Dr Thomas Simonsen

Biography

Employment history

• Research Entomologist, Lepidoptera Systematics, The Natural History Museum. 2009 - present
• Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada. 2005 - 2009
• Research Associate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. 2005

Qualifications

• PhD in Zoology, Natural History Museum of Denmark (Zoology), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Thesis: Fritillary Butterflies. Phylogeny, historical zoogeography and morphological aspects of the tribe Argynnini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) - 2004
• MSc. in Biology, Natural History Museum of Denmark (Zoology), University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Thesis: The wing scales and wing scale covering of the non-ditrysian Lepidoptera (Insecta). Comparative anatomy, phylogenetic implications and evolutionary aspects - 2000

Professional Roles

Awards

• Entomological Society of America, Editor's Choice: Outstanding paper of the year (2008), Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 101: pp. 899-905.

Grants

• International Travel Grant. The Royal Society, London, UK. June - July 2010.
• Post Doctoral Fellowship. Carlsberg Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark. June 2005 - May 2008
• Sys-Resources (EU), Natural History Museum, London. May 19 - June 10, 2003.
• PhD Fellowship. University of Copenhagen, Denmark. May 2001 - April 2004.

External collaborations (since 2005)

• David Agassiz, Weston-Super-Mare, UK: Systematics and taxonomy of African Phycitinae
• Andrew V. Z. Brower, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, USA: Phylogeny of Nymphalidae
• Richard L. Brown, Mississippi Entomological Museum, Starkville: Systematics, phylogeography and bioinformatics of Phycitinae (Pyralidae)
• Adam M. Cotton, Chiang Mai, Thailand: Phylogeny of Swallowtail butterflies
• Philip DeVries, University of New Orleans: Phylogeny and systematics of Neotropical butterflies
• Marie Djernaes, London, UK: Phylogeny of Swallowtail butterflies; evolutionary morphology of primitive Lepidoptera
• Jason J. Dombroskie, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada: Faunistics of Canadian Phycitinae; natural history of Megaloptera
• Rienk de Jong, Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands: Phylogeny of Nymphalidae
• Sven Kaaber, Natural History Museum Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark: Comparative morphology and evolution of Hepialus humuli.
• Ullasa Kodandaramaiah, University of Stockholm, Sweden (The Nymphalidae Systematics Group): Phylogeny and phylogeography of butterflies
• Niels P. Kristensen, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen: Phylogeny and systematics of primitive lepidoptera; comparative morphology and evolution of insects
• David Lawrie, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada: Natural history of Megaloptera
• Carla M. Penz, University of New Orleans: Phylogeny and systematics of Neotropical butterflies
• Gregory R. Pohl, Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, Canada: Faunistics of Canadian Phycitinae
• Donald Quicke, Imperial College, London, UK: Developing novel techniques for the study of insect amber fossils
• Amanda D. Roe: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada: Phylogeny and evolution of Phycitinae
• Brian G. Scholtens, College of Charleston, South Carolina, USA: Phylogeny and evolution of Phycitinae
• Felix A. H. Sperling, University of Alberta, Edmonton: Phylogeny and phylogeography of butterflies and Phycitinae
• Mark Sutton, Imperial College, London, UK: Developing novel techniques for the study of insect amber fossils
• Dick I. Vane-Wright, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK: Phylogeny of Swallowtail butterflies
• Niklas Wahlberg, University of Turko (The Nymphalidae Systematics Group): Phylogeny and phylogeography of butterflies
• Andrew Warren, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainsville: Phylogeny and phylogeography of butterflies
• Susan J. Weller, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, USA: Phylogeny and evolution of Phycitinae
• Evgeny V. Zakharov, University of Guelph, Canada: Phylogeny of Swallowtail butterflies

Teaching

• Biology: A historical perspective (300-level course), Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada. 2007
• Undergraduate field course in terrestrial zoology and entomology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. 2002 - 2004

Membership of professional societies

• The Linnean Society, London
• The Quekett Microscopical Club
• The Entomological Society of America
• The North American Lepidopterists’ Society
• Sociates Europaea Lepidopterologica (SEL)
• Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild (ALG)

Guest lectures

• Phylogeography of Cactoblastis cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the southeastern USA based on fragments of the mitochondrial gene COI. 2^nd International Cactoblastis cactorum conferences, May 7, 2007, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Coauthored by R. L. Brown and F. A. H. Sperling.

