Systematics and evolution of the weevil genus Trigonopterus
Probe edaphischer Rüsselkäfer aus einem Tieflandregenwald Neuguineas
Trigonopterus-Arten aus dem Cyclops Gebirge
T. caudatus aus Neu Kaledonien
T. vandekampi Riedel
The flightless weevil genus
Trigonopterus Fauvel (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Cryptorhynchinae) is extremely diverse in New Guinea, New Caledonia and the Pacific Islands. Currently, there exist 444 described species worldwide, but this number will markedly increase after a revision has been completed. The island of New Guinea alone harbors an estimated 1000 species based on the material at hand. Thus,
Trigonopterus belongs to the list of hyperdiverse genera, such as the tiger-beetles of
Cicindela, or the ants of the genus
Pheidole.
East of Wallace-line various species are dominant both on foliage and in the litter layer of primary tropical forests. Towards the west, diversity not only decreases, but foliage-frequenting species disappear. In Java,
Trigonopterus are restricted to the litter layer. Usually, the species are highly endemic. The Javanese fauna of
Trigonopterus consists of two or three monophyletic groups that presumably arrived independently from the East. Dispersal patterns in the eastern part of the distribuational range are still unknown.
We document the diversity of
Trigonopterus by an approach of accelerated taxonomy combining molecular and morphological methods (aka "turbo-taxonomy"). We work on a robust phylogeny in collaboration with the
Balke Beetle Lab. Details of the morphology of
Trigonopterus are investigated by µCT and 3D reconstruction (in collaboration with T. van de Kamp). The results of these studies will help to explain characteristics of its biogeography and ecology. Certain key-characters will be traced on the phylogeny and may offer explanations for the causes of its hyperdiversity.
This project is funded by grants RI 1817/3-1, RI 1817/3-3, and RI 1817/3-4 from the German Research Foundation (DFG).
For additional information see:
http://species-id.net/wiki/Trigonopterus