Gómez-Zurita Lab
Herbivore Beetle Evolution
 Animal Biodiversity and Evolution Programme 		Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF)
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Group Leader
Jesús Gómez-Zurita
Staff Scientist at Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)









Full CV
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF)
Pg. Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37
08003 Barcelona, Spain








Research Interests

We have a broad spectrum of interests ranging from the systematics of leaf beetles to the study of geographic speciation and the analysis of the spatial structure of genetic diversity within a temporal framework (phylogeography), as well as the investigation of biological processes such as hybridization, unisexuality or insect-host plant associations from an evolutionary perspective.

Our current research focuses on:

  • Evolution in Pacific islands - Molecular phylogeny of the Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and study of their evolution in Western Pacific islands (CGL2017-83324-P, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Spain). 2018-2021.

              • Study of the radiation of Eumolpinae in New Caledonia (National Geographic Society and the Percy Sladen Sladen Memorial Fund, Linnean Society).

Our recent past projects include:

  • Evolution without sex:

              • Do maternally inherited endosymbionts have a role in the origin and maintenance of unisexuality in Calligrapha (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)? (CGL2014-52937-P, Ministry of Economy and Competitivity, Spain). 2015-2017 (with extension: 2018).
              • Análisis a escala genómica de las consecuencias evolutivas del abandono del sexo: Explorando el destino de la función masculina (CGL2011-23820/BOS, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain). 2012-2014 (with extension: 2015).
              • Historical circumstances and ecological implications of the hybrid origin of unisexual insects (CGL2008-00007/BOS, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain). 2009-2011.

  • Biodiversity and Conservation:

      • Leaf beetle communities along an environmental gradient from dry to moist tropical forest in Vietnam (CSIC-VAST cooperation agreement, Spain and Vietnam). 2012-2016.
      • Study of insect-host plant interactions in Nicaraguan tropical dry forest (BIOCON08, BBVA Fund, Spain). 2009-2012.

Check out the WEBSITE for this project!

  • Phylogeny, phylogeography and systematics of selected Chrysomelidae groups.

  • Taxonomic studies:

      • Descriptions of Galerucinae species from Vietnam.
      • Taxonomic revision of the genus Calligrapha (Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae) (SYNTHESYS, EU 7th Framework Programme).
      • Taxonomic revision of New Caledonian Eumolpinae (Chrysomelidae).

