorous insects and their enemies.
- Bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) forage on plants treated with glyphosate-based herbicides despite potential behavioral consequences (2025)
- Environmental Research
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Ecology and evolution of plant chemodiversity (2025)
- Plant Biology
(B1 Vertaisarvioitu muu artikkeli (esim. pääkirjoitus, letter, comment) tieteellisessä lehdessä) - Glyphosate and phosphate treatments in soil differentially affect crop microbiomes depending on species, tissue and growth stage (2025)
- Scientific Reports
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Glyphosate residues in soil alter herbivore‐induced plant volatiles and affect predatory insect behaviour (2025)
- Plant Biology
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Endophytic Beauveria bassiana induces biosynthesis of flavonoids in oilseed rape following both seed inoculation and natural colonization (2024)
- Pest Management Science
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Glyphosate residues in soil and phosphate fertilizer affect foliar endophytic microbial community composition and phytohormone levels in potato (2024)
- Phytobiomes journal
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Plant metabolic responses to soil herbicide residues differ under herbivory in two woodland strawberry genotypes (2024)
- Science of the Total Environment
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Reduced seed viability in exchange for transgenerational plant protection in an endophyte-symbiotic grass: Does the defensive mutualism concept pass the fitness test? (2024)
- Annals of Botany
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Toward an integrated understanding of how extreme polar light regimes, hybridization, and light-sensitive microbes shape global biodiversity (2024)
- One Earth
(A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä ) - Ecosystem consequences of herbicides: the role of microbiome (2023)
- Trends in Ecology and Evolution
(A2 Vertaisarvioitu katsausartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä)