Guest researcher

• Naturalis (National Museum of Natural History, The Netherlands). August 1 - December 21, 2002

Fieldwork

• Canada: Alberta (2005 - 2008), British Columbia (2005 - 2007)
• USA: Arizona (2005, 2007), California (2007), Florida (2006), Idaho (2007), Montana (2007), Nevada (2007), New Mexico (2005), Texas (2005), Utah (2005, 2007)
• Denmark (2002-2004)
• Pyrenees (2002)
• Sweden (2002)

Editorial boards

• Insect Systematics and Evolution (subject editor, Lepidoptera). 2009 - present
• ALG News. 2007 - 2009

Committees 

• Conservation Committee, North American Lepidopterists’ Society (member). 2006 - present
• Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild (vice president). 2007 - 2009
• North American Lepidopterists’ Society (assistant secretary). 2007 - 2008
• North American Lepidopterists’ Society (vice president). 2006 - 2007
• Danish Entomological Society (committee member). 2001 - 2004
• EFU [joint committee of the Danish entomological and lepidopterological societies] (member and chairman). 2002 - 2004

Other

• Curator of Lepidoptera, Encyclopaedia of Life (EOL). 2009 - present
• Head organizer of Butterfly Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeny Symposium; International Congress on the Biology of Butterflies, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 2010
• Head organizer of Lepidoptera Phylogeny symposium; International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa. 2008
• Member of the organising committee of the 13^th European Congress of Lepidopterology in Korsoer, Denmark. 2002

Research

Interests

• Phylogeny, evolution, zoogeography, classification and taxonomy of Lepidoptera with focus on Hepialoidea (ghost moths), Sesiidae (clear-winged moths), Pyraloidea (snout moths), and Papilionoidea (true butterflies). 
• Comparative evolutionary and structural morphology and anatomy of insects in general and Lepidoptera in particular. Exploration of new morphological character systems for phylogenetic and taxonomic studies, including the utility of 'state-of-the-art' advanced microscopy techniques such as electron microscopy, laser confocal microscopy, X-ray electron microscopy, micro CT-scanning, and digital 3D reconstructions in insect and Lepidoptera systematics.
• Digital bioinformatics. Utilization and further development of already existing online infrastructures for bioinformatics such as Scratchpads (http://scratchpads.eu/), Morphbank (http://www.morphbank.net/) and Encyclopaedia of Life (http://www.eol.org/) for distribution and exchange of biodiversity and systematics data. Development of digital, non-destructive "dissection" methods for insect materials using micro CT scan and X-ray microscopy.

Current and upcoming projects

• Phylogeny, zoogeography, larval host plant relationships and classification of the Holarctic nymphalid genus Boloria. Despite the northern hemisphere being the best known biological area in the world, little is known about the phylogenetic relationships and zoogeography of butterflies in the region. Based on characters from adult morphology and three genes the phylogenetic relationships of Boloria are reconstructed. The results are used to revise the classification of the genus, examine its historical zoogeography (including the effects of climate changes during the last ice ages), evolutionary patterns in larval-host plant relationships and adaptations to extreme (alpine or arctic environments).
• Higher level phylogenetic framework for Phycitinae with focus on North American taxa. The Pyraloidea subfamily Phycitinae is one of the largest, most diverse and economically important groups of Lepidoptera. Despite this the subfamily's overall evolutionary relationships and higher level classification are very poorly understood. The aim of this project is to create a framework for understanding the evolutionary history of the subfamily based on molecular characters from four genes from approximately 45 predominantly North American genera. Though the taxon sampling thus is somewhat taxonomically biased and represents less than 10% of the approximately 600 described genera, the project will result in the first available higher-level phylogenetic hypothesis for the subfamily.
• Online bioinformatics for cactus-feeding moths in the Americas. Cactus-feeding insects are currently receiving considerable attention in North and South America, partly because of the accidental introduction of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum in the USA, and partly because of the impact range and behaviour changes (due to climate change) in cactus feeders in general could have on the cactus industry and cactus based ecosystems in the Americas. This project, lead by Mississippi Entomological Museum, aims to make all relevant information freely available online.
• Review of the Melitara-Alberada complex (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The genera Phycitinae Melitara and Alberada are two of the most conspicuous and dominating genera of cactus-feeding moths in North America and adjacent Mexico. This project reviews the two genera and describes several new species. Species pages and similar important information will be made freely available online on: http://scratchpads.eu/
• Comparative morphology and phylogenetic significance of skeletal Abdomen 8 modifications in male Phycitinae. One reason why the higher-level classification and phylogenetic relationships of Phycitinae are so poorly understood is that "classical" morphological characters such as wing venation and genitalic morphology have proven an insufficient source of characters. This study explores the variation in skeletal Abdomen 8 modifications found in males across Phycitinae and assesses the phylogenetic and taxonomic value of these characters for higher-level studies.
• Review of Acacia-feeding Phycitinae in Africa. The Phycitinae fauna of Africa is generally very poorly known. This project aims to elucidate the taxonomy, classification and life history of ecologically important Phycitinae that are associated with Acacia.
• Phylogeny, taxonomy and evolution of lower brassoline butterflies (Nymphalidae). The Neotropical nymphalid subfamily Brassolinae comprise some of the the best known and most spectacular butterflies in the Neotropics such as morphos (Morpho) and owl-butterflies (Caligo). These "crown groups" have recently been the subject of several studies and are relatively well understood. But the phylogenetic relationships of the major lineages (especially the early diverged lineages) within the subfamily are poorly understood, and the overall evolution of the group is therefore not known. Furthermore, the taxonomy and species compositions of some of the early key lineages remain largely unstudied. This project aims in part to elucidate the overall phylogeny of the major lineages within the subfamily with focus on the basal groups, and in part to revise the taxonomy of key genera near the base of the Brassolinae family tree.

