insects & light

Current Research

My research interests are focused on macroecology, biogeography and systematics of species-rich moth communities. I am methodologically interested in light trapping with UV lamps and (UV) photography.

I am curating the insect collections at the Phyletisches Museum in Jena where I am also designing exhibitions. I also am voluntarily managing invasive plant species in the region and am testing appropriate methods.

My model groups are the species-rich moth clades of Geometridae (looper moths) and Arctiinae (tiger moths and woolly bears). The work has a focus on Central and South America, where thousands of species occur, many of them still undescribed. I carried out field studies mainly in Ecuador, Peru and Costa Rica (see papers below). All collected material is carefully prepared and permanently stored in the museum where it is available for further study, for examle on impacts of global heating. Some important projects are shortly presented in the following.

A  project on pollination networks of Arctiinae and Sphingidae moths, bees and bats in NW Ecuador in collboration with Sara Leonhardt and Alex Keller in a DFG research unit has started in 2022. See reassembly website and below.

ANDIV elevational gradient study in Peru

A DFG project Diversity and key traits of moths along a complete elevational gradient in the Peruvian Andes has started in September 2022. Yenny Correa Carmona is the PhD student has recently started the third field trip. The project is carried out together with PIs Marcell Peters, Alexander Keller and Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter. Felipe Yon, Juan Grados and Gerardo Lamas are our counterparts in Peru. Miles Silman, Adrian Forsyth and Alejandro Lopera are also collaborators. Here is a link to the ANDIV website.

The major objective of the project bundle is to contribute to the understanding of the broad scale drivers of holometabolous insects and their microbiomes. Lepidoptera are among the “big four” clades of holometabolous insects, and they play key roles as pollinators, defoliators and prey, yet factors determining their diversity in the tropics are poorly understood. Elevational gradients offer “natural experiments” for diversity studies, and they are far less influenced by large-scale biogeographic patterns than latitudinal gradients. The species-rich Lepidoptera clades Geometridae and Arctiinae are selected as model groups because they are phylogenetically unrelated and that differ in many traits such as body size and colouration.

For the first time, moths will be sampled quantitatively (attraction to light) along a nearly complete elevational gradient in the tropical Andes. A research collection with ca. 30,000 moth specimens and a DNA-barcode library with ca. 3,500 species will be established that will become available for long-term research. We will use UV photography and automated segmentation software for image analysis and determination of morphometric traits for all species. The data set will allowus to analyse diversity patterns and to investigate changes in selected functional traits of the moths along the elevation gradient.

Network pollination project in the Chocó forest of Ecuador

A DFG project Plant-pollinator interactions: Diurnal and nocturnal pollinators in DFG FOR Reassembly started in 2022. PIs are Sara Leonhard (Munich), Alexander Keller (Munich) and I. The Jena group has performed a field study that investigates the differences of the moth faunas between canopy and understorey in primary and secondary forest; we investigate moth traits (including proboscis length) and test the methodology - using mini switch LepiLED lamps in combination with chloroform traps and extended rain protection. Dennis Böttger was in the field already for two times, and PhD student Ugo Dinizis intensively working in the project.

Methodology: LED lamps & traps

We have systematically compared LED lamps in field studies in Jena, i.e. UV lamps against mixed radiation lamps, and lamps that differ in radiation flux. Julia Niermann manuscrpt was published in 2022 in the European Journal of Entomology. It shows that microhabitat can have a larger influence on the samples than the lamp type. In 2021, Dennis Böttger and Rachit Singh carried out another study in the Jena Forest in order to compare the understorey and canopy moth fauna. Rachit also has tested three different types of traps. Analyses are ongoing. We are also producing new species lists for the region and compare the data with >60 year old sampling data.

In 2021, we published a paper on a large behavioural experiment with more than 6000 moth individuals (95 species) carried out in the last two years. We showed that short wave radiation, in particular UV and blue radiation is most attractive for the insects (Insect Conservation and Diversity). We conclude that outdoor lighting should have no UV radiation (as still found in metal halide lamps) and very low proportions of blue radiation (e.g. LED with low colour temperatures). From the viewpoint of an insect, red light is ideal.

