A5046323804- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Sports Performance and Training
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Reproductive Biology and Fertility
- Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Sperm and Testicular Function
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Botanical Studies and Applications
- Biomedical Text Mining and Ontologies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
Institute for Biodiversity
2025
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
2015-2024
Museum für Naturkunde
2024
Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig
2010-2018
Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt
2015-2018
Okinawa Prefecture
2018
California Academy of Sciences
2011-2015
Golden Gate University
2012-2013
University of Bonn
2009
Amphibians are characterized both by a strongly increasing number of newly discovered species and high degree decline. The observed increase in numbers, over 25 percent 11 years, is largely due to the intensified exploration tropical areas application more efficient techniques such as bioacoustics molecular genetics, rather than elevation subspecies rank or distinction that were formerly considered synonymous. In mantellid frogs Madagascar, many described between 1992 2004 genetically...
As with many other regions of the world, significant collecting, curation, and taxonomic efforts will be needed to complete inventory China’s ant fauna. This is especially true for highly diverse tropical in south country, where moist forests harbor high species richness typical Southeast Asian region. We inventoried ants Xingshuangbanna prefecture, Yunnan, June 2013, using a variety methods including Winkler extraction hand collection sample diversity. identified 213 species/morphospecies...
Abstract Discothyrea Roger, 1863 is a small genus of proceratiine ants with remarkable morphology and biology. However, due to cryptic lifestyle, are poorly represented in museum collections their taxonomy has been severely neglected. We perform the first comprehensive revision Afrotropical region through combination traditional three-dimensional (3D) cybertaxonomy based on microtomography (micro-CT). Species diagnostics morphological character evaluations examinations all physical specimens...
Abstract Temnothorax elmenshawyi sp. n., a new ant species from the Asir Mountains of southwestern region Kingdom Saudi Arabia, is described based on worker caste. The member T. exilis group and distinguished other included in this by impressed metanotal groove, short, acute broadly-based propodeal spines, finely punctate posterior half cephalic surface, absence median clypeal carina. Despite extensive collecting authors at type locality, only two specimens are available for description,...
Ants of the Tetramorium solidum group occur in Africa, with vast majority species endemic to arid regions southern Africa. The first revision genus was published more than 30 years ago and ant surveys have since considerably expanded number specimens available for study. this reveals five new species, expanding total 19. Almost all parts Afrotropical region, exception T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 rothschildi (Forel, 1907). These two broad distributions within African grasslands savannas,...
Forest fragmentation and selective logging are two main drivers of global environmental change modify biodiversity conditions in many tropical forests. The consequences these changes for the functioning forest ecosystems have rarely been explored a comprehensive approach. In Kenyan rainforest, we studied six animal-mediated ecosystem processes recorded species richness community composition all animal taxa involved processes. We used linear models formal meta-analysis to test whether...
This study presents a taxonomic update of the Tetramorium weitzeckeri species group. mpala sp. nov. is described from Laikipia, Kenya, and placed in T. complex. In addition, we also provide an illustrated identification key to three complexes group, updated this
We explore the potential of x-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) for field ant taxonomy by using it to enhance descriptions two remarkable new species genus Terataner: T. balrog sp. n. and nymeria n.. provide an illustrated worker-based identification key all found on Madagascar, as well detailed taxonomic descriptions, which include diagnoses, discussions, measurements, natural history data, high-quality montage images distribution maps both species. In addition conventional morphological...
The hypogaeic ant subfamilies Leptanillinae and Martialinae likely form the sister group to remainder of extant Formicidae. In order increase knowledge anatomy functional morphology these unusual phylogenetically crucial ants, we document describe in detail cranium a leptanilline, Protanilla lini Terayama, 2009. mandibular articulation species differs greatly from that other ants studied so far, clearly represents derived condition. We propose mode movement for specialized mandibles involves...
