Visitor Address:
Hülssebau, HÜL/W 432
Helmholtzstraße 10
01069 Dresden
Tel.+49 351 463-32994
Fax+49 351 463-37064
flora.ihlow@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
My main research fields are molecular biology, biogeography and macroecology. I investigate spatio-temporal dynamics of biodiversity covering organisms, populations, or ecological communities, reaching from a local to a global scale. My research focuses on evolutionary patterns and processes e.g.; speciation and contemporary topics such as biodiversity loss or global climate and land use change. I apply molecular genetic techniques and ecological models to answer a variety of research questions related to invasion biology, conservation biology, evolutionary ecology, diversity and systematics, diversity and distribution, and population genetics. My studies mainly focus on but are not limited to freshwater turtles and tortoises.
For my full list of publications check my Google Scholar profile.
Selected publications
- Gallego-Garcia N, Ihlow F, Ettmar S, Iverson JB, Fritz U (2023): Where to set the bar? Recent descriptions inflate species number in South American toad-headed turtles (Mesoclemmys). Zootaxa, 5263 (4), 566-574.
- Kehlmaier C, Gracia E, Ali J,Campbell P, Chapman S, Ihlow F, Nour E, Pierre-Huyet L, Samonds KE, Vences M, Fritz U (2023): Ancient DNA elucidates the lost world of western Indian Ocean giant tortoises. Science Advances, 9(2), eabq257.
- