The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change

is a research museum of the Leibniz Association

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Head of Department Arthropoda
Head of Section
Curator

Coleoptera

Tel: +49 228 9122-286

Fax: +49 228 9122-212

Mail: d.ahrens [at] leibniz-zfmk.de

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Profile

Research interests

Evolutionary biology, systematics and ecology of beetles (with particular interest in chafers (Scarabaeidae))
DNA taxonomy
Morphometrics
Systematics, biogeography and taxonomy of Sericini (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

External websites and profiles

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dirk_Ahrens

Projects

2019

Wingshape and morphospace

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

2018

Establishing a standardized and universally applicable set of nuclear-encoded markers for genome-wide multi-locus species delimitation of metazoans

Methods for delimiting species based on multi-gene nucleotide information are well established and provide the means to complement the classical COI barcoding approach, whose limitations are well known. Our research project aims at establishing a standardized set of single-copy nuclear-encoded markers for genome-wide multi-locus species delimitation by exploiting comparative genomic data and applying target DNA enrichment. Candidate markers are so-called Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (USCOs).

Unit:

Coleoptera, Arachnids, Statistical Phylogenetics and Phylogenomics, Staff Council, Directorate, Chair Systematic Zoology, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Molecular Laboratory, Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research (zmb), Myriapoda, Diptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Biodiversity patterns of herbivore scarab chafers of Sri Lanka

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

2017

GGBC: Assessment, Monitoring and Management of Caucasian Biodiversity

A Georgian-German initiative to explore and barcode the biodiversity of the Caucasus area

Unit:

Directorate, Chair Systematic Zoology, Biobank, Department Arthropoda, Coleoptera, Mammalogy, Lepidoptera, Herpetology, Administration, ZFMK International Graduate School, Biodiversity Informatics, Metabarcoding, Myriapoda, Arachnids, Staff Council, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Comparative Insect Genomics

Project lead:

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

2014

DNA-Barcoding larvae and…

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Phylogeography of the…

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Evolution of Scarabaeidae

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Speciation and species…

The project explores the Speciation of these archaic beetles that survived since Tertiary only on the ancient islands rifting on the Thyrrenian sea.

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Funding:

Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig

Phylogeny of Glaphyridae

In collaboration with the specialist of the group, Dr. Guido Sabatinelli (Univ. Rome), we explore the phylogeny of the group for a better understanding of the evolution of pollination in these beetles.

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

A monograph of the Sericini of Indian Subcontinent

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Alexander-Koenig-Society e.V.

Molecular phylogeny of…

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Biodiversity research on…

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

'Morphospace' in chafers …

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

2012

Comparative phylogeogeography of South African chafers

Unit:

Coleoptera

Project lead:

Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Funding:

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

2011

GBOL- German Barcode of Life

"German Barcode of Life" ( GBOL ) is a project sponsored by the BMBF and includes the creation of inventories for the gentic characterization of the animals, fungi and plants of germany, using DNA-Barcodes.

Project lead:

Prof. Dr. J. Wolfgang Wägele

Funding:

Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Publications

Published in

2022

Ahrens, D., Liu, W.G., Fabrizi, S., Bai, M. (2022) Taxonomic revision of the species of Serica MacLeay, 1819 (sensu lato) from China and adjacent areas (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae, Sericini), with an update on Nipponoserica Nomura, 1972. Zootaxa 5186 (1): 1–83.

[more]

Bhunia, D., Gupta, D., Chandra, K., Ahrens, D. (2022) New species and records of Sericini from India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) III. Zootaxa 5200 (2): 489–494.

[more]

Dietz L., Eberle J., Kukowka S., Mayer C., Bohacz C., Baur, H., Espeland M., Huber B., Hutter, C., Mengual X., Peters R.S., Vences M., Wesener T., Willmott K., Misof B., Niehuis O., Ahrens D. (2022) Standardized nuclear markers improve and homogenize species delimitation in Metazoa. Methods in Ecology and Evolution

[more]

Fabrizi, S., Liu, W.G., Bai, M., Yang, X.K., Ahrens, D. (2022) Erratum: Fabrizi, S., Liu, W.G., Bai, M., Yang, X.K., Ahrens, D. (2021) A monograph of the genus Maladera of China (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini). Zootaxa 4922 (1): 1–400. Zootaxa 5169 (6): 600–600.

