AAS Australasian Arachnological Society

Dr Volker W. Framenau

Dr Volker W. Framenau
Dr Volker W. Framenau
Research Fellow - Short-Range Endemic Fauna
Department of Terrestrial Zoology
Western Australian Museum
Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC
Western Australia 6986
Australia
E-Mail: volker.framenau@museum.wa.gov.au
Adjunct Lecturer
School of Animal Biology
University of Western Australia
Webmaster
Society of Austalian Systematic Biologists

Research Interests

My current research interests, in collaboration with Mark Harvey, focus on the taxonomy and systematics of the terrestrial short-range endemic and troglobitic fauna of Western Australia, which includes in particular millipedes, pseudoscorpions, schizomids, molluscs and other groups with species distributions of less than 10,000sqkm. Short-range endemics are of particular conservation interest due to their high vulnerability to habitat disturbance.

Previously, I mainly worked on the evolutionary biology of arachnids in a broad sense, which included studies of their systematics and evolutionary ecology. I have published mainly on wolf spiders, which I consider an excellent model organism to tackle a variety of evolutionary questions, including patterns of sexual selection (in particular sexual dimorphism of size, and troph and locomotor morphology) and foraging biology. More recently, I concentrated on the systematics of Australasian orb-weaving spiders. I regard the knowlegde of the phylogenetic history of my study organisms pivotal for the understanding of their evolutionary biology and have in recent years concentrated on studying the systematics of spiders. Here, I am in particular interested in the faunas of Australia, South-east Asia and Pacific Islands including Hawai'i.

Particular Research Projects

  • The systematics of Australian orb-web spiders of the subfamily Araneinae (in collaboration with Nicolaj Scharff, University of Copenhagen)
  • The systematics of Australian wolf spiders
  • The systematics of Australian Selenopidae (in collaboration with M. Harvery, Western Australian Museum, and Sarah Crews, University of Berkeley, California)
  • The spider fauna of the Pacific Islands (Taxonomy, Systematics and Evolution)
  • The spider and ant fauna of Christmas Island (ant fauna in collaboration with Melissa Thomas, University of Western Australia)

Study Opportunities

Potential students and postdocs are welcome to contact me to discuss projects within my research interests, however funding is limited. I support the application for scholarships in any possible way (e.g. through the Australian Biological Resource Study).

Academic Education

  • 2002: Ph.D., University of Melbourne, Australia. Thesis: Taxonomy, Life History Characteristics, and Ecology of Riparian Wolf Spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae) in the Victorian Alps, South-eastern Australia
  • 1995: Master of Science, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany, majoring in Nature Conservation, Taxonomy and Systematics, Animal Ecology, Computer Science. Thesis: Population Ecology and Dispersal Dynamics of Arctosa cinerea (Araneae, Lycosidae) in a Braided Section of an Alpine River.
  • Graduate Diploma in Process Engineering, University of Cooperative Education Mannheim, Germany. Thesis: Production of Steam using Hot Process Gas through the Installation of Heat Exchangers in the Cyanid Plant, BASF Ludwigshafen

Employment History

  • 2008 – 2009: Research Officer – Short-Range Endemics, Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates, Western Australian Museum
  • 2005 – 2008: Research Fellow – Arachnology, Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates, Western Australian Museum
  • 2002 – 2005: Postdoctoral Research Officer – Arachnology, Department of Terrestrial Invertebrates, Western Australian Museum
  • 2001 – 2005: Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne
  • 1995 – 1996: Research Assistant, Department of Nature Conservation, Philipps-University Marburg/Germany
  • 1993: Center for Nature Conservation, Wetzlar/Germany
  • 1992: Practical, Landscape Architect Olschewski, Ludwigshafen/Germany
  • 1988 – 1989: Process Engineer, Cyanid Plant, BASF AG Ludwigshafen/Germany
  • 1984 – 1985: Military Service (German Air Force)

Editorial Activities

Associate Editor (Lycosoidea) for Zootaxa.

Editor of Australasian Arachnology.

Publications

(For copyright reasons, pdf-files of my publications are not available for direct download. Please send me an email if you are interested in a particular publication.)

    In press

  • 41. Framenau, V. W. and Scharff, N. (in press). The orb-weaving spider genus Larinia in Australia (Araneae: Araneidae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny.
  • 40. Langlands, P. R. and Framenau, V. W. (in press). Systematic revision of Hoggicosa Roewer, 1960, the Australian bicolor group of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
  • 39. Framenau, V. W., Berry, J.W. and Beatty, J.A. (in press). Wolf spiders of the Pacific region: the genus Zoica Simon (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology.
  • 38. Harmer, A. M. T. and Framenau, V. W. (in press). Telaprocera, a new Australian orb-web spider genus with elongated webs (Araneae: Araneidae). Zootaxa.
  • 37. Framenau, V. W. (in press). Artoria linnaei, a new wolf spider species from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum.

