Torbjørn Ekrem

Professor

Department of Natural History NTNU University Museum

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 priojects 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

Lin, Xiaolong; Stur, Elisabeth; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2018) Exploring species boundaries with multiple genetic loci using empirical data from non-biting midges. Zoologica Scripta.
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.
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 (1).
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 (MBMG). vol. 2.
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.
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. RIO Research Ideas and Outcomes. vol. 2.
Silva, Fabio; Ekrem, Torbjørn. (2016) Phylogenetic relationships of nonbiting midges in the subfamily Tanypodinae (Diptera: Chironomidae) inferred from morphology. Systematic Entomology. vol. 41 (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).
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).
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.

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.