Karin Schrieber

Dr. Karin Schrieber is a research associate and habilitation candidate at the Institute for Ecosystem Research (IÖF) within the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel. Her research focuses on plant-environment interactions under global change conditions, with particular emphasis on endangered and invasive plant species. She teaches across multiple biology programs and leads several research projects investigating plant responses to environmental stressors.

Education

• Habilitation candidate at Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel (2019-present)
• PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Population Ecology from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (2011-2016)
• Diploma in Biology from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (2005-2011)

Research Focus

Dr. Schrieber investigates how global change impacts plant interactions with pollinators, herbivores, and microorganisms. Her work examines co-evolved traits, communication, and resource exchange in plant systems through stress manipulation experiments, metabolomics, behavioral assays, and population genomic approaches. She specializes in endangered and invasive species, with research spanning from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem-level consequences of environmental change.

Publication Trends

Her recent publications demonstrate a progression toward increasingly complex multi-stress approaches, examining plant responses to combinations of heat, drought, and biotic interactions. A recurring theme is the interaction between genetic factors (like inbreeding) and environmental stressors in determining plant fitness. Her work frequently compares native and invasive populations across elevational gradients, integrating metabolomics with ecological field studies to understand adaptive trait divergence.

Research Leadership

Dr. Schrieber serves as Principal Investigator for multiple DFG-funded projects:

• DFG 515385982: Local co-adaptation of plants and their microbiota to combined heat and drought stress
• DFG 531846341: The micro-evolution of plant multi-stress resistance in high mountain forests
• Sex-specific global change effects on communication in nursery pollination systems
• Plant-plant communication in response to herbivory using Conyza canadensis
• Revisiting the Neolithic Plant Invasion Hypothesis with archaeobotanical data

She supervises Bachelor's and Master's theses and contributes to the 'Rent-a-Scientist' program and Kiel Botanical Garden educational events.

Field and Laboratory Work

Her research involves extensive field work in diverse ecosystems including coastal dunes, mountain forests, and agricultural landscapes. Laboratory work focuses on metabolomics, plant physiology, and population genetics. She collaborates extensively through the DFG Research Unit PlantsCoChallenge (FOR 5640) and the iCONNECT network, employing multi-disciplinary approaches to understand plant adaptation under global change.