Publications (past 5 years)
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2019. Assessment of the role of Wolbachia in mtDNA paraphyly and the evolution of unisexuality in Calligrapha (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Ecol. Evol. (in press).
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. & Cardoso, A. 2019. Phylogeographic assessment of mtDNA paraphyly and the evolution of unisexuality in Calligrapha (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). J. Zool. Syst. Evol. Res. 57: 561-579.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2018. Systematic revision of Central American Calligrapha Chevrolat of the subgenus Erythrographa subgen. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae). Zootaxa 4531: 1-58.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2018. Description of Kumatoeides gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae) from New Caledonia. Zootaxa 4521: 89-115.
  • Merckx, J., Van Roie, M., Gómez-Zurita, J. & Dekoninck, W. 2018. From theory to practice: a photographic inventory of museum collections to optimize collection management. Biodiversity Informatics 13: 38-48.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2017. Insights on the genus Acronymolpus Samuelson with new synonymies and exclusion of Stethotes Baly from the fauna of New Caledonia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae). ZooKeys 720: 65-75.
  • Vizán-Rico, H.I. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2017. Testis-specific RNA-Seq of Calligrapha (Chrysomelidae) as a transcriptomic resource for male-biased gene inquiry in Coleoptera. Mol. Ecol. Res. 17: 533-545.
  • De la Cadena, G., Papadopoulou, A., Maes, J.-M. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2017. Evaluation of bias on the assessment of diet breadth of herbivorous insects using molecular methods. Insect Sci. 24: 194-209.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2017. Taxonomic notes on New Caledonian Dematochroma samuelsoni Jolivet, Verma et Mille and D. difficilis (Heller) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae: Eumolpinae). Folia ent. hung. 78: 77-82.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2017. Confirmation of the occurrence of Aphthonoides Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) in continental Malaysia with description of a new species. Ent. Bl. Col. 113: 89-94.
  • Nguyen, D.T. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2017. Diversity and trophic ecology of the Monoleptites group (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae, Luperini) in the Núi Chúa National Park (S Vietnam) with description of new species of Monolepta Chevrolat and Paleosepharia Laboissière. J. Asia-Pacific Ent. 20: 65-87.
  • Tuset, V.M., Otero-Ferrer, J.L., Gómez-Zurita, J., Venerus, L.A., Stransky, C., Imondi, R., Orlov, A.M., Ye, Z., Santschi, L., Afanasiev, P.K., Zhuang, L., Farré, M., Love, M.S. & Lombarte, A. 2016. Otolith shape lends support to the sensory drive hypothesis in rockfishes. J. Evol. Biol. 29: 2083-2097.
  • Nguyen, D.T. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2016. Subtle ecological gradient in the tropics triggers high species-turnover in a local geographical scale. PLoS ONE 11(6): e0156840.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J., Cardoso, A., Coronado, I., De la Cadena, G., Jurado-Rivera, J.A., Maes, J.-M., Montelongo, T., Nguyen, D.T. & Papadopoulou, A. 2016. High-throughput biodiversity analysis: rapid assessment of species richness and ecological interactions of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) in the tropics. ZooKeys 597: 3-26.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2016. Systematic revision of Calligrapha Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) with pale spots on dark elytra and description of two new species. Zootaxa 4072: 61-89.
  • Maes, J.-M. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2016. Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) de Nicaragua, Parte IV, Chrysomelinae. Rev. Nica. Ent. 76(4): 3-94.
  • Maes, J.-M., Gómez-Zurita, J., Riley, E.G., Windsor, D., Borowiec, L. & Chaboo, C.S. 2016. Chrysomelidae de Nicaragua, Parte VIII, Cassdinae sensu stricto (tortoise beetles). Rev. Nica. Ent. 76(8): 3-189.
  • Maes, J.-M., Gómez-Zurita, J. & Staines, C. 2016. Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) de Nicaragua, Parte IX, Cassidinae hispinos. Rev. Nica. Ent. 76(9): 3-201.
  • Montagna, M., Gómez-Zurita, J., Giorgi, A., Epis, S., Lozzia, G. & Bandi, C. 2015. Metamicrobiomics in herbivore beetles of the genus Cryptocephalus (Chrysomelidae): toward the understanding of ecological determinants in insect symbiosis. Insect Sci. 22: 340-352.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2015. Systematic revision of the genus Calligrapha Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae) in Central America: The group of Calligrapha argus Stål. Zootaxa (Mon.) 3922: 1-71.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. 2015. What is the leaf beetle Calligrapha scalaris (LeConte)? Breviora 541: 1-19.
  • Montelongo, T. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2015. Nonrandom patterns of genetic admixture expose the complex historical hybrid origin of unisexual leaf beetle species in the genus Calligrapha. Am. Nat. 185: 113-134.
  • Papadopoulou, A., Chesters, D., Coronado, I., De la Cadena, G., Cardoso, A., Reyes, J.C., Maes, J.-M., Rueda, R.M. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2015. Automated DNA-based plant identification for large-scale biodiversity assessment. Mol. Ecol. Res. 15: 136-152.
  • Montelongo, T. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2014. Multilocus molecular systematics and evolution in time and space of Calligrapha (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae). Zool. Scr. 43: 605-628.
  • Andújar, C., Arribas, P., Ruíz, C., Serrano, J. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2014. Integration of conflict into Integrative Taxonomy: fitting hybridization in the delimitation of species in Mesocarabus (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Mol. Ecol. 23: 4344-4361.
  • Andújar, C., Soria-Carrasco, V., Serrano, J. & Gómez-Zurita, J. 2014. Congruence test of molecular clock calibration hypotheses based on Bayes factor comparisons. Methods Ecol. Evol. 5: 226-242.
  • Chaboo, C.S., Frieiro-Costa, F.A., Gómez-Zurita, J. & Westerduijn, R. 2014. Origins and diversification of subsociality in leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae, Chrysomelinae). J. Nat. Hist. 48: 2325-2367.
  • Gómez-Zurita, J. & Cardoso, A. 2014. Systematics of the New Caledonian endemic genus Taophila Heller (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae) combining morphological, molecular and ecological data, with description of two new species. Syst. Ent. 39: 111-126.
http://molevol.cmima.csic.es/gomez-zurita/
Last update: October 2018