The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change

is a research museum of the Leibniz Association

Svenja Ahlborn

Lepidoptera

Tel: +49 228 9122-351

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

Mail: s.ahlborn [at] leibniz-zfmk.de

Tabs

Profile

Research interests

Currently I am a PhD student in the project "The impact of mutualistic and parasitic life histories on butterfly diversification in an increasingly arid world".

During my master's thesis, I investigated the distribution of South African ant-parasitic Lepidochrysops-butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) using niche modeling. Such information is important to understand the biogeographic distribution of species and to locate important environmental factors that could limit niches. The niches can also be used to identify biodiversity hotspots and to create future projections to get an idea of how the distribution of species might change through climate change. This data can then be used to find ways toprotect the species and their niches in the future. Furthermore, these results were combined with phylogenetic data to get insights into the evolutionary history of the different species of these genera in South Africa.

In general, I have been interested in insects and especially butterflies since my childhood. In this regard, I find both morphological and taxonomic methods, as well as recent phylogenetic and computer-based approaches to study the butterfly diversity, distribution, and evolution, exciting. Considering climate change, species extinction, and habitat loss, it is important to study these complex processes and use this information to protect species in the future.

Projects

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

Unit:

Lepidoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Marianne Espeland

Funding:

Research Council of Norway

Publications

Published in

2023

Espeland M, Chazot N, Condamine F, Lemmon AR, Lemmon EM, Pringle E, Heath A, Collins S, Tiren W, Mutiso M, Lees DC, Fisher S, Murphy R, Woodhall S, Tropek R, Ahlborn SS, Cockburn K, Dobson J, Bouyer T, Kaliszewska ZA, Baker, CCM, Talavera G, Vila R, Gardiner AJ, Williams M, Martins DJ, Sáfián S, Edge DA, Pierce NE. 2023. Rapid radiation of ant parasitic butterflies during the Miocene aridification of Africa. Ecology and Evolution 13, e10046.

[more]

Education

01/2022 – present. DFG funded PhD project at the ZFMK Bonn, supervised by Dr. Marianne Espeland: “The impact of mutualistic and parasitic life histories on butterfly diversification in an increasingly arid world.”

10/2017 – 01/2020. M.Sc. in OEP-Biology at the Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn. Thesis at the ZFMK Bonn supervised by Dr. Marianne Espeland: “Assessing distribution and evolutionary patterns in South African ant-parasitic Lepidochrysops butterflies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) using niche modeling and phylogenetics.”

10/2014 – 09/2017. B.Sc. In Biology at the Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn. Thesis at the ZFMK Bonn supervised by Dr. Marianne Espeland: “Morphometrische Analyse von unterschiedlichen Populationen des Apollofalters (P. apollo).” (en.: “Morphological analysis of different populations of the Apollo butterfly (P. apollo).”)

10/2013 – 07/2014 “Studium Generale” at the Leibniz Kolleg in Tübingen, Baden- Württemberg, Germany

09/2001 – 06/2013 School: École Belge de Kigali, in Kigali, Rwanda. Certificat d‘enseignement secondaire supérieur (General qualification for university entrance)

Grants

2021 Synthesys+ funded visit to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) and the Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA): Investigation of the diversification of ant-associated Lycaenidae butterflies during the aridification of the African continent. As part of data collection for the PhD project.

Staff search

Organizational placement

Please choose a staff list

Search form