A case-based course teaching integrative taxonomy delimits three new ant species in the Pheidole sexspinosa complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Vanuatu [25.06.26]
KomBioTa Members Dr. Kyle W. Gray with co-authors Daniela Mera-RodrÃguez and Christian Rabeling present a new study involved teaching integrative taxonomic methods to students at the University of Hohenheim that resulted in the delimitation and description of three new ant species from the Vanuatuan archipelago in the southwestern Pacific region.
Holotypes of the newly described Vanuatuan species. Pheidole epaoensis (A-C), P. nivanuatu (D-F), P. tanakarensis (G-I)
This study grew out of the first case-based integrative taxonomy course at the University of Hohenheim, held in January 2024. Since then, we have offered two additional courses, in January 2025 and 2026, which led to the discovery and description of seven more Vanuatu ant species (manuscripts are currently in preparation). To date, 23 students have taken part in these courses, and they will all be co-authors on the publications. According to student feedback, this case-based teaching approach deepened their understanding of the processes that generate biodiversity, fostered a strong sense of community, and strengthened their scientific self-efficacy by building confidence to pursue their own biodiversity and taxonomic projects.
DOI 10.7717/peerj.21333
Publications | Rabeling Lab
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