[more]

Köhler, J., Rulik, B., Eberle, J., Thormann, J., Köhler, F. & Ahrens, D. (2022): Does monitoring of saproxylic beetles benefit from inclusion of larvae? Insect Conservation and Diversity, 1– 17. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12573

[more]

Links:

Link [Open Access]

Pacheco, T. L., Monné, M.L., Ahrens, D. (2022) Morphology-based phylogenetic analysis of South American Sericini chafers (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) contrasts patterns of morphological disparity and current classification. Zoologischer Anzeiger 2022, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.11.004

[more]

Pacheco, T. L., Monné, M.L., Vaz-de-Mello, F.Z., Ahrens, D. (2022) First non-feeding species of Sericini chafers (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae): new genus and phylogenetic position. Organisms, Diversity and Evolution (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-022-00555-x

[more]

Pacheco, T. L., Wipfler, B., Monné, M.L., Ahrens, D. (2022) The genus Raysymmela Saylor, 1947 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini): taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis. Insect Systematics & Evolution 2022: 1-42.

[more]

Pacheco, T. L., Wipfler, B., Monné, M.L., Ahrens, D. (2022) The genus Symmela Erichson, 1847 (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Sericini): taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis. Journal of Natural History 56, 9–12: 607–705.

[more]

Pacheco, T.L., Bohacz, C., Ballerio, A., Schoolmeesters, P., Ahrens, D. (2022) Revisiting trends of morphology of antennal sensilla in Scarabaeoid beetles. Zoomorphology https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-022-00565-5

[more]

Ranasinghe, U.G.S.L., Eberle, J., Athukorala, N., Benjamin, S.P., Ahrens, D. (2022) New species of Sericini from Sri Lanka (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) II. European Journal of Taxonomy 821: 57–101.

[more]

Ranasinghe, U.G.S.L., Eberle, J., Thormann, J., Bohacz, C., Benjamin, S.P., Ahrens, D. (2022) Multiple species delimitation approaches with COI barcodes poorly fit each other and with morphospecies – an integrative taxonomy case of Sri Lankan Sericini chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Ecology and Evolution 12(5):e8942. doi: 10.1002/ece3.8942.

[more]

Ottati, S., Eberle, J., Rulik, B., Köhler, F. & Ahrens, D. (2022): From DNA barcodes to ecology: Meta-analysis of central European beetles reveal link with species ecology but also to data pattern and gaps. Ecology and Evolution, 12: e9650. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9650

[more]

Links:

Link [Open Access]...

2021

Ahrens, D., Liu, W.G., Fabrizi, S., Bai, M. (2021): On the taxonomy of the Trioserica Moser, 1922 species of China (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae, Sericini).- Zootaxa 4999 (4): 343–355.

[more]

Bhunia, D., Gupta, D., Chandra, K., Ahrens, D. (2021): New species and records of Sericini from India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) II.- Zootaxa 5081 (4): 594–600.

[more]

Ahrens, D. (2021): Further two new species of the Neoserica (sensu stricto) group from China (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini).- Journal of Natural History 54(45-46): 2927-2936.

[more]

Ahrens, D. (2021): New species of the genus Gynaecoserica from Indochina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini).- Zootaxa 5005 (2): 218–226.

[more]

Ahrens, D. (2021): New Sericini from the Zoological Institute St. Petersburg (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). p 427-433.- In: Hartmann, M., Barclay, M. & Weipert, J. (eds.): Biodiversität und Naturausstattung im Himalaya VII. - Erfurt 2021

[more]

Pacheco, T.L., Monné, M.L., Vaz-de-Mello, F.Z. Ahrens, D. (2021): Revision of type specimens of Astaena (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini) described by L.W. Saylor.- European Journal of Taxonomy 750: 94–123.

[more]

Ahrens, D. & Pham, P. (2021): Additions to the Neoserica calva group from continental South East Asia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Sericini).- Zootaxa 5032: 357-378.

[more]

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Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Tabs

Research interests

External websites and profiles

2019

Wingshape and morphospace

2018

Establishing a standardized and universally applicable set of nuclear-encoded markers for genome-wide multi-locus species delimitation of metazoans

Biodiversity patterns of herbivore scarab chafers of Sri Lanka

2017

GGBC: Assessment, Monitoring and Management of Caucasian Biodiversity

2014

DNA-Barcoding larvae and…

Phylogeography of the…

Evolution of Scarabaeidae

Speciation and species…

Phylogeny of Glaphyridae

A monograph of the Sericini of Indian Subcontinent

Molecular phylogeny of…

Biodiversity research on…

'Morphospace' in chafers …

2012

Comparative phylogeogeography of South African chafers

2011

GBOL- German Barcode of Life

2022

2021

Pages

Curriculum vitae

Qualifikationen

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Dr. Dirk Ahrens

Tabs

Research interests

External websites and profiles

2019

2018

2017

2014

2012

2011

Pages

2022

2021

Pages

Curriculum vitae

Qualifikationen

Staff search