David Thieltges

David Thieltges is a Senior Scientist at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) and an Honorary Professor of Marine Parasite Ecology at the University of Groningen. His research focuses on marine ecology, ecological parasitology, and the impacts of climate change and species invasions on parasite dynamics.

• PhD in Ecology (summa cum laude), Christian Albrechts University Kiel (2006)
• MSc in Biology (summa cum laude), Philipps University Marburg (2001)

Thieltges investigates the ecological role of parasites in marine ecosystems, including their influence on food webs, biodiversity, and disease risk. His work spans experimental and theoretical approaches, with a focus on invasive species, climate change, and large-scale biogeographical patterns.

His recent publications highlight trends in parasite invasions, climate-driven host-parasite shifts, and the application of stable isotope analysis in trophic interactions. These studies span mudflat ecology, shellfish disease, and global parasite biodiversity.

Scientific Recognition:

• 29th Petersen Excellence Professorship (2023)
• DFG Postdoc Fellowship (2007)
• DAAD Postdoc Fellowship (2006)

Thieltges supervises PhD and MSc students on topics including parasite invasions, disease ecology, and climate change. He collaborates with institutions across Europe and contributes to international projects like EU Biodiversa+ IMPACT.

His lab at NIOZ integrates field experiments, molecular methods, and biogeographical modeling. Partnerships with the University of Otago, Aarhus University, and the Alfred Wegener Institute inform his cross-disciplinary approach to marine parasite ecology.