Camera traps and AI

We have started experiments for the AMMOD project, including a new lamp setup that allows standardized photography of moths. Paul Bodesheim, Dimitri Korsch and colleagues use artificial intelligence to identify moth species. A prototype of a camera trap has been insalled in 2020 in an orchard meadow in Jena and is constantly monitoring. Vivian Holzhauer has started her Master thesis in 2023. She will compare moth communities recorded with photos as compared to communities collected with classic methods. A new BMBF project (Lepidoptera monitoring) starts in November 2023.

Eois project

Work on Eois is a longterm taxonomic project. Eois is an exceptionally diverse genus of looper moths (Geometridae). So far, around 210 species were described in the Neotropical region, but the actual species number is likely to be far more than 1000 species – so most of them still have to be described scientfically. This is a long-term taxonomic project. Similar projects were carried out and published for Callipia and Hagnagora. From field work in Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru thousands of individuals are available for studies in the collections in Jena. I am currently sorting new material from SE Peru, so far around 150 species with different Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). Constantin Stephan will write his Master thesis about Eois.

Phylogeny of geometrid moths

In 2019, Leidys Murillo-Ramos et al. published an extensive study with 2000 terminal taxa of geometrid moths – by far the most comprehensive phylogenetic study of the group and one of the largest in Lepidoptera. Further detailed studies on New World Geometridae and on the subfamily Sterrhinae were published by us shortly after this. Due to a grant from the Finnish Academy of Sciences to Pasi Sihvonen (Helsinki), the project will be further extended towards an even and global coverage with the aim to include all known Geometridae genera in the years 2020 to 2023. I will continue the excellent collaboration with Pasi, Leidys, Niklas Wahlberg (Lund) and many others. Leidys as first author published another paper about the new geometrid subfamily Epidesmiinae

What colors are attractive in color traps?

We are currently testing color traps with different colors and color combinations in Ecuador, Peru and Germany. The master thesis of Janeth Renteria has a focus on wild bees. The main colors we are testing are blue, yellow, purple and white. The study is conducted near Jena over a period of six months. The aim is to investigate which taxa can be best attracted with which colors and how strong seasonal fluctuations are. Janeth Renteria has finished the field work for her master thesis, testing different colours and colour combinations.

Publications

List, state August 2022
Publications at Google Scholar

Peer reviewed papers

Submitted and in preparation

Ghanavi HR, Chazot N, Sanmartín I, Murillo-Ramos L, Duchêne S, Sihvonen P, Brehm G, Wahlberg N (submitted) Region-specific diversification dynamics and biogeographic history of one of the most diverse families of insects. Systematic Biology.

Brehm G, Grados G, Nuss M, Laguerre M,...(in preparation) A type validated species catalogue of 301 COI barcoded tiger moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae) of the Cosnipata valley, Peru. MS for Neotropical Entomology

Beck J, McCain CM, Brehm G (submitted) Can you trust comparative trait data based on singleton species? Submitted to Frontiers in Biogeography

Gaona FP, Brehm G, Fiedler K, Espinosa CI (in preparation) How seasonality affects geometrid moth diversity in a dry forest in southwestern Ecuador

Staude H, Sihvonen P, Brehm G, Hausmann A (in preparation) Seasonal shift in flight times and a shift todiurnal flight in two Scopula species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Sterrhinae).

Böttger D, Singh RP, Friedrich E, Brehm G (in revision) Comparison of the moth fauna of understorey and canopy in a European forest.


2023 and in press

Singh RP, Böttger D, Brehm G (2023). Moth light traps perform better with vanes: a comparison of different designs. Journal of Applied Entomology.

2022 and in press

Rajaei H, Hausmann A, Scoble MJ, Wanke D, Plotkin D, Brehm G, Murillo Ramos L, Sihvonen P (2022) Online world catalogue and database of geometrid moths: overview of species richness and systematics.

Korsch D, Bodesheim P, Brehm G, Denzler J (2022) Automated visual monitoring of nocturnal insects with light-based camera traps. CVPR Workshop on Fine-grained VisualClassification (CVPR-WS). pdf

Niermann J, Brehm G (2022) The number of sampled moths is more affected by microhabitat choice than by UV lamp type in a grassland habitat. European Journal of Entomology 119: 36-42 2022 https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2022.004

2021

Enkhtur K, Brehm G, Boldgiv B, Pfeiffer M (2021) Effects of grazing on macro-moth assemblages in two different biomes in Mongolia. Ecological Indicators 133: 108421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108421

Fiedler K Brehm G (2021) Aposematic coloration of moths decreases strongly along an elevational gradient in the Andes. Insects 12(10), 903. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12100903

Murillo-Ramos L, Sihvonen P, Brehm G, Ríos-Malaver IC, Wahlberg N (2021) A database and checklist of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera) from Colombia. Biodiversity Data Journal 9: e68693. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e68693

Enkhtur K, Brehm G, Boldgiv B, Pfeiffer M (2021) Alpha and beta diversity of moths along a latitudinal gradient in the Eastern Palearctic. Scientific Reports 11: 15018. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-94471-3

Gaona FP, Iñiguez-Armijos C, Brehm G, Fiedler K, Espinosa CI (2021) Drastic loss of insects (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in urban landscapes in a tropical biodiversity hotspot Journal of Insect Conservation 25: 395–405. https://doi.org/10.17632/359f5jcvzf.1

Brehm G, Niermann J, Jaimes Nino LM, Enseling D, Jüstel T, Fiedler K (2021) Moths are strongly attracted to ultraviolet and blue radiation. Insect Conservation and Diversity 14: 188–198. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12476

Murillo-Ramos L, Sihvonen P, Friedich E, Williams S, Brehm G, Wahlberg N (2021) A morphological appraisal of the new subfamily Epidesmiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) with an overview of all geometrid subfamilies. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (published online). https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa189

2020

Rabl D, Alonso-Rodriguez AM, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2020) Trait variation in moths mirror small-scaled ecological gradients in a tropical landscape. Insects 1: 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects11090612

Sihvonen P, Murillo-Ramos L, Brehm G, Staude H, Wahlberg N (2020) Molecular phylogeny of Sterrhinae moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): towards a global classification. Systematic Entomology 45: 606-634. https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12418

2019

Brehm G, Murillo-Ramos L, Sihvonen P, Hausmann A, Schmidt BC, Õunap E, Bolt D, Bodner F, Moser A, Mörtter R, Lindt A, Parra LE, Wahlberg N (2019) New World geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): Molecular phylogeny, biogeography, taxonomic updates and description of 11 new tribes. Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny  77 (3): 457–486. https://doi.org/10.26049/ASP77-3-2019-5

Brehm G, Zeuss D, Colwell RK (2019) Moth body size increases with elevation along a complete tropical elevational gradient for two hyperdiverse clades. Ecography 42: 632–642. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.03917

Jaimes Nino LM, Mörtter R, Brehm G (2019) Diversity and trait patterns of moths at the edge of an Amazonian rainforest. Journal of Insect Conservation 23: 751–763. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-019-00168-4

Murillo-Ramos L, Brehm G, Sihvonen P, Hausmann A, Holm S, Ghanavi H, Õunap E, Truuverk A, Staude HS, Friedrich E, TammaruT, Wahlberg N (2019). A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) with a focus on enigmatic small subfamilies. PeerJ 7:e7386. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.7386

Rabl D, Gottsberger B, Brehm G, Hofhansl F, Fiedler K (2019) Moth assemblages in Costa Rica rain forest mirror small‐scale topographic heterogeneity. Biotropica. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12677

2018

Brehm G (2018) Revision of the genus Callipia Guenée (1858) (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) with the description of 15 new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 404: 1–54. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2018.404

Brehm G, Knorre D von, Fischer MS (2018) JENA: The scientific zoological collections at the Phyletisches Museum in Jena – historical development and conservational challenges. In: Zoological collections of Germany (ed. L Beck). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44321-8_37

Kawahara A, Plotkin D, Forero D, Storer C, St Laurent R, Espeland M, Dexter K, Pierce N, Breinholt J, Brehm G, Lohman D, Toussaint E, Vargas S (2018) Phylogenetics of moth-like butterflies (Papilionoidea: Hedylidae) based on a new 13-locus target capture probe set. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127: 600–605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.06.002

