Research Output per year
Personal profile
Description of research and teaching
My research focuses on the diversity and evolutionary history of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), in particular Ditrysia, but recently I have also expanded my work to projects on sawflies (Symphyta: Hymenoptera).
I have done collection-based research in integrative taxonomy and systematics of Lepidoptera, first for my PhD work at LUOMUS, and then as a postdoctoral researcher at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. and currently again at LUOMUS in Helsinki.
I am the coordinator of an international effort to re-examine all known fossil moths and butterflies. This project involves over twenty collaborators from all over the World who are experts in different groups of Lepidoptera. The aim of our work is to find reliably identified fossils to be used in divergence time studies and shed light on the evolutionary history of this enormous group of insects.
Courses I have taught at the University of Helsinki include the Biological Collections Course and Introduction to Cladistic Methods. I am the co-supervisor of a PhD student working on a project developing novel approaches to define species boundaries for taxonomically challenging groups of species.
Education/Academic qualification
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Ph.D., University of Helsinki
External positions
Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C., U.S.A
1 Feb 2015 → 31 Jan 2017Fields of Science
- 1181 Ecology, evolutionary biology
- Systematics
- Entomology
- Phylogenetics
- Taxonomy
International and National Collaboration
Publications and projects within past five years.
Publications
A molecular phylogeny of Cochylina, with confirmation of its relationship to Euliina (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Brown, J. W., Aarvik, L., Heikkilä, M., Brown, R. & Mutanen, M., Jan 2020, In : Systematic Entomology. 45, 1, p. 160-174 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access
Ghosts from the past: a review of fossil Hepialoidea (Lepidoptera)
Simonsen, T. J., Wagner, D. L. & Heikkilä, M., 11 Nov 2019, In : PeerJ. 7, 7, 20 p., 7982.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access
File
Priors and Posteriors in Bayesian Timing of Divergence Analyses: The Age of Butterflies Revisited
Chazot, N., Wahlberg, N., Lucci Freitas, A. V., Mitter, C., Labandeira, C., Sohn, J-C., Sahoo, R. K., Seraphim, N., de Jong, R. & Heikkilä, M., Sep 2019, In : Systematic Biology. 68, 5, p. 797-813 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access
File
Ustyurtiidae, a new family of Urodoidea with description of a new genus and two species from Kazakhstan, and discussion on possible affinity of Urodoidea to Schreckensteinioidea (Lepidoptera)
Kaila, L. J., Nupponen, K., Gorbunov, P. Y., Mutanen, M. & Heikkilä, A. A. M., 8 Mar 2019, In : Insect Systematics & Evolution.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Genetic analysis reveals Finnish Formica fennica populations do not form a separate genetic entity from F. exsecta
Hakala, S. M., Seppä, P., Heikkilä, M., Punttila, P., Sorvari, J. & Helanterä, H., 6 Dec 2018, In : PeerJ. 6, 23 p., 6013.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open Access
File
Projects
- 1 Active
Perhosten systematiikka
Kaila, L., Kekkonen, M. & Heikkilä, M.
01/01/2006 → 31/12/2020
Project: Research project
Activities
Zootaxa (Journal)
Maria Heikkilä (Reviewer)Jan 2020
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts
Systematic Entomology (Journal)
Maria Heikkilä (Reviewer)Mar 2020
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts
Zootaxa (Journal)
Maria Heikkilä (Reviewer)Feb 2019
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts
Insect Systematics and Diversity (Journal)
Maria Heikkilä (Reviewer)Feb 2019
Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts
Estimating the age of Lepidoptera with fossils meeting strict selection criteria - preliminary results
Maria Heikkilä (Speaker)4 Jun 2019
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Press / Media
Haastattelu: How the Butterfly Discovered Daylight. The New York Times 22.10.2019
22/10/2019
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
Haastattelu: Triassic Butterfly Park? Fossil find questions the idea that flowers drove the evolution of butterflies and moths. Scientific American 10.1.2018
10/01/2018
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media