I am a naturalist with a deep interest in ants. My fascination with these creatures initially began with taxonomy but has since expanded to encompass a broader exploration of morphology. I am particularly intrigued by the relationship between kinematic locomotion, ecology, behavior, embryology, genomics, and morphology, and how these factors interrelate. To investigate this, I intend to employ methods such as geometric morphometry (landmarking) and pose estimation to quantify locomotion and examine its connection to muscle structure and external shape.
My research focuses on the striking morphological similarities between Neotropical fungus-growing ants and oriental cryptic hypogeic ants, specifically Proatta and Dacatria. These similarities are so remarkable that they cannot be easily explained by convergent evolution alone. By studying these ants, I hope to uncover new insights into the factors that influence the development of ant morphology. I strongly believe that comprehending the relationships between morphology, ecology, behavior, and locomotion can have wide-ranging applications in evolutionary biology. Furthermore, I am keen on exploring additional areas of study, such as the convergent evolution of desert ants, the taxonomy of male ants, and the global adaptive radiation of Apaenogaster.
My research focuses on the striking morphological similarities between Neotropical fungus-growing ants and oriental cryptic hypogeic ants, specifically Proatta and Dacatria. These similarities are so remarkable that they cannot be easily explained by convergent evolution alone. By studying these ants, I hope to uncover new insights into the factors that influence the development of ant morphology. I strongly believe that comprehending the relationships between morphology, ecology, behavior, and locomotion can have wide-ranging applications in evolutionary biology. Furthermore, I am keen on exploring additional areas of study, such as the convergent evolution of desert ants, the taxonomy of male ants, and the global adaptive radiation of Apaenogaster.