Abstract The mesosoma is the power core of ant, containing critical structural and muscular elements for movement head, legs, metasoma. It has been hypothesized that adaptation to ground locomotion loss flight led substantial rearrangements in worker ants it likely ant undergone functional modifications as diversified into different ecological behavioral niches. Despite this importance, studies on anatomy are still scarce, there limited understanding important variation internal structures...
The ant genus Zasphinctus are fascinating ants due to their distinctive morphology, ecology, and rarity. In this study, a comprehensive revision of in the Afrotropical region is presented, through combination morphological examination under light microscope three-dimensional (3D) cyber-taxonomy based on microtomography (micro-CT). Micro-CT 3D surface models all species were used for virtual visualisation examination. virtually visualised, rotated, scaled, dissected order obtain best shape...
The globally distributed ant genus Tetramorium Mayr is especially diverse in the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Indo-Australian regions, while Malagasy fauna, by contrast, seemed to be comparatively species-poor. However, recent inventories Madagascar its surrounding island systems have generated an immense amount of new material. As a result, there now great need updated taxonomic revision for this region. present study represents introduction genus, treats species groups encountered All...
This study represents the first comprehensive treatment of Kenyan myrmecofauna, which includes a faunal overview, species checklist for Kenya, bibliography, illustrated accounts all genera, and discussions on taxonomy biogeography. The is based material collected from several important sampling localities literature records. main include Kakamega Forest, tropical rainforest in Western Mpala Research Centre, savannah region Laikipia, Central Arabuko Sokoke coastal dry forest. Currently,...
New technologies for imaging and analysis of morphological characters offer opportunities to enhance revisionary taxonomy better integrate it with the rest biology. In this study, we revise Afrotropical fauna ant genus Zasphinctus Wheeler, use high-resolution X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) analyse a number taxonomic biological interest. We recognise describe three new species: Z. obamai sp. n., sarowiwai wilsoni n. The species delimitations are based on examination all physical specimens...
While thousands of ant species are arboreal, very few able to chew and tunnel through living wood. Ants the genus Melissotarsus (subfamily Myrmicinae) inhabit systems excavated under bark trees, where they keep large numbers symbiotic armoured scale insects (family Diaspididae). Construction these tunnels by chewing healthy wood requires tremendous power, but adaptations that give abilities unclear. Here, we investigate morphology musculoskeletal system using histology, scanning electron...
A preliminary species checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Kakamega Forest, Western Kenya, is presented. The list based on specimens sampled from 1999 until 2009, which are deposited in ant collection Zoological Research Museum Koenig, Bonn, Germany, and Natural History Los Angeles County, Angeles, United States. known fauna comprises 11 subfamilies with 52 genera 288 species. This richness second highest reported Afrotropical zoogeographical region. observed can be divided into a...
Martialinae are pale, eyeless and probably hypogaeic predatory ants. Morphological character sets suggest a close relationship to the ant subfamily Leptanillinae. Recent analyses based on molecular sequence data that sister group all extant However, by comparing studies different reconstruction methods, position of remains ambiguous. While this was well supported Bayesian partitioned analyses, Maximum Likelihood approaches could not unequivocally resolve Martialinae. By re-analysing previous...
Abstract The distal parts of the legs Sceliphron caementarium (Sphecidae) and Formica rufa (Formicidae) are documented discussed with respect to phylogenetic functional aspects. prolegs Hymenoptera offer an array evolutionary novelties, mainly linked two syndromes, walking efficiently on different substrates cleaning body surface. protibial‐probasitarsomeral device is almost always well‐developed. A complex innovation a triple set tarsal pretarsal attachment devices, including plantulae,...
Phragmotic or "door head" ants have evolved independently in several ant genera across the world, but Africa only one case has been documented until now. Carebara elmenteitae (Patrizi) is known from a single phragmotic major worker collected sifted leaf-litter near Lake Elmenteita Kenya, here castes of two species Kakamega Forest, small rainforest Western are studied. workers were previously identified as and non-phragmotic minor assigned to C. thoracica (Weber). Using evidence both...