Thomas Eisner

Thomas Eisner ( born June 25, 1929 in Berlin, † March 25, 2011 in Ithaca, New York, United States) was an American entomologist.

Life

Since Eisner's father, a chemist, was a Jew, the family left Germany in 1933 and arrived, after spending time in Spain, France and Uruguay finally in 1947 to New York City. At Harvard University, where he studied biology, he met Edward O. Wilson, with whom he formed a lifelong friendship. He received his doctorate in 1955. From 1957 he worked at Cornell University in Ithaca, where he became a professor.

Eisner was married since 1952 and had three daughters. He died due to Parkinson's disease.

Research

Eisner primarily explored, such as insects and other arthropods chemical substances for communication and use defense. So he dealt with the Bombardier beetle which can emit corrosive to self-defense and foul- smelling gases targeted, and the role of fragrances in the pairing of the butterfly Danaus gilippus.

Together with Jerrold Meinwald, Eisner is considered as the father of the field of chemical ecology. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and ( since 1986) of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

Writings (selection )

• With Bert Hölldobler & Martin Lindauer: Chemical ecology, territoriality, mutual understanding. Fischer, Stuttgart / New York, 1986, ISBN 3-437-30524-7.
• Chemical ecology. The chemistry of biotic interaction. 1995, ISBN 0-309-05281-5.
• For love of insects. 2003, ISBN 0-674-01181-3.