Torbjørn Ekrem

Professor

Department of Natural History NTNU University Museum

torbjorn.ekrem@ntnu.no +47 73597812

Schøninghuset, B-330, Kalvskinnet, Erling Skakkes gate 47A

Research interests

I am interested in evolution, systematics and biogeography, in particular of non-biting midges of the family Chironomidae (Diptera). My research focuses on taxonomy, biology, phylogeny, zoogeography and molecular systematics of genera and species in the tribe Tanytarsini, but I am also involved in work with other groups of animals and plants. Among these, tardigrades through the project Tardigrades in Norwegian forests.

The last few years I have been heavily involved in various projects testing and using DNA barcoding in biosystematics. I am currently chairing the Norwegian Barcode of Life network and project (NorBOL) which is a national research infrastructure on DNA Barcoding. NorBOL aims to develop a barcode reference database for Norwegian species to support barcoding in applied projects (such as EBAI). I am also involved in the COST action DNAqua-Net as member of the Management Committee and co-lead of the working group on reference libraries.

Teaching

The last couple of years I have lectured courses in biosystematics, biogeography and molecular techniques (BI1002, BI2001 and BI8002) at the NTNU Department of Biology.

Scientific collections

I am curator of Diptera, Hymenoptera, Arachnida and a few minor insect orders at the NTNU University Museum.

Scientific, academic and artistic work

Displaying a selection of activities. See all publications in the database

Journal publications

Fontes, João T.; Vieira, Pedro E.; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Soares, Pedro; Costa, Filipe O.. (2020) BAGS: An automated Barcode, Audit & Grade System for DNA barcode reference libraries. Molecular Ecology Resources. vol. 21 (2).
Hupało, Kamil; Majaneva, Markus; Czachur, Molly Victoria; Sire, Lucas; Marquina, Daniel; Lijtmaer, Darío A.; Ivanov, Vladislav; Leidenberger, Sonja; Čiampor, Fedor; Čiamporová-Zat'ovičová, Zuzana; Mendes, Izabela S.; Desiderato, Andrea; Topstad, Lasse; Meganck, Kenny; Hariz Z. A., Danial; Kjærstad, Gaute; Lin, Xiao-Long; Price, Benjamin; Stevens, Mark; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Deiner, Kristy. (2020) An urban Blitz with a twist: rapid biodiversity assessment using aquatic environmental DNA. Environmental DNA. vol. 3 (1).
Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2020) The Chironomidae (Diptera) of Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Insects. vol. 11:183 (3).
Ávila-Jimenéz, Maria Luisa; Solhøy, Torstein; Gwiazdowicz, Dariusz J.; Fjellberg, Arne; Dózsa-Farkas, Klára; Monson, Frank; De Smet, Willem H.; Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Coulson, Stephen James. (2019) The terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Edgeøya, Svalbard: Arctic landscape community composition reflects biogeography patterns. Polar Biology. vol. 42 (5).
Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2019) A new dawn for chironomids in freshwater biomonitoring?. Chironomus Journal of Chironomidae Research.
Ekrem, Torbjørn; Stur, Elisabeth; Bakken, Torkild; Martin, Michael David; Adamowicz, Sarah J.. (2019) Abstracts from the 8th International Barcode of Life Conference in Trondheim, Norway. Genome. vol. 62 (6).
Stur, Elisabeth; da Silva, Fabio Laurindo; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2019) Back from the Past: DNA Barcodes and Morphology Support Ablabesmyia americana Fittkau as a Valid Species (Diptera: Chironomidae). Diversity. vol. 11 (9).
Sun, Zhenhua; Majaneva, Markus; Sokolova, Ekaterina; Rauch, Sebastien; Meland, Sondre; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2019) DNA metabarcoding adds valuable information for management of biodiversity in roadside stormwater ponds. Ecology and Evolution. vol. 9 (17).
Weigand, Hannah; Beermann, Arne J.; Čiampor, Fedor; Costa, Filipe O.; Csabai, Zoltán; Duarte, Sofia; Geiger, Matthias F.; Grabowski, Michał; Rimet, Frédéric; Rulik, Björn; Strand, Malin; Szucsich, Nicholaus; Weigand, Alexander M.; Willassen, Endre; Wyler, Sofia A.; Bouchez, Agnès; Borja, Ángel; Čiamporová-Zaťovičová, Zuzana; Ferreira, Sónia; Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Eisendle, Ursula; Freyhof, Jörg; Gadawski, Piotr; Graf, Wolfram; Haegerbaeumer, Arne; van der Hoorn, Berry B.; Japoshvili, Bella; Keresztes, Lujza; Keskin, Emre; Leese, Florian; Macher, Jan N.; Mamos, Tomasz; Paz, Guy; Pešić, Vladimir; Pfannkuchen, Daniela Maric; Pfannkuchen, Martin Andreas; Price, Benjamin W.; Rinkevich, Buki; Teixeira, Marcos A.L.; Várbíró, Gábor; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2019) DNA barcode reference libraries for the monitoring of aquatic biota in Europe: Gap-analysis and recommendations for future work. Science of the Total Environment. vol. 678.
Ekrem, Torbjørn; Stur, Elisabeth; Orton, Matthew J.; Adamowicz, Sarah J.. (2018) DNA barcode data reveal biogeographic trends in Arctic non-biting midges. Genome. vol. 61 (11).
Ferrer-Suay, Mar; Staverløkk, Arnstein; Selfa, Jesús; Pujade-Villar, Juli; Naik, Suresh; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2018) Nuclear and mitochondrial markers suggest new species boundaries in Alloxysta (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. vol. 76 (3).
Lin, Xiaolong; Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2018) Exploring species boundaries with multiple genetic loci using empirical data from non-biting midges. Zoologica Scripta. vol. 47 (3).
Lin, Xiaolong; Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2018) Molecular phylogeny and temporal diversification of Tanytarsus van der Wulp (Diptera: Chironomidae) support generic synonymies, a new classification and centre of origin. Systematic Entomology. vol. 43 (4).
Majaneva, Markus; Diserud, Ola Håvard; Eagle, Shannon; Boström, Erik; Hajibabaei, Mehrdad; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2018) Environmental DNA filtration techniques affect recovered biodiversity. Scientific Reports. vol. 8.
Majaneva, Markus; Diserud, Ola Håvard; Eagle, Shannon; Hajibabaei, Mehrdad; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2018) Choice of DNA extraction method affects DNA metabarcoding of unsorted invertebrate bulk samples. Metabarcoding and Metagenomics. vol. 2.
Qi, Xin; Lin, Xiaolong; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Beutel, Rolf Georg; Song, Chao; Orlov, Igor; Chen, Chun-Tang; Wang, Xin-hua. (2018) A new surface gliding species of Chironomidae: An independent invasion of marine environments and its evolutionary implications. Zoologica Scripta. vol. 48 (1).
Kranzfelder, Petra; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Stur, Elisabeth. (2017) DNA barcoding for species identification of insect skins: A test on Chironomidae (Diptera) pupal exuviae. Journal of Insect Science. vol. 17 (6, 111).
Lin, Xiaolong; Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2017) DNA barcodes and morphology reveal unrecognized species in Chironomidae (Diptera). Insect Systematics & Evolution.
Silva, Fabio; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2016) Phylogenetic relationships of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) inferred from morphology. Systematic Entomology. vol. 41 (1).
Aagaard, Kaare; Berggren, Kai; Hebert, Paul D. N.; Sones, Jayme; McClenaghan, Beverly; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2016) Investigating suburban micromoth diversity using DNA barcoding of malaise trap samples. Urban Ecosystems. vol. 20.
Ekrem, Torbjørn; Stur, Elisabeth. (2016) New combinations of Afrotropical Chironomini (Diptera: Chironomidae). Chironomus Journal of Chironomidae Research.
Fossen, Erlend Ignacio; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Nilsson, Anders N.; Bergsten, Johannes. (2016) Species delimitation in northern European water scavenger beetles of the genus Hydrobius (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae). ZooKeys. vol. 2016 (564).
Fossøy, Frode; Sorenson, Michael D; Liang, Wei; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Moksnes, Arne; Møller, Anders P.; Rutila, Jarkko; Røskaft, Eivin; Takasu, Fugo; Yang, Canchao; Stokke, Bård Gunnar. (2016) Ancient origin and maternal inheritance of blue cuckoo eggs. Nature Communications. vol. 7.
Kranzfelder, Petra; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Stur, Elisabeth. (2016) Trace DNA from insect skins: a comparison of five extraction protocols and direct PCR on chironomid pupal exuviae. Molecular Ecology Resources. vol. 16 (1).
Leese, Florian; Altermatt, F; Bouchez, A; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Hering, D; Meissner, K; Mergen, P; Pawlowski, J; Piggott, JJ; Rimet, F; Steinke, D; Taberlet, P; Weigand, AM; Abarankov, K; Beja, P; Bervoets, L; Björnsdóttir, S; Boets, P; Boggero, A; Bones, Atle M.; Vrålstad, Trude. (2016) DNAqua-Net: Developing new genetic tools for bioassessment and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems in Europe. Research Ideas and Outcomes_RIO. vol. 2.
Silva, Fabio; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Fonseca-Gessner, Alaide Aparecida. (2015) Out of South America: phylogeny of non-biting midges in the genus Labrundinia suggests multiple dispersal events to Central and North America. Zoologica Scripta. vol. 44 (1).
Lin, Xiaolong; Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2015) Exploring genetic divergence in a species-rich insect genus using 2790 DNA barcodes. PLOS ONE. vol. 10:e0138993 (9).
Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2015) A review of Norwegian Gymnometriocnemus (Diptera, Chironomidae) including the description of two new species and a new name for Gymnometriocnemus volitans (Goetghebuer) sensu Brundin. ZooKeys. vol. 508.

