Karrenberg lab

Evolutionary ecology and genetics

In our group, we mainly focus on two study questions: 1) How do species form and how are they maintained? 2) How do sex chromosomes evolve?

We investigate these processes using campions (Silene) and willows (Salix) and apply a wide a range of methods including field studies, experiments under controlled conditions and crosses, as well as genomic analyses and population genetic approaches.

For more information, see our research page

For more information, see our research page

Group members

Research leader: Sophie Karrenberg

Group members: Hanna Danko, Camille Voisin, Minchun Zhao

Publications

Vegetation change in dry grasslands in Northeast Germany over two decades: A resurvey

Danko, Hanna; Gärtner, Julian; Kasper, Fine; Heinken, Thilo et al.

Part of Biological Conservation, 2026
- DOI for Vegetation change in dry grasslands in Northeast Germany over two decades: A resurvey
- Download full text (pdf) of Vegetation change in dry grasslands in Northeast Germany over two decades: A resurvey
Sex chromosome evolution mediated by a large inversion and a possible switch of the sex determination gene

Mao, Xiaomeng; Rafati, Nima; Tellgren-Roth, Christian; Ingvarsson, PÃ€r K. et al.

Part of Genome Biology, 2026
- DOI for Sex chromosome evolution mediated by a large inversion and a possible switch of the sex determination gene
- Download full text (pdf) of Sex chromosome evolution mediated by a large inversion and a possible switch of the sex determination gene
Phenotypic plasticity of invasive knotweed across Europe: A distributed common garden experiment

Irimia, Ramona-Elena; Parepa, Madalin; Sebesta, Nicole; Barni, Elena et al.

Part of Journal of Ecology, 2026
- DOI for Phenotypic plasticity of invasive knotweed across Europe: A distributed common garden experiment
- Download full text (pdf) of Phenotypic plasticity of invasive knotweed across Europe: A distributed common garden experiment
The Silene latifolia genome and its giant Y chromosome

Moraga, Carol; Branco, Catarina; Rougemont, Quentin; Jedlicka, Pavel et al.

Part of Science, p. 630-636, 2025
- DOI for The Silene latifolia genome and its giant Y chromosome
Genetic structure and diversity of the declining orchid Gymnadenia conopsea in Scandinavia: implications for conservation and management

Söderquist, Linus; Joffard, Nina; Scofield, Douglas; Milesi, Pascal et al.

Part of Ecography, 2025
- DOI for Genetic structure and diversity of the declining orchid Gymnadenia conopsea in Scandinavia: implications for conservation and management
- Download full text (pdf) of Genetic structure and diversity of the declining orchid Gymnadenia conopsea in Scandinavia: implications for conservation and management
Genetic differentiation and diversity do not explain variation in heterosis or inbreeding depression: empirical evidence from a long-lived iteroparous plant

Söderquist, Linus; Karrenberg, Sophie; Sletvold, Nina

Part of Conservation Genetics, p. 1303-1312, 2024
- DOI for Genetic differentiation and diversity do not explain variation in heterosis or inbreeding depression: empirical evidence from a long-lived iteroparous plant
- Download full text (pdf) of Genetic differentiation and diversity do not explain variation in heterosis or inbreeding depression: empirical evidence from a long-lived iteroparous plant
Female-biased population sex ratios caused by genetic rather than ecological mechanisms in dwarf willow (Salix herbacea L.)

Mao, Xiaomeng; Cortés, Andrés J.; Rixen, Christian; Karrenberg, Sophie

Part of Journal of Ecology, p. 1731-1742, 2024
- DOI for Female-biased population sex ratios caused by genetic rather than ecological mechanisms in dwarf willow (Salix herbacea L.)
- Download full text (pdf) of Female-biased population sex ratios caused by genetic rather than ecological mechanisms in dwarf willow (Salix herbacea L.)
A polygenic architecture with habitat-dependent effects underlies ecological differentiation in Silene

Gramlich, Susanne; Liu, Xiaodong; Favre, Adrien; Buerkle, C. Alex et al.

Part of New Phytologist, p. 1641-1652, 2022
- DOI for A polygenic architecture with habitat-dependent effects underlies ecological differentiation in Silene
Evolution of putative barrier loci at an intermediate stage of speciation with gene flow in campions (Silene)

Liu, Xiaodong; Glemin, Sylvain; Karrenberg, Sophie

Part of Molecular Ecology, p. 3511-3525, 2020
- DOI for Evolution of putative barrier loci at an intermediate stage of speciation with gene flow in campions (Silene)
- Download full text (pdf) of Evolution of putative barrier loci at an intermediate stage of speciation with gene flow in campions (Silene)
Ecological divergence plays an important role in strong but complex reproductive isolation in campions (Silene)

Karrenberg, Sophie; Liu, Xiaodong; Hallander, Emelie; Favre, Adrien et al.

Part of Evolution, p. 245-261, 2019
- DOI for Ecological divergence plays an important role in strong but complex reproductive isolation in campions (Silene)

Part of research areas

Plant Ecology and Evolution

Former group members

Xiaomeng Mao (PhD student)
Jonathan Gyllingberg (MSc student)
Vinciane Mossion (Post-doc)
Susanne Gramlich (Post-doc)
Xiaodong Liu (PhD student)
Alessio Costa (MSc student)
Shangjun Zhou (MSc student)
Daniel Connaghan (MSc student)
Andres Cortés (PhD student)
Emelie Hallander (MSc student)
Sofia Häggberg (MSc student)
Tora Finderup-Nielsen (MSc student)
Nicolas Quèbre (PhD student)
Jasmin Bregy (MSc student)
Janine Moll (technical assistant)
Adrien Favre (PhD student)
Joelle Rahmé (PhD student)
Paul Page (PhD student)