Last Wednesday, 30st July, Anna Schertler defended her thesis “Macroecological perspectives in invasion biology – examining drivers of fungal and plant invasion patterns and processes”, supervised by Franz Essl (Uni Vienna).
Her thesis was based on three scientific publications, including:
- the second updated Austrian checklist of alien and cryptogenic fungi and fungus-like organisms (published in Biological Invasions),
- a biogeographic analysis of spatiotemporal patterns of a set of 100 major alien fungal and fungus-like pathogens (published in Journal of Biogeography),
- and a study that investigates novel associations and host range of alien fungal and fungus-like plant pathogens (currently under revision).
Remarkably, the hybrid defense spanned time zones from Central Europe to the United States and New Zealand. We are especially grateful to Anne Pringle and Ian Dickie for their exceptional flexibility and commitment in making this possible, and to all three examiners – including Mark Anthony – for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion.
We congratulate Anna to her great work, excellent presentation, and a successful defense!