Puchert G, Brehm G (2018) JENA: The teaching collection at the Zoological Institute of the Jena University – its importance, value and conservational problems. In: Zoological collections of Germany (ed. L Beck). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44321-8_38

Wallis CIB, Brehm G, Donoso DA, Fiedler K, Homeier J, Paulsch D, Süßenbach D, Tiede Y, Brandl R, Farwig N, Bendix J (2018) Remote sensing improves prediction of tropical montane species diversity but performance differs among taxa. Ecological Indicators 83: 538-549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.01.022

2017

Beck J, McCain CM, Axmacher JC, Ashton L, Bärtschi F, Brehm G, Cizek O, Colwell RK, Fiedler K, Francois CL, Holloway JD, Intachat J, Kadlec T, Kitching R, Maunsell SM, Merckx T, Nakamura A, Odell E, Sang W, Toko P, Zamecnik J, Zou Y, Novotny V (2017) Elevational species richness gradients in a hyperdiverse insect taxon: a global meta-study on geometrid moths. Global Ecology and Biogeography 26: 412–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.12548

Brehm G (2017) A new LED lamp for the collection of nocturnal Lepidoptera and a spectral comparison of light-trapping lamps. Nota lepidopterologica 40: 87–108. https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.40.11887

Infusino M, Brehm G, Di Marco C, Scalercio S (2017) Assessing the efficiency of UV LEDs as light sources for macro-moth diversity sampling. European Journal of Entomology 114:25–33. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2017.004

Strutzenberger P, Brehm G, Gottsberger B, Bodner F, Seifert, CL, Fiedler, K (2017) Diversification rates, host plant shifts and an updated molecular phylogeny of Andean Eois moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). PlosOne 12: e018843. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0188430

2016

Brehm G, Hebert PDN, Colwell RK Adams MO, Bodner F, Friedemann K, Möckel L,Fiedler K (2016) Turning up the heat at a hotspot: DNA barcodes reveal 80% more species of geometrid moths along an Andean elevational gradient. PlosOne 11: e0150327. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0150327

Colwell RK, Gotelli NJ, Ashton LE, Beck J, Brehm G, Fayle TM, Fiedler K, Forister ML, Kessler M, Kitching R, Klimes P, Kluge J, Longino JT, Maunsell SC, McCain CM, Moses J, Noben S, Sam K,  Same L, Shapiro AM, Wang X, Novotny V (2016) Midpoint attractors and species richness: Modeling the interaction between environmental drivers and geometric constraints. Ecology Letters 19: 1009–1022. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12640

Rodríguez-Castañeda G, Brehm G,  Fiedler K,  Dyer LA (2016) Ant predation on herbivores through a multitrophic lens: how effects of ants on plant herbivore defense and natural enemies vary along temperature gradients. Current Opinion in Insect Science 14: 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2016.02.001 Link to ResearchGate

Zenker MM, Wahlberg N, Brehm G, Teston JA, Przybylowicz L, Pie RP, Freitas VL (2016) Systematics and origin of moths in the subfamily Arctiinae (Lepidoptera, Erebidae) in the Neotropical region. Zoologica Scripta 46: 348–362. https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12202 Link to pdf (proof)

2015

Brehm G (2015) Three new species of Hagnagora Druce, 1885 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Larentiinae) from Ecuador and Costa Rica and a concise revision of the genus. ZooKeys 537:131–156 https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.537.6090

Bodner F, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2015) Many caterpillars in a montane rain forest in Ecuador are not classical herbivores. Journal of Tropical Ecology 31: 473-476. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467415000243

Brehm G, Fischer M, Gorb S, Kleinteich T, Kühn B, Neubert D, Pohl H, Wipfler B, Wurdinger S (2015) The unique sound production of the Death’s head Hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos (Linnaeus, 1758)) revisited. Naturwissenschaften – The Science of Nature 102: 43 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-015-1292-5

Rodner E, Simon M, Brehm G, Pietsch S, Wägele JJ, Denzler J (2015) Fine-grained Recognition Datasets for Biodiversity Analysis, CVPR Workshop on Fine-grained Visual Classification (CVPR-W 2015) Link to dataset