    • 2008

  • 36. Framenau, V. W. and Thomas, M. L. 2008. Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). Records of the Western Australian Museum 25, 45-85.
  • 35. Framenau, V. W. 2008. The male of the orb-weaving spider Cyrtophora unicolor (Araneae, Araneidae). Journal of Arachnology 36:131-135.
  • 34. Framenau, V. W. 2008. A new species in the wolf spider genus Allotrochosina from New South Wales (Australia)(Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology 35, 463-469.

    • 2007

  • 33. Framenau, V. W. & Baehr, B. C. 2007. Revision of the Australian wolf spider genus Dingosa Roewer, 1955 (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Natural History 41, 1603-1629.
  • 32. Framenau, V. W. 2007. Erratum to: Framenau, V.W. 2006. The wolf spider genus Venatrix Roewer (Araneae, Lycosidae) in Australia: new species, synonymies and generic transfers. Records of the Western Australian Museum 23, 417.
  • 31. Framenau, V. W. & Hebets, E. A. 2007. A review of leg ornamentation in male wolf spiders, with the description of a new species from Australia, Artoria schizocoides (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology 35, 89-101.
  • 30. Yoo, J.-S., Framenau, V. W. & Kim, J.-P. 2007. Arctosa stigmosa and A. subamylacea are two different species (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology 35, 171-180.
  • 29. Framenau, V. W. 2007. Revision of the new Australian genus Artoriopsis in a new subfamily of wolf spiders, Artoriinae (Araneae: Lycosidae). Zootaxa 1391, 1-34.
  • 28. Hosseini, R., Keller, M. A., Schmidt, O., Framenau, V. W. 2007. Molecular identification of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Biological Control 40, 128-135.

    • 2006

  • 27. Yoo, J.-S. & Framenau, V. W. 2006. Systematics and biogeography of the sheet-web building wolf spider genus Venonia (Araneae, Lycosidae). Invertebrate Systematics 20, 675-712.
  • 26. Framenau, V. W. 2006. Mainosa, a new genus for the Australian "shuttlecock wolf spider". Journal of Arachnology 34, 206-213.
  • 25. Framenau, V. W., Gotch, T.B. and Austin, A.D. 2006. The wolf spiders of artesian springs in arid South Australia, with a revalidation of Tetralycosa (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology 34, 1-36.
  • 24. Framenau, V. W. 2006. Revision of the Australian wolf spider genus Anomalosa Roewer, 1960 (Araneae, Lycosidae). Zootaxa 1304, 1-20.
  • 23. Framenau, V. W. 2006. The wolf spider genus Venatrix Roewer (Araneae, Lycosidae) in Australia: new species, synonymies and generic transfers. Records of the Western Australian Museum 23, 145-166.
  • 22. Framenau, V. W. 2006. Knoelle, a new monotypic wolf spider genus from Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae). Zootaxa 1281, 55-67.
  • 21. Framenau, V. W. 2006. Revision of the wolf spider genus Diahogna Roewer, 1960 (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Natural History 40: 273-292.
  • 20. Framenau, V. W. and Yoo, J.-S. 2006. Systematics of the new Australian wolf spider genus Tuberculosa (Araneae, Lycosidae). Invertertebrate Systematics 20: 185-202.
  • 19. Murphy, N. P., Framenau, V. W., Donellan, S. C., Harvey, M. S., Park, Y.-C. & Austin, A. D. 2006. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae) using sequences from 12S rRNA, 28S rRNA and NADH1 genes: implications for classification, biogeography and the evolution of web-building behavior. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38: 583-602.

    • 2005

  • 18. Tomasiewicz, B. & Framenau, V. W. 2005. Larval chaetotaxy in wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae): systematic insights at the subfamily level. Journal of Arachnology 33: 415-425.
  • 17. Framenau, V. W. 2005. Gender specific differences in activity and home range reflect morphological dimorphism in wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae). Journal of Arachnology 33: 334-346.
  • 16. Framenau, V. W. 2005. The wolf spider genus Artoria Thorell (Araneae, Lycosidae) in Australia: new synonyms and generic transfers. Records of the Western Australian Museum 22: 265-292.
  • 15. Framenau, V. W. & Elgar, M. A. 2005. Cohort dependent life history traits in a wolf spider (Araneae, Lycosidae) with bimodal life cycle. Journal of Zoology, London 265: 179-188.
  • 14. Thomas, M. L. & Framenau, V. W. 2005. Foraging decisions of individual workers vary with colony size in the greenhead ant Rhytidoponera metallica (Formicidae, Ectatomminae). Insectes Sociaux 52: 26-30.