Publications

Research and review publications

Simonsen, T. J., Wahlberg, N., Warren, A. D. & Sperling, F. A. H. (in review). The evolutionary history of Boloria (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): phylogeny, zoogeography and larval foodplant relationships. Systematics and Biodiversity.

Simonsen, T. J., Zakharov, E. V., Djernaes, M., Cotton, A., Vane-Wright, R. I. & Sperling, F. A. H. (in press): Phylogeny, host plant associations and divergence time of Papilioninae (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) inferred from morphology and seven genes with special focus on the enigmatic genera Teinopalpus and Meandrusa. Cladistics.

Simonsen, T. J. & Brown, R. L. (2010): Evolution of Host Preferences in Cactus-feeding Pyralidae, p. 20 in Research to Support Integrated Management Systems of Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species, MS Madsen, J.D. et al. (Eds). Geosystems Research Institute GRI#5039, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State.

Simonsen, T. J. (2009): Wing vestiture of the newly described monotrysian Lepidoptera family Andesianidae Davis and Gentili suggests affinity with the putative Tischerioidea -Ditrysia clade (Insecta: Lepidoptera). Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 44: pp. 109-114.

Simonsen, T. J. & Roe, A. D. (2009): Phylogenetic utility and comparative morphology of the composite scale brushes in male phycitine moths (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger. 248: pp. 119-136.

Kaaber, S., Kristensen, N. P. & Simonsen, T. J. (2009): Sexual dimorphism and geographical male polymorphism in the ghost moth Hepialus humuli (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae): scale ultrastructure and evolutionary aspects. European Journal of Entomology. 106: pp. 303-313.

Simonsen, T. J., Dombroskie, J. J. & Pohl, G. R. (2009): Melitara Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in western Canada: the documentation of M. subumbrella (Dyar) in the Prairie Provinces demonstrates the value of regional collections and species lists. Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society. 63: pp. 31-36.

Roe, A. D., Weller, S., Baixeras, J., Brown, J. W., Cummings, M., David, D., Kawahara, A. Y., Parr, C. S., Regier, J. C., Rubinoff, D., Simonsen, T. J., Wahlberg, N. & Zwick, A. (2009): Evolutionary framework for Lepidoptera model systems, pp. 1-24 in Genetics and Molecular Biology of Lepidoptera, M Goldsmith and F. Marec (eds.).

Simonsen, T. J. (2008): Phylogeny of the cactus-feeding phycitines and their relatives (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) based on adult morphology: evaluation of adult character-systems in phycitine systematics and evidence for a single origin of Cactaceae-feeding larvae. Insect systematics and evolution. 39: pp. 303-325 

Simonsen, T. J., Dombroskie, J. J. & Lawrie, D. L. (2008): Behavorial observations on the dobsonfly, Corydalis cornutus (Megaloptera: Corylidae) with photographic evidence on the use of the elongate mandibles in the males. The American Entomologist. 54: pp. 167-169.

Simonsen, T. J., Brown, R. L. & Sperling, F. A. H. (2008): Tracing an invasion: Phylogeography of the invasive cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in southeastern USA based on mitochondrial DNA. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 101: pp. 899-905.

Simonsen, T. J. (2007): Comparative morphology and evolutionary aspects of the reflective under wing scale-pattern in Fritillary butterflies (Nymphalidae: Argynnini). Zoologischer Anzeiger. 246: pp. 1-10.

