M. Sc. Shristee Panthee

My research focuses on tri-tropic interactions of hybrid Salix species mediated by biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). Specifically, I am studying how changes in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) production by hybrids compared to parents affect their attractivity to predators using dummy caterpillars in situ and using aphids as insect herbivores and lady beetles as aphid-predators in greenhouse experiments to understand the tri-trophic interactions. My research project is funded by D.F.G and conducted in collaboration with the Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Entomology, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic.