My projects
Molecular phylogenetics of the Noctuoidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera)
The main goal of the research:
I would attempt to explore the phylogenetic relationships, biogeographic patterns and evolutionary history of the Noctuoidea, primarily quadrifines, in order to identify the main causes of such a flourishing diversification and the implications of such patterns. The material I use in my projects are based principally on fresh material from different museums both within and outside Finland (to see our collaborators around the world please click here).
How?
To elucidate the relationships among the closely related and structurally rather uniform taxa of Noctuidae s.l., it is necessary to use the techniques of molecular systematics, in this case DNA sequencing. Traditionally molecular studies have been based on a small number of molecular markers, usually one to three genes. Very recently a number of novel nuclear markers have become available for molecular systematic studies of Lepidoptera (see Wahlberg & Wheat 2008), giving a total of 11 gene regions that can be easily amplified from genomic DNA extracts. Eight of these have so far been successfully amplified from noctuoids (see progress of PhD studies) and are giving robust results.
Initial schedule:
The initial year of my PhD project concentrates on obtaining molecular data (8 genes/6407 bp) from about 150 critical taxa of the entire Noctuoidea (mainly the type genera of each current subfamily/tribe/subtribe) to build up a skeleton phylogenetic hypothesis for the superfamily. This initial project will then allow evaluation of which taxa require further sampling and will guide the continuation of the project in Dr. Wahlberg´s Laboratory.