Simonsen, T. J., Wahlberg, N., Brower, A. W. Z. & de Jong, R. (2006) Molecules, morphology and Fritillaries: a combined approach towards the phylogeny of Argynnini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Insect Systematics and Evolution. 37: pp. 405-418.

Simonsen, T. J. (2006): Fritillary phylogeny, classification and larval hostplants: reconstructed mainly on the basis of male and female genitalic morphology (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Argynnini). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 89: pp. 627-673.

Simonsen, T. J. (2006): The male genitalia segments in Fritillary butterflies: comparative morphology with special reference to the ‘rectal plate’ in Issoria (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). European Journal of Entomology. 103. pp. 425-432.

Simonsen, T. J. (2006): Glands, muscles and genitalia. Morphological and phylogenetic implications of histological characters in the male genitalia of Fritillary butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Argynnini).  Zoologica Scripta, 35: pp. 231-241.

Simonsen, T. J. (2005): Boloria phylogeny (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): tentatively reconstructed on the basis of male and female genitalic morphology. Systematic Entomology. 30: pp. 653-665.

Simonsen, T. J. & Kristensen, N. P. (2003): Scale length/wing length correlation in Lepidoptera (Insecta). Journal of Natural History. 37: pp. 673-679.

Kristensen, N. P. & Simonsen, T. J. (2003): 'Hairs' and scales. pp. 9-22 in Kristensen, N. P. (ed): Lepidoptera, Moths and Butterflies 2: Morphology, Physiology and Development. Handbook of Zoology vol. IV, part 36. Walter de Gruyter. Berlin/New York.

Simonsen, T. J. (2002): Wing scale covering supports close relationships between Callipielus and Dalaca, austral South American Ghost Moths (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae). Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 37: pp. 65-69.

Simonsen, T. J. (2001): The wing vestiture of the non-ditrysian Lepidoptera (Insecta). Comparative morphology and phylogenetic implications. Acta Zoologica. 82: 275-298.

Simonsen, T. J. (2001): An electron microscope look at wing scales in "greasy" Lepidoptera. Nota Lepidopterologica. 24: 89-92.

Simonsen, T. J. & Kristensen, N. P. (2001): Agathiphaga wing vestiture revisited: evidence for complex early evolution of lepidopteran scales (Lepidoptera: Agathiphagidae). Insect Systematics and Evolution. 32: 196-175.

Boesgaard, T. M., Jørgensen, A., Schandorff, S., Schiøtt, M. & Simonsen, T. J. (1996): Uegnede målsætninger for monitering i Øresund. Vand & Jord. 6: 234-235. (in Danish)

Internet publications

Simonsen, T. J., Wahlberg, N. & Brower, A. V. Z.: ‘Argynnini’. On the “Tree of Life Web Project”

Simonsen, T. J., Wahlberg, N. & Brower, A. V. Z.: ‘Brenthis’. On the “Tree of Life Web Project”

Simonsen, T. J., Wahlberg, N. & Brower, A. V. Z.: ‘Boloria’. On the “Tree of Life Web Project”

Simonsen, T. J.: ‘Melitara dentata’. Species page on the “E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, Virtual Museum”

Simonsen, T. J.: ‘Melitara subumbrella’. Species page on the “E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, Virtual Museum”

Simonsen, T. J.: ‘Zophodia grosulariella’. Species page on the “E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, Virtual Museum”

Simonsen, T. J.: ‘Acrobasis tricolorella’. Species page on the “E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, Virtual Museum”

Simonsen, T. J.: ‘Pyla aeneoviridella’. Species page on the “E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum, Virtual Museum”

Outreach publications in newsletters and popular magazines

Simonsen, T. J. (2007): Look out for the gray cactus moth. ALG News. 3(1): 4-5.

Simonsen, T. J. (2004): Insekter og andejagt på kollisionskurs. Bladloppen. 23: 3-4. (in Danish)

Simonsen, T. J. (2004): Dagsommerfugle i tilbagegang – hvad er årsagen og er billedet så entydigt. Bladloppen. 22: 3-4. (in Danish)

Simonsen, T. J. (2004): Perlemorssommerfuglene – et studie i udbredelse. Dyr i Natur og Museum. 2004/2: 10-12. Zoologisk Museum, Københavns Universitet. (in Danish)

Simonsen, T. J. (2003): Sommerfuglenes Vingebeklædning. Naturens Verden. 86(2): 14-19. (in Danish)

Simonsen, T. J. (2000): Sommerfuglestøv under luppen. Dyr i Natur og Museum. 2000/2: 5-8. Zoologisk Museum, Københavns Universitet. (in Danish).