The research in the Visser Group focuses on seasonal timing of growth and reproduction. We aim to understand the causes of variation in timing and the consequences of this for fitness and population processes.
Seasonal timing is a key life-history trait with major fitness consequences. The Visser-group works mainly on avian timing of reproduction (in great tits, blue tits and pied flycatchers) but also on timing of growth (in winter moths). The research is closely linked to the impact of global climate change on timing and its consequences. The research spans the entire range of genes to populations with research in the wild, in climate controlled aviaries, the molecular laboratory and modeling. For more information see the project page Seasonal Timing. An important part of this research has been funded by a NWO-VICI grant (2007-2013) and an ERC Advanced grant (2014-2019).
The PhD project of Natalie van Dis on the genetic variation in the mechanisms underlying timing in winter moths is in collaboration with the Chronobiology group in Groningen where Marcel Visser is Professor on Seasonal Timing of Behaviour. The research on Avian Genomics, including the quest for the genes underlying seasonal timing, is done in close collaboration with the van Oers group and the Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre group of Wageningen University where Marcel Visser is Professor of Ecological Genetics.
Within seasonal timing, photoperiod plays a key role as it is the main ‘zeitgeber’ for seasonal timing. Potentially, artificial light disrupts the seasonal timing by disturbing the perception of birds of the natural photoperiod. This is one of the aspects of artificial light that is studied in the project ‘The impact of artificial light on flora and fauna’, part of the Spoelstra junior-group.
Current group-members
In addition, there is one junior group within the Visser-group: the Spoelstra-junior group
Former group-members
Christiaan Both, Christel Mols, Margriet van Asch, Arild Husby, Ivan de la Hera, Francisco Pulido, Marjolein Lof, Nikkie van Bers, Luc te Marvelde, Sonja Schaper, Tom Reed, Samuel Caro, Davide Dominoni, Phillip Gienapp, Veronika Laine, Jip Ramakers, Irene Verhagen
