Research projects of the Lepidoptera section with external funds and/or in cooperation with other institutions

DNA barcoding Lepidoptera (iBOL WG 1.9)

The Global Campaign DNA barcoding Geometridae in cooperation with the Canadian Centre of DNA Barcoding (Dr. Paul Hebert) was started in 2006 and aims to sequence mtDNA fragments (COI, 5’, 658 bp) for geometrid moths worldwide. The ZSM (Dr. A. Hausmann) is leading and managing this campaign. Up to October 2011 more than 90,000 specimens belonging to far more than 13,000 species were DNA-‚barcoded’. Digital images and distributional data are accessible in the Taxonomy browser of BOLD Systems, most of the vouchers are deposited at the ZSM. Simultaneosly, the World catalogue of available geometrid names was updated (more than 3,000 changed data sets) and made accessible in the www. In 2008, the ZSM (Dr. A. Hausmann) took responsibility and lead of the iBOL WG 1.9 Lepidoptera.

Regional fauna lists DNA Barcoding

Barcoding Fauna Bavarica (BFB)

The Barcoding Fauna Bavarica Project (BFB) aims to create a DNA library for all animals in cooperation with the Canadian Centre of DNA Barcoding (Dr. Paul Hebert). The project is supported by the Bavarian Ministry of Science, Research and Art. It was started in 2009 and was successful in sequencing 10,000 species in 3 years only. By late 2011 the project generated approximately 11,000 barcodes covering 2,520 species (ca 80%) of the German fauna.

German Barcode of Life (GBOL)

The project German Barcode of Life Projekt (GBOL) aims to generate DNA barcodes for all German animal and plant species. The project is realized by several major German institutions, with a first project period from 2012 until 2015. The largest sector of this project will be performed by the ZSM with a contribution of approximately 10.000 species (e.g. all Lepidoptera). This major project will be supported by the German Ministry for Education and Research (Budget Total ca 5 Mio € envisaged).

Barcoding African Geometridae

The Barcoding African Geometridae Project will provide DNA-Barcodes for all geometrid species of the African Continent (>3000 species) in the years 2010 until 2013. The project is performed in Cooperation with the BIO (University Guelph, Canada) and the Consortium Barcode of Life (CBOL, Washington) and is financially supported by CBOL und BIO.
Barcoding of Pyraloidea
- In close collaboration with Dr. M. Nuss (Museum für Tierkunde, Dresden), and in interaction with the projects GlobIZ and Pyraloidea of Crete, barcodes of snout moths (Pyralidae and Crambidae) are generated at the ZSM and the Biodiversity Institute (University of Guelph, Canada). Current regional focuses include: southern Europe, the Afrotropical and the Neotropical region, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia.
ThaiBOL
- In the ThaiBOL Project several institutes and departments of the "Staatliche Naturwissenschaftlichen Sammlungen Bayerns" plan to generate DNA-Barcodes for the whole fauna of Thailand in close cooperation with the Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand), such as with BIO (Universität Guelph, Canada). The initial stages of this project are financially supported by the GeoBioCenter of the University Munich (LMU).
ATSB Non Targets Mali
- In the ATSB Project (Evaluation And Development Of Attractive Toxic Sugar Baits For Control Of Anopheline Malaria Vectors In Africa; 2012 until 2015) the ZSM will work on the "Non Targets" of the fauna of Mali (several insect groups, e.g. moths). The approach is integrative taxonomic and includes rapid biodiversity assessment through DNA Barcoding. The project is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (U.S.A., Global Health Grant Number OPP1032358 BMGF:01083000428).
- Geometridae Mundi
- In the framework of the project Projekt Geometridae Mundi (initiated in 2007) an illustrated digital Catalogue of all geometrid moth taxa worldwide will be generated (23,000 valid species, 3,500 valid subspecies). The project is performed in cooperation between the ZSM, the research initiative Forum Herbulot and Dr. Hans Löbel (Sondershausen), who leads the project together with Dr. A. Hausmann (ZSM). The html database is developed offline and is aimed to become an open access database later on. Actual coverage (October 2010): Close to 40% of the world’s fauna. Cooperation partners who provide essential contributions are welcome and will get the offline working version free of charge. Interfaces to similar other global projects (zB CATE, EoL, Lepidops) will be developed in order to gain maximum synergic effects.

Hunting Gondwanaland-relicts: the Geometridae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Nothofagus-forests of Chile and Tasmania.

Pilot Project DFG HA-1806-7/1 (lead by Dr. A. Hausmann)

Comparable with the outstanding biogeographic importance of their hosts, also the herbivorous fauna on Nothofagus offers outstanding opportunities to study long-isolation vicariance and colonization scenarios. Indeed, a preliminary study on geometrid moths of two Nothofagus-forests in Chile and Tasmania revealed close phylogenetic relationships. This pilot project aims to estimate quantitative and qualitative aspects of the total geometrid fauna in an altitudinal transect in a Chilean Nothofagus-forest in a limited assessment through standardised light catches. The results will be compared with results from similar Tasmanian samplings. Integrative mophological-molecular analysis shall help to investigate the relationships of some biogeographically and phylogenetically interesting species. During the pilot phase suitable nuclear genes should be selected for that purpose in cooperation with the AToL project (U.S.A.). Preliminary assessment of geometrid larvae is planned through canopy fogging on Nothofagus and molecular identification of the larvae (mtDNA), with DNA-analysis of their gut content for verification of feeding on the host-plant.