    • 2004

  • 13. Isbister, G.K. and Framenau, V. W. 2004. Australian wolf spiders bites (Lycosidae): Clinical effects and influence of species on bite circumstances. Journal of Toxicology, Clinical Toxicology 42: 153-161.
  • 12. Framenau, V. W. 2004 [imprint date 2003]. Two alpine wolf spiders of Australia: Artoria alta sp. nov., and the male of Lycosa musgravei McKay, 1974 (Araneae, Lycosidae). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 115: 27-34.

    • 2002

  • 11. Framenau, V. W. 2002. Review of the wolf spider genus Artoria Thorell. Invertebrate Systematics 16: 209-235.
  • 10. Framenau, V. W., Manderbach, R. and Baehr, M. 2002. Riparian gravel banks of upland and lowland rivers in Victoria (South-east Australia): Arthropod community structure and life history patterns in a longitudinal gradient. Australian Journal of Zoology 50: 103-123.

    • 2001

  • 9. Framenau, V. W. & Vink, C. J. 2001. Revision of the wolf spider genus Venatrix Roewer. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 927-970.
  • 8. Manderbach, R. & Framenau, V. W. 2001. Spider (Arachnida: Araneae) communities of riparian gravel banks in the Northern European Alps. Bulletin of the British arachnological Society 12: 1-9.

    • 2000

  • 7. Framenau, V. W. & Smit, J. 2000. Die epigäische Spinnenfauna (Araneae) anthropogener Kleinflächen im Universitätsgebiet der Philipps-Universität auf den Lahnbergen bei Marburg. Arachnologische Mitteilungen 20: 26-42.
  • 6. Framenau, V. W., Finley, L. A., Allan K., Love, M., Shirley, D. & Elgar, M. A. 2000. Multiple Feeding in Wolf Spiders: The Effect of Starvation on Handling Time, Ingestion Rate, and Intercatch Intervals in Lycosa lapidosa (Araneae, Lycosidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 48: 59-65.

    • 1998

  • 5. Framenau, V. 1998. Life cycles of Lycosa lapidosa McKay, 1974, and Lycosa arenaris (Hogg, 1905), two riparian wolf spiders from south-eastern Australia. In: Selden, P. (ed.) Proceedings of the 17th European Colloquium of Arachnology, Edinburgh 1997, 227-234.
  • 4. Heidt, E., Framenau, V. W., Hering, D. & Manderbach, R. 1998. Die Spinnen- und Laufkäferfauna auf ufernahen Schotterbänken von Rhône, Ain (Frankreich) und Tagliamento (Italien) (Arachnida: Araneae; Coleoptera, Carabidae). Entomologische Zeitschrift 108: 142-153.

    • 1996

  • 3. Framenau, V. W., M. Reich & H. Plachter. 1996. Zum Wanderverhalten und zur Nahrungsökologie von Arctosa cinerea (Fabricius, 1777) in einer alpinen Wildflußlandschaft. Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie 26: 369-376.
  • 2. Framenau, V. W., M. Dieterich, M. Reich & H. Plachter. 1996. Life cycle, habitat selection and home range of Arctosa cinerea (Fabricius, 1777) (Araneae: Lycosidae) on a braided section of the Upper Isar (Germany, Bavaria). Revue Suisse Zoologie, vol. hors série 1: 223-234.
  • 1. Framenau, V. W. 1996. Gnaphosa inconspecta und Xysticus viduus, zwei bemerkenswerte Spinnenfunde an der Oberen Isar (Regierungsbezirk Oberbayern) (Araneae: Gnaphosidae, Thomisidae). Arachnologische Mitteilungen 10: 17-19.

    • Reports (Consulting)

    2008

  • 3. Framenau, V. W., Moir, M.L. and Harvey, M.S. 2008. Terrestrial Invertebrates of the South Coast Region: Short-Range Endemics in Gondwanan Relictual Habitats. Report by the Western Australian Museum to South Coast NRM, 180 pp.

    • 2006

  • 2. Thomas, M. L. and Framenau, V. W. 2006. Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Christmas Island. Part 2. Identification and Distribution. Report to Parks Australia North, Christmas Island, 103 pp.
  • 1. Thomas, M. L. and Framenau, V. W. 2006. Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Christmas Island. Part 1. Invasive Ants. Report to Parks Australia North, Christmas Island, 146 pp.
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