Branching out: the role of host plants in the diversification of leaf-mining moths

Abstract

In this thesis, I studied the diversification patterns of two groups of leaf mining Lepidoptera: Nepticulidae and Lithocolletinae (Gracillariidae). Both are found on all continents except Antarctica and are species-rich, but to different extents in different lineages and their centres of diversity are in different biogeographic regions, even though they predominantly feed on similar host plant families. The research I performed focused on comparing their species-level phylogenetic diversification patterns, based on a dataset that included the majority of their global diversity, to understand common factors that have driven their evolution.

Camiel Doorenweerd

Junior Researcher Insect Systematics and Conservation

My research interests include macro-evolution, speciation, plant-insect interactions, bioinformatics and entomology