Biogeography of North Africa

In collaboration with Jan Habel from TUM (Freising), we are investigating the biogeography of the North African region with a special focus on the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Many Mediterranean species groups are particularly species-rich in North Africa and probably originated in this region. The structurally rich habitats of the region have provided optimal conditions for speciation processes and served as refugial space during the ice ages. We apply genetic and morphometric methods to species-rich groups such as scorpions and black beetles, but also grasshoppers and butterflies to understand these processes.

                                                                                                                       Morocco, Photo: UHH/CeNak, Husemann

Selected publications:

• Husemann, M., Schmitt, T., Zachos, F.E., Habel, J.C. (2013) Palaearctic biogeography revisited - Evidence for the existence of a North African refugium for western Palaearctic biota. Journal of Biogeography 41: 81-94.

• Habel, J.C., Husemann, M., Schmitt, T., Zachos, F.E., Honnen, A.-C., et al. (2012) Microallopatry Caused Strong Diversification in Buthus scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Atlas Mountains (NW Africa). PLoS ONE 7: e29403.

• Husemann, M., Schmitt, T., Stathi, I., Habel, J.C. (2012) Evolution and radiation in the scorpion Buthus elmouatakili (Scorpiones: Buthidae) at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains (North Africa). Journal of Heredity 103: 221-229.

• Habel, J.C., Husemann, M., Schmitt, T., Dapporto, L., Vanderwoistijne. S. (2012) A forest butterfly in the oasis of the Sahara desert: isolation does not matter. Journal of Heredity 104: 234-247.