The Geometridae of the Huinay station, southern Chile.

Project Dioryctria (DFG research focus program 'adaptive radiations')

Project funded by DFG; project period: 2002-2004 (lead by Dr. A. Segerer); in the framework of the DFG research focus 'radiations'.

Aims: Study of evolutionary mechanisms by reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships of selected groups of Microlepidoptera (Pyralidae/Argyresthidae), with results expected on intercontinental colonisation dynamics, shifts from ectophagy to endophagy or vice versa, shifts from leave-feeding to conifere-feeding or vice versa, and potential patterns of reciprocal co-evolution.

Continued beyond the period of funding, collaboration with Prof. Dr. Felix Sperling and Dr. Amanda Roe ( University of Alberta, Edmonton/Canada), and Dr. Sonja Knölke (Naturkundemuseum Coburg).

Publications under Publications of Dr. A. Segerer

Global Information System on Geometridae (GBIF/GlobInG)

Project funded by the German Ministry of Science (BMBF) as part of the GBIF-D initiative; project terms: 2002-2005. Project leader: Dr. A. Hausmann (ZSM), coordinator: Sven Erlacher (ZSM). Project partners: MNHU (Dr. W. Mey; Berlin), SMNK (Dr. R. Trusch; Karlsruhe) and ZFMK (Dr. D. Stüning; Bonn). Project aims: providing an internet-based information system on Geometridae, mainly taxonomic data, e.g. digital images of primary type specimens deposited in German museums, list of taxa, literature, etc.

Digital images of hundreds of type specimens can be queried together with their label scans and many additional taxonomical data (e.g. photographs of microscopic slides, object data in data-bases, information on Argentina descriptions, etc.) in Systax (University of Ulm) and GBIF-D.

Further information under www.gbif.de.

Geometrid Moths of Europe (GME/INGE)

Global Information System 'Zünslerfalter' (Pyralidae) (GBIF/GLOBIZ)

Project granted by the German ministry of Science (BMBF) in the framework of the GBIF initiative; project period: 2003-2005 participation of Dr. A.H. Segerer as a partner in the project leaded by Dr. M. Nuss (SMND, Dresden). Aims: Provision of an internet-based information system Geometridae, mainly taxonomical basis data, e.g. list of taxa, literature, etc. Further development of database modules (e.g., collection of distributional data) continuing beyond period of funding, as well as further data entry by all international cooperation partners.

See www.pyraloidea.org.

Pyraloidea of Crete

In collaboration with Dr. Dr. Walter Ruckdeschel, project granted by the Crocallis Foundation (Westerbuchberg/Germany). In the course of the project, a monographic catalogue of the snout moths of Crete shall be established (Pyraloidea: Pyralidae, Crambidae; altogether 170+ species), including morphological and molecular species characterization, check of nomenclatural availability and taxonomic validity of all published names, and distrubutional and ecological data.

Ecology of Urban Centers

Interdepartmental projects on the ecology of intra-urban refugial habitats of Munich city.

(Hausmann, A.; Segerer, A.H.; Reichholf, J.; Buchsbaum, U.; Schacht, W.; Kothe, T.; Schuberth, J.; Riedel, G.; Ambil, K.):

since 1986: monitoring of butterflies and moths with the aim of testing the importance of various cemeteries.

since 1998: monitoring of butterflies, moths and other insects in the park of Nymphenburg Castle, an interdepartmental project of the ZSM, cooperation with the Bavarian Administration of Castles, Parks and Lakes ('Bayerischen Verwaltung der Staatl. Schlösser, Gärten und Seen')

2001-2005: monitoring and collecting program of moths near the ' Allacher Forest'

since 2002: monitoring of moths (light trap collecting) on the area of the ZSM.

Molecular gut content analysis caterpillars

The pilot phase of a planned project (proposal submitted to DFG; leadership: Dr. A. Hausmann) concerning molecular analysis of gut contents of larvae of Neotropical Geometridae from canopy fogging has successfully been finished. The project is actually performed with own financiation of personel and consumables. Aims: Refined and improved data on host-plant relationships, host-plant specificity and species numbers of primary leaf-eaters in the canopy of Neotropical rain forests in Ecuador.

Virtual Collection

The pilot phase of a planned project (Dr. A.H. Segerer; Dr. A. Hausmann) focused on virtualisation of collection information has successfully been finished. In two master thesis papers informative CD-Rom's on the butterflies and nepticulids of Bavaria have been produced. Target users: pupils, teachers, students, visitors of museums (e.g. the museum 'Mensch und Natur' in Munich). The project is actually carried on at high pace with digitization and web-presentation of many lepidopteran collection vouchers (see also above 'Geometridae Mundi'.

On the webpage of the Museum Witt, Munich (List of types resp. Sammlungen/Typenbilder), a comprehensive , illustrated documentation of the whole type material is hosted. Since 2011 a web-based illustration of the complete collection material including several millions of specimens was started, see http://www.insecta-web.org/MWM/ (Projekte/Virtuelle Sammlungen).