Seifert C, Bodner F, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2015) Host plant associations and parasitism of South Ecuadorian Eois species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) feeding on Peperomia (Piperaceae). Journal of Insect Science 15: 119 https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iev098 Download pdf

2013

Brehm G, Strutzenberger P, Fiedler K (2013) Phylogenetic diversity of geometrid moths decreases with elevation in the tropical Andes. Ecography 36: 1247-1253. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2013.00030.x

Hünefeld F, Brehm G, Pohl H (2013) A simple "hands-off" apparatus to inflate eversible soft parts of the genitalia of small insect specimens. Microscope Research and Technique 76: 258-263. https://doi.org/10.1002/jemt.22161

Werner F, Jantz N, Krashevska V, Peters T, Behling H, Maraun M, Scheu S, Brehm G (2013) Climate Change: Effects on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning. Pp. 247-263 in: Ecosystem services, biodiversity and environmental change in a tropical mountain ecosystem of South Ecuador (ed by Bendix J et al.), Chapter 18, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38137-9_18

2012

Strutzenberger P, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2012) DNA barcode sequencing from old type specimens as a tool in taxonomy: a case study in the diverse genus Eois (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). PlosOne 7:e49710. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049710

Bodner F, Strutzenberger P, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2012) Species richness and host specificity among caterpillar ensembles on shrubs in the Andes of southern Ecuador. Neotropical Entomology 41: 375–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-012-0066-4

2011

Brehm G, Bodner F, Strutzenberger P, Hünefeld F, Fiedler K (2011) Neotropical Eois (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): checklist, biogeography, diversity, and description patterns. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 104: 1091-1107. https://doi.org/10.1603/AN10050 Download pdf

Strutzenberger P, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2011) DNA barcoding based species delimitation increases species richness count of (Geometridae) moths in a well-studied tropical mountain forest by up to 50%. Insect Science 18: 349-62. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7917.2010.01366.

Sihvonen P, Mutanen M, Kaila L, Brehm G, Hausmann A, Staude HS (2011) Comprehensive molecular sampling yields a robust phylogeny for geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). PlosOne 6: e20356.  https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0020356

Larsen TH, Brehm G, Navarrete H, Franco P, Gomez H, Mena JL, Morales V, Argollo J, Blacutt K, Canhos V (2011) Range Shifts and Extinctions Driven by Climate Change in the Tropical Andes: Synthesis and Directions. Pp. 47-67 in: Herzog SK, Martínez R, Joergensen PM, Tiessen H (eds) Climate Change and biodiversity in the tropical Andes. Inter-American Institute of Global Change Research and Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment, Sao José dos Campos, Brazil, and Paris, France. Download pdf

Aguirre LF, Anderson EP, Brehm G, Herzog SK, Joergensen PM, Kattan GH, Maldonado M, Martínez R, Mena JL, Pabón JD, Seimon A, Toledo C (2011) Phenology and nterspecific Ecological Interactions of Andean Biota in the Face of Climate Change. Pp. 68-92 in: Herzog SK, Martínez R, Joergensen PM, Tiessen H (eds) Climate Change and biodiversity in the tropical Andes. Inter-American Institute of Global Change Research and Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment, Sao José dos Campos, Brazil, and Paris, France.

Beck J, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2011) Links between the environment, abundance and diversity of Andean moths. Biotropica 43: 208-217. doi https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2010.00689.x

Laurance WF, Useche DC, Shoo, LP, Herzog SK, Kessler M, Escobar F, Brehm G, and 40 authors (2011) Global warming, elevational ranges and the vulnerability of tropical biota. Biological Conservation 144: 548-557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.10.010

2010

Brehm G (2010) Diversity of geometrid moths in two Neotropical montane rain forests. Pp. 192–196 In Bruijnzeel LA, Scatena FN, Hamilton LS (eds) Tropical montane cloud forests. Science for Conservation and Management. Cambridge University Press.https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511778384.021

Bodner F, Brehm G, Homeier J, Strutzenberger P, Fiedler K (2010) Caterpillars and host plant records for 59 species of Geometridae (Lepidoptera) from a montane rainforest in southern Ecuador. Journal of Insect Science 2010; 10: 67. https://doi.org/10.1673/031.010.6701 Link to pdf