Books

Silva, Fabio; Fonseca-Gessner, Alaide Aparecida; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2014) A taxonomic revision of genus Labrundinia Fittkau, 1962 (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanypodinae). Magnolia Press. 2014. ISBN 978-1-77557-342-5. Zootaxa (1).

Part of book/report

Leese, Florian; Bouchez, A; Abarenkov, Kessy; Altermatt, F; Borja, Ángel; Bruce, Kat; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Čiampor, Fedor; Ciamporová-Zaťovičová, Zuzana; Costa, Filipe O.; Duarte, Sofia; Elbrecht, Vasco; Fontaneto, Diego; Franc, A.; Geiger, Matthias F.; Hering, Daniel; Kahlert, Maria; Stroil, Belma Kalamujic; Kelly, Martyn; Keskin, Emre; Liska, Igor; Mergen, Patricia; Meissner, Kristian; Pawlowski, Jan; Penev, Lyubomir; Reyjol, Yorick; Rotter, Ana; Steinke, D; van der Wal, Bas; Vitecek, Simon; Zimmermann, Jonas; Weigand, AM. (2018) Why We Need Sustainable Networks Bridging Countries, Disciplines, Cultures and Generations for Aquatic Biomonitoring 2.0: A Perspective Derived From the DNAqua-Net COST Action. Next generation biomonitoring: Part 1.
Ekrem, Torbjørn; Ashe, Patrick; Andersen, Trond; Stur, Elisabeth. (2017) Chironomidae (non-biting midges). Manual of Afrotropical Diptera. Volume 2: Nematocerous Diptera and lower Brachycera.
Seberg, Ole; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Hyvönen, Jaakko; Sundberg, Per. (2016) Willi Hennig's legacy in the Nordic countries. The future of phylogenetic systematics.

Report/dissertation

Finstad, Anders Gravbrøt; Boer, Hugo de; Brurberg, May Bente; Dahle, Geir; Edgar, Kristin Skarsfjord; Eiler, Alexander; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Endresen, Dag Terje Filip; Fossøy, Frode; Hansen, Haakon; Hobæk, Anders; Hoem, Stein Arild; Hosia, Aino Laila Johanna; Hovstad, Knut Anders; Jeppesen, Thomas Stjernegaard; Johnsen, Arild; Kallioniemi, Eveliina; Larsen, Aud; Lifjeld, Jan Terje; Pitelkova, Iva; Prager, Maria; Rey, Jessica L.; Salvesen, Ingrid; Vrålstad, Trude; Willassen, Endre. (2020) Kriterier for lagring av miljø-DNA prøver og data, herunder henvisning til referansemateriale. Criteria for depositing eDNA samples and data, including vouchered specimens. 2020.
Meissner, Kristian; Aroviita, Jukka; Baattrup-Pedersen, Annette; Buchner, Dominik; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Friberg, Nikolai; Johnson, Richard K.; Leese, Florian; Majaneva, Markus; Ólafsson, Jón S.; Schartau, Ann Kristin; Elbrecht, Vasco. (2020) Metabarcoding for use in Nordic routine aquatic biomonitoring - a validation study. 2020. ISBN 978-92-893-6806-3. TemaNord (538).
Åström, Jens; Birkemoe, Tone; Dahle, Sondre; Davey, Marie Louise; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Endrestøl, Anders; Fossøy, Frode; Handberg, Øyvind Nystad; Hanssen, Oddvar; Magnussen, Kristin; Majaneva, Markus; Navrud, Ståle; Staverløkk, Arnstein; Sverdrup-Thygeson, Anne; Ødegaard, Frode. (2020) Forslag til nasjonal insektovervåking. Erfaringer fra et pilotforsøk samt en nytte-kostnadsanalyse. 2020. ISBN 978-82-426-3479-5. NINA rapport (1725).
Ekrem, Torbjørn; Majaneva, Markus. (2019) DNA-metastrekkoding til undersøkelser av invertebrater i ferskvann. 2019. ISBN 978-82-8322-204-3. NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet naturhistorisk notat (10).
Åström, Jens; Birkemoe, Tone; Ekrem, Torbjørn; Endrestøl, Anders; Fossøy, Frode; Sverdrup-Thygeson, Anne; Ødegaard, Frode. (2019) Nasjonal overvåking av insekter. Behovsanalyse og forslag til overvåkingsprogram. 2019. ISBN 978-82-426-3287-6. NINA rapport (1549).

Torbjørn Ekrem

Background and activities