Alexander Blanke
Prof. Dr. Alexander Blanke
Affiliations
  • Institut für Evolutionsbiologie und Ökologie
Research topics
  • biomechanics
  • evolution
  • zoology
The workgroup of Dr. Blanke is focused on functional morphological research of the evolution and diversification of food intake of diverse organisms using, and partly also developing, modern analytical procedures from the fields of 3D modeling and reconstruction, mechanics, and morphometrics. Currently, a particular research focus lies on the study of the evolution of food intake in insects and fishes, as well as the mechanosensors of various insects. To address these topics, we use micro computed tomography (µCT) data obtained mainly at large-scale synchrotron particle accelerator (SRµCT) facilities. These data are subsequently used to create 3D models that depict the external and especially the internal anatomy. These 3D models then serve as the basis for many further analyses: quantification of shape, simulation of feeding, correlation of shape and function with ecology, development, and phylogeny.
Selected publications

Dinges, G., Bockemühl, T., Iacovello, F., Shearing, P., Büschges, A., Blanke, A. 2022. Ultra high-resolution biomechanics suggest that microstructures within insect mechanosensors decisively affect their sensitivity. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 19:20220102

Hamann, L., Blanke, A. 2022. Suspension Feeders - Diversity, Principles of Particle Separation, and Biomimetic Potential. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 19 (186): 20210741

Rühr, P. T., van de Kamp, T., Faragó, T., Hammel, J., Wilde, F., Borisova, E., Edel, C., Frenzel, M., Baumbach, T., Blanke, A. 2021. Juvenile ecology drives adult morphology in two insect lineages. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 288 (1953): 20210616

Blanke, A., Watson, P.J., Holbrey, R., Fagan, M.J. 2017. Computational biomechanics changes our view on insect head evolution. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 284: 20162412

Alexander Blanke
Prof. Dr. Alexander Blanke
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