Biodiversity of ants in an understudied hotspot in Indo-Burma
- Beschreibung
Cambodia is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot of the Indo-Burma region and is also estimated to be particularly vulnerable to climate change and human development. Cambodia in particular is understudied, especially its insect fauna, resulting in pressing need to inventory its biodiversity. We have conducted a broad biodiversity survey of several quintessential Indo-Burmese habitats: the evergreen Dipterocarp dry forest of the Mekong lowlands and the Eastern Plains, the Greater Annamite Mountains, and the Cardamom Mountains. Using leaf-litter sampling, hand collecting, and Malaise trapping, we collected a broad swath of the native insect fauna. As a counterpoint, we have urban samples from the capital, Phnom Penh, to allow insights how the ant fauna in human created environments is assembled from native and invasive species.
This project will document and catalogue the ant diversity of Cambodia from these collections. We will sort the collection, mount exemplar specimens, key out samples to genus level, identify (morpho)species, image vouchers, and collate the information for publication. If feasible, help with preparation of a co-authored manuscript (maps, figures, data analysis) would allow deeper learning.
- Projektzeitraum
- Sommersemester 2025
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 01. bis 13.04.2025
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
The project will be carried out at the University of Hohenheim. The main activities in the project are sorting, mounting, and imaging ant specimens and identifying them to subfamily, genus, and (morpho)species. The results of this project will be presented at the Humboldt Reloaded Conference in October 2025.
We are open to developing this project in either German or English. However, the identification keys are in English.
- Studienfach
-
Agrarbiologie
Agrarwissenschaften
Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics & Subtropics
Biologie
Biologie - Lehramt
Environmental Science - Soil, Water and Biodiversity
Landscape Ecology - Betreuende
- Ph.D. Dietrich Gotzek
- Institut
- Institut für Biologie (190) (Integrative Taxonomie und Biodiversität der Insekten)
- Sprache
- deutsch/englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 2
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 180 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 6
ECTS-Punkte
Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.
- Für dieses Projekt ist kein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
- Projektart
- empirisch
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
Learning objectives:
-Gain research experience using natural history collections for biodiversity research
-Understand the relevance of biological collections for biodiversity research
-Learn to use taxonomic keys for insect identification
-Learn how to image and measure insect specimens from biological collections
-Learn collection data management
-Develop an independent research project about insect biodiversity
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
No prior experience in insect or ant taxonomy or identification is necessary (although it is helpful). A good eye, steady hand, and willingness to learn is all that is needed.
- Schlagworte
- biodiversity, ants, Cambodia