Species delimitation of the leaf-cutting ants in the Acromyrmex laticeps group
- Beschreibung
Ants are some of the most abundant and diverse insects on Earth. There are over 14,000 ant species of which 260 grow their food like in human agriculture. These ants, known as the fungus-growing ants, do not grow the same crops as humans, but rather a type of fungus. The most specialized group of fungus-growing ants is the leaf-cutting ants, which use freshly cut leaves to grow their fungi. Because of this herbivore behavior, leaf-cutting ants are a damaging crop pest in the Neotropics. However, identifying leaf-cutting ant species remains challenging, as they display enormous morphological and biological diversity. This limits our ability to understand their biology and effectively manage the crop damage they cause.
Traditionally, scientists have identified leaf-cutting ant species by visually describing physical traits. However, this approach is difficult to apply in groups with high morphological variability among populations, and, in the case of ants, variation even within members of the same colony. Integrative approaches therefore combine geometric morphometrics, population genetics, and biogeographic data to more accurately delimit species.
In this project, we will apply an integrative approach to species discovery, using independent sources of data to resolve the species boundaries within the A. crassispinus species group of leaf-cutting ants.
If you're curious about ants, interested in biodiversity, or excited by the idea of integrative studies in biology, this is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in an innovative research project.
Key questions we’ll explore:
-What are the true species in the A. crassispinus species complex?
-What are the main differences between them?
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2026/2027
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 12. bis 26.10.2026
- Durchführung
- semesterbegleitend
- Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung
The project will be conducted at the University of Hohenheim during the winter semester of 2026. The main activities will involve processing images of leaf-cutting ants. No prior experience is required, just curiosity, motivation, and a willingness to learn. Join us and be part of a unique research project at the intersection of biology and technology!
- Studienfach
-
Agrarbiologie
Agrarwissenschaften
Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics & Subtropics
Biologie - Betreuende
- Dr. Laura Daniela Mera-Rodriguez
- Institut
- Institut für Biologie (190) (Insect biodiversity)
- 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
- theoretisch/nicht experimentell
- Lernziele
-
Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:
-Gain research experience conducting taxonomic studies about insects
-Develop an independent research project about insect biodiversity
-Learn to use current methods for insect identification
-Understand the relevance of biological collections for biodiversity research
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
- Schlagworte
- Tiere, biodiversit, morphology, biology