Rodríguez-Castañeda G, Dyer LA, Brehm G, Connahs H, Forkner RE, Walla TR (2010) Tropical forests are not flat: How mountains affect herbivore diversity. Ecology Letters 13: 1348-1357. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2010.01525.x Download pdf

Strutzenberger P, Bodner F, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2010). Molecular phylogeny of Eois: historical signal of wing patterns and host plant use in a group of species rich tropical moths. Zoologica Scripta 39: 609-620. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2010.00440.x

2009

Axmacher J, Brehm G, Hemp A, Tünte H, Lyaruu HVM, Müller-Hohenstein K, Fiedler K (2009) Determinants of diversity in afrotropical herbivorous insects (Lepidoptera: Geometridae): plant diversity, vegetation structure, or abiotic factors? Journal of Biogeography 36: 337-349. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2008.01997.x

Brehm G (2009) Patterns of arctiid diversity. Pp. 223-232 in: Conner WE (ed) Tiger Moths and Woolly Bears: Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Arctiidae. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York. Download pdf (proof)

2008

Colwell RK, Brehm G, Cardelús C, Gilman AC, Longino JT (2008) Global warming, elevational range shifts, and lowland biotic attrition in the wet tropics. Science 322: 258-261. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1162547 Download pdf

Brehm G, Fiedler K, Häuser CL, Dalitz H (2008) Methodological challenges of a megadiverse ecosystem. Pp. 41-47 in: Beck E, Bendix J, Kottke I, Makeschin F, Mosandl R (eds) Gradients in a tropical mountain ecosystem of Ecuador. Springer, Ecological Studies 198. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73526-7_5 Download pdf

Brehm G, Homeier J, Fiedler K, Kottke I, Illig J, Nöske NM, Werner F, Breckle S-W (2008) Mountain rain forests in southern Ecuador as a hotspot of biodiversity - limited knowledge and diverging patterns. Pp. 15-24 in: Beck E, Bendix J, Kottke I, Makeschin F, Mosandl R (eds) Gradients in a tropical mountain ecosystem of Ecuador. Springer, Ecological Studies 198. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73526-7_2 Download pdf

Fiedler K, Brehm G, Hilt N, Süßenbach D, Häuser CL (2008) Variation of diversity patterns across moth families along a tropical altitudinal gradient. Pp. 167-180 in: Beck E, Bendix J, Kottke I, Makeschin F, Mosandl R (eds) Gradients in a tropical mountain ecosystem of Ecuador. Springer, Ecological Studies 198. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73526-7_17 Download pdf

Nöske NM, Hilt N, Werner FA, Brehm G, Fiedler K, Sipman HJM, Gradstein SR (2008) Disturbance effects on diversity of epiphytes and moths in a montane forest in Ecuador. Basic and Applied Ecology 9 :4-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2007.06.014 Download pdf

2007

Brehm G (2007) Contrasting patterns of vertical stratification in two moth families in a Costa Rican lowland rain forest. Basic and Applied Ecology 8: 44-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2006.02.002 Download pdf

Brehm G, Colwell RK, Kluge J (2007) The role of environment and mid-domain effect on moth species richness along a tropical elevational gradient. Global Ecology and Biogeography 16: 205-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2006.00281.x

Brehm G, Hartmann T, Willmott KR (2007) Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and pharmacophagous Lepidoptera visitors of Prestonia amabilis (Apocynaceae) in a montane rain forest in Ecuador. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 94: 465-475. https://doi.org/10.3417/0026-6493(2007)94[463:PAAPLV]2.0.CO;2 Download pdf

Fiedler K, Brehm G, Hilt N, Süssenbach D, Onore G, Bartsch D, Racheli L, Häuser CL (2007) Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Geometridae, Hedylidae, Pyraloidea, Sphingidae,  Saturniidae, and Uraniidae (moths) - Checklist Reserva Biológica San Francisco (Prov. Zamora-Chinchipe, S. Ecuador). Ecotropical Monographs 4: 155-217. Download pdf

