Svenja Ahlborn

Lepidoptera

Tel: +49 228 9122-413

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

Mail: svenja [at] die-ahlborns.de

Tabs

Projects

Currently I am using different niche modeling techniques to assess the ecological niche of a multitude of butterfly species of the genus Lepidochrysops (African ant blues, Lycaenidae) found in South Africa. This might help to better understand the biogeographical patterns of these species and give us information about important environmental factors delimiting the niche of the species. These information can be of use in understanding how we can possibly protect the species and their niche in future. Also, using future projections simulating climate change, I will try to predict the future niche suitability of these species to understand how their niches will change or shift through time and therefore see if the different species will be able to survive in our changing climate. Moreover, comparing the results of this study with phylogenetic data, it will hopefully give a more detailed insight into the evolutionary history of the different species of this genus.

2021

The impact of mutualistic and parasitic life histories on butterfly diversification in an increasingly arid world

Understanding the mechanisms leading to diversification of species across time in a changing world remains a challenge. Africa was largely covered by forests until the middle Oligocene, when geological and climatic changes led to increasing aridification of the landmass. The current, iconic savanna and grassland ecosystems did not become well-established until around 8 million years ago. The effect of this increasing aridification on diversification has not been well-studied in animals, and especially not in insects.

Unit:

Lepidoptera, Statistical Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics, Staff Council, Herpetology, Morphology Laboratory

Project lead:

Dr. Marianne Espeland

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

2011

African ant blues

This project studies the life history evolution of African butterflies in the genus Lepidochrysops. Unlike 99% of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), the species in this genus are phyto-predaceous: caterpillars initially feed on flowers, but eventually lose interest in the plant and are carried by ants into the brood chamber of the nest. Here they either eat the brood directly, or are fed mouth-to-mouth like cuckoos for the remainder of their development. I'm currently inferring the phylogeny of the group and looking into life history evolution and biogeographical patterns