James Robertson, Ph.D.
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow
My research interests include the biodiversity, evolution, and ecology of insects, particularly beetles. Most of my current research is concerned with discovering what species exist, what those species do (ecological niche), how they are related, and what key innovations may have played a role in shaping their evolutionary history. These issues are addressed primarily through descriptive taxonomy, life history and ecological observations, modern phylogenetic techniques and comparative morphology.
Most of my taxonomic expertise lies within the diverse beetle superfamily Cucujoidea, an extremely diverse, yet taxonomically neglected and poorly understood, group comprising roughly 19,090 species placed among 1,237 genera and 36 families. Taxonomic groups of particular interest include Erotylidae (pleasing fungus beetles) and the Cerylonid Series of Cucujoidea, especially the families Bothrideridae (ectoparasitic, cocoon-forming beetles), Cerylonidae (minute fungus beetles), Corylophidae (minute hooded beetles) and Discolomatidae (Mexican hat beetles).
In addition, I am interested in flanged bombardier beetles (Carabidae: Paussinae) and am currently working with Wendy Moore (PI) on a phylogenetic and monographic treatment of Malagasy paussines.
Publications
Robertson, J. A., S. A. Ślipiński, K. B. Miller, M. F. Whiting and J. V. McHugh. 2012. Molecules, morphology, and minute hooded beetles: a phylogenetic study with implications for the evolution and classification of Corylophidae (coleoptera: Cucujoidea). Systematic Entomology DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00655.x.
Robertson, J. A., S. A. Ślipiński, K. B. Miller, M. F. Whiting and J. V. McHugh. 2011. A molecular phylogeny of Cucujoidea (Coleoptera) with emphasis on the Cerylonid Series: Implications for the classification and evolution of cucujoids. Proceedings of the 5th Dresden Meeting on Insect Phylogeny, September 23-25, 2011, pgs 39-40.
McHugh, J. V., J. A. Robertson and S. A. Ślipiński. 2010. Family Corylophidae. Minute hooded beetles, Minute fungus beetles. Version 09 February 2010. http://tolweb.org/Corylophidae/9171/2010.02.09 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
Robertson, J. A., S. A. Ślipiński and J. V. McHugh. 2010. Family Cerylonidae. Version 03 March 2010. http://tolweb.org/Cerylonidae/9166/2010.03.03 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
Robertson, J. A., M. F. Whiting, and J. V. McHugh. 2008. Searching for natural lineages within the Cerylonid Series (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46 (1): 193-205.
Robertson, J. A., and J. V. McHugh. 2009. The Cerylonid Series. Version 03 November 2009. http://tolweb.org/Cerylonid_Series/117918/2009.11.03 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
Robertson, J. A., J. V. McHugh, and M. F. Whiting. 2004. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Pleasing Fungus Beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae): Evolution of color patterns, gregariousness, and mycophagy. Systematic Entomology 29: 173-187.
Cryan, J. R., J. A. Robertson, and L. L. Deitz. 2003. The New World Treehopper Tribe Microcentrini (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Stegaspidinae): Monographic Revision and Phylogenetic Position. Thomas Say Publications (Monographs of the Entomological Society of America). 108 pgs.
My research interests include the biodiversity, evolution, and ecology of insects, particularly beetles. Most of my current research is concerned with discovering what species exist, what those species do (ecological niche), how they are related, and what key innovations may have played a role in shaping their evolutionary history. These issues are addressed primarily through descriptive taxonomy, life history and ecological observations, modern phylogenetic techniques and comparative morphology.
Most of my taxonomic expertise lies within the diverse beetle superfamily Cucujoidea, an extremely diverse, yet taxonomically neglected and poorly understood, group comprising roughly 19,090 species placed among 1,237 genera and 36 families. Taxonomic groups of particular interest include Erotylidae (pleasing fungus beetles) and the Cerylonid Series of Cucujoidea, especially the families Bothrideridae (ectoparasitic, cocoon-forming beetles), Cerylonidae (minute fungus beetles), Corylophidae (minute hooded beetles) and Discolomatidae (Mexican hat beetles).
In addition, I am interested in flanged bombardier beetles (Carabidae: Paussinae) and am currently working with Wendy Moore (PI) on a phylogenetic and monographic treatment of Malagasy paussines.
Publications
Robertson, J. A., S. A. Ślipiński, K. B. Miller, M. F. Whiting and J. V. McHugh. 2012. Molecules, morphology, and minute hooded beetles: a phylogenetic study with implications for the evolution and classification of Corylophidae (coleoptera: Cucujoidea). Systematic Entomology DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00655.x.
Robertson, J. A., S. A. Ślipiński, K. B. Miller, M. F. Whiting and J. V. McHugh. 2011. A molecular phylogeny of Cucujoidea (Coleoptera) with emphasis on the Cerylonid Series: Implications for the classification and evolution of cucujoids. Proceedings of the 5th Dresden Meeting on Insect Phylogeny, September 23-25, 2011, pgs 39-40.
McHugh, J. V., J. A. Robertson and S. A. Ślipiński. 2010. Family Corylophidae. Minute hooded beetles, Minute fungus beetles. Version 09 February 2010. http://tolweb.org/Corylophidae/9171/2010.02.09 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
Robertson, J. A., S. A. Ślipiński and J. V. McHugh. 2010. Family Cerylonidae. Version 03 March 2010. http://tolweb.org/Cerylonidae/9166/2010.03.03 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
Robertson, J. A., M. F. Whiting, and J. V. McHugh. 2008. Searching for natural lineages within the Cerylonid Series (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46 (1): 193-205.
Robertson, J. A., and J. V. McHugh. 2009. The Cerylonid Series. Version 03 November 2009. http://tolweb.org/Cerylonid_Series/117918/2009.11.03 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/
Robertson, J. A., J. V. McHugh, and M. F. Whiting. 2004. A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Pleasing Fungus Beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae): Evolution of color patterns, gregariousness, and mycophagy. Systematic Entomology 29: 173-187.
Cryan, J. R., J. A. Robertson, and L. L. Deitz. 2003. The New World Treehopper Tribe Microcentrini (Hemiptera: Membracidae: Stegaspidinae): Monographic Revision and Phylogenetic Position. Thomas Say Publications (Monographs of the Entomological Society of America). 108 pgs.