Fiedler K, Hilt N, Brehm G, Schulze CH (2007) Moths at tropical forest margins - how mega-diverse insect assemblages respond to forest disturbance and recovery. Pp. 39-60 in: Tscharntke T, Leuschner C, Zeller M, Guhardja E, Bidin A (eds) The stability of tropical rainforest margins, linking ecological, economic and social constraints of land use and conservation. Springer, Berlin. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30290-2_3 Download pdf

Häuser CL, Fiedler K, Bartsch D, Brehm G, Kling M, Süssenbach D, Onore G (2007) Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) - Checklist Reserva Biológica San Francisco (Prov. Zamora-Chinchipe, S. Ecuador). Ecotropical Monographs 4: 145-154. Download pdf

Hilt N, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2007) Temporal dynamics of rich moth ensembles in the montane forest zone in southern Ecuador. Biotropica 39: 94-104. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00219.x Download pdf

2006

Brehm G, Axmacher JC (2006) A comparison of manual and automatic moth sampling methods (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae, Geometridae) in a rain forest in Costa Rica. Environmental Entomology 35: 754-764. https://doi.org/10.1603/0046-225X-35.3.757

Hilt N, Brehm G, Fiedler K (2006) Diversity and ensemble composition of geometrid moths along a successional gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes. Journal of Tropical Ecology 22: 155-166. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467405003056 Download pdf

2005

Brehm G (2005) A revision of the Acrotomodes clota Druce, 1900 species-group (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Ennominae). Entomologische Zeitschrift 115: 75-80. Download pdf

Brehm G, Fiedler K (2005) Diversity and community structure of geometrid moths of disturbed habitat in a montane area in the Ecuadorian Andes. Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 38: 1-14.                                                     https://doi.org/10.5962/p.266542 Download pdf

Brehm G, Pitkin LM, Hilt N, Fiedler K (2005) Tropical Andean rain forests are a global diversity hotspot of geometrid moths. Journal of Biogeography 32: 1621-1627. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01304.x Download pdf

Brehm G, Sullivan B (2005) Unusual flight activity of a new species of Hagnagora Druce, 1885 (Lepidoptera, Geometridae) from Costa Rica. Entomologische Zeitschrift 115: 256-260. Download pdf

2004

Axmacher JC, Holtmann G, Scheuermann L, Brehm G, Müller-Hohenstein K, Fiedler K (2004) Diversity of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) along an Afrotropical elevational rainforest transect. Diversity and Distributions 10: 293-302. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1366-9516.2004.00101.x Download pdf

Brehm G (2004) A new species of Oenoptila Warren, 1895 from the Andes (Lepidoptera: Geometridae, Ennominae). Entomologische Zeitschrift 114: 278-280. Download pdf

Brehm G, Fiedler, K. (2004) Bergmann's rule does not apply to geometrid moths along an elevational gradient in an Andean montane rainforest. Global Ecology and Biogeography 13: 7-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-882X.2004.00069.x Download pdf

Brehm G, Fiedler K (2004) Ordinating tropical moth ensembles from an elevational gradient: a comparison of common methods. Journal of Tropical Ecology 20: 165-172. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467403001184 Download pdf

2003

Brehm G, Fiedler, K. (2003) Faunal composition of geometrid moths changes with altitude in an Andean montane rain forest. Journal of Biogeography 30: 431-440. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2699.2003.00832.x Download pdf

Brehm G, Homeier J, Fiedler K. (2003) Beta diversity of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in an Andean montane rainforest. Diversity and Distributions 9: 351-366. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1472-4642.2003.00023.x Download pdf

Brehm G, Süssenbach D, Fiedler K (2003) Unique elevational diversity patterns of geometrid moths in an Andean montane rainforest. Ecography 26: 456-466. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0587.2003.03498.xDownload pdf

Publications without peer review

Niermann J, Brehm G (2019) Zweijährige Erfassung von nachtaktiven Großschmetterlingen an Ködern an einem Auwald-Fragment an der Saale in Jena. Mitteilungen des Thüringer Entomologenverbandes e. V. 26: 54-63

Brehm G (2017) Migration, Ausbreitung und Verschleppung: Auswirkungen auf biologische Vielfalt. Pp. 153–163 in Tittel C (ed) Migration der Dinge. Kulturtransfer und Wissenszirkulation in Zeitaltern der Globalisierung. Schriften des Internationalen Kollegs für Kulturtechnikforschung und Medienphilosophie 31, Weimar. ISBN 978-3-95773-243-9

Brehm G (2017) Prologue, subfamily and phylogeny texts. Pages 6-7,31,32-34,50,75,83,97,139,171,203,209,229,248,261 in Dett A (ed) Moths of Costa Rica's rainforest. Benteli, Salenstein. ISBN 978-3-7165-1840-3

Brehm G (2016) Erforschung biologischer Vielfalt in Neotropischen Brennpunkten der Vielfalt. Nachrichtenblatt bayerischer Entomologen 65: 99–102. ISSN 0027-7452

Brehm G, Gaona FP, Fiedler K (2016) Andean rainforests: studying the global hotspot of Lepidopteran diversity. Pp 110–115 in Bogner FX, Bendix J, Beck E (eds) Biodiversity Hotspot Tropical Mountain Rainforest. NCI Foundation, Loja, Ecuador. ISBN 978-9942-14-583-3

Brehm G, Fiedler K (2016) Lepidoptera. Pp 464–496 in Schaefer M (ed) Brohmer, Fauna von Deutschland. 24. Aufl, Quelle & Mayer, Wiebelsheim. ISBN 978-3-494-01668-9

Brehm G (2015) Die Zoologischen Sammlungen am Phyletischen Museum. Pp. 25–30 in Christoph A, Brehm G, Elschner E (eds) Zoogeographie. Die Welt der Tiere in den Sammlungen des Phyletischen Museums Jena. Laborberichte 8 (Siegel S, Klinger K eds) Verlag und Datenbank für Geisteswissenschaften, Weimar. ISBN 978-3-89739-842-9.

Brehm G, Waechter R (2015) Wie stellt man einen Farbkatalog für Peter Halley her? / How to make a catalogue for Peter Halley. Pp. 92-96 in Fischer MS, Happe B, Siegel S (eds) Peter Halley – Prisons. ISBN 978-3-9806431-7-7

Brehm G, Fischer MS (2014) Phyletisches Museum im Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie. Pp 209–220 in Werneburg R, May R (eds) Thüringer Natur-Schätze. Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg. ISBN 978-3-7954-2729-0

Brehm G (2013) Biologische Invasionen – Wachsende Probleme mit der Globalisierung. Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau 66: 117–123

Hoßfeld U, Brehm G (2012) Darwins Finken: „Alle diese Spezies sind diesem Archipel eigentümlich“. Praxis der Naturwissenschaft – Biologie in unserer Schule 61: 45–48

Brehm G, Hoßfeld U (2011) Von bunt zu braun – Bärenspinner (Utetheisa spp.) der Galápagos-Inseln. Praxis der Naturwissenschaft – Biologie in unserer Schule 60: 47–49

Fischer MS, Brehm G, Hoßfeld U (2008) Das Phyletische Museum in Jena. Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie mit Phyletischem Museum. ISBN 978-3-9811758-3-7

Brehm G, Schrumpf M (2006) Seidenschwänze fressen Schnee. Ornithologische Mitteilungen 58: 261-262. Runterlad pdf

Brehm G (2003) Host-plant records and illustrations of the larvae of 19 geometrid moth species from a montane rainforest in Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo, N.F. 24: 29-34. Runterlad pdf

Brehm G (2002) Diversity of geometrid moths in a montane rainforest in Ecuador. Dissertation, Universität Bayreuth. https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/1012

Brehm G, Brehm K (1997) Anmerkungen zur Gefährdung des Mosel-Apollos (Parnassius apollo vinningensis Stichel, 1899) durch den Straßenverkehr - Wie groß sind die Populationen an der Mosel tatsächlich? (Lep., Papilionidae). Melanargia 9: 32-37.

Eitschberger U, Reinhard R, Steiniger H, Brehm G (1991) Wanderfalter in Europa. Zugleich Aufruf für eine internationale Zusammenarbeit an der Erforschung des Wanderphänomens bei den Insekten. Atalanta 22: 1-67, Tafeln I-XVI.

Brehm G (1989) Silage als neues Umweltproblem. Die Heimat 96: 202-210.

—  My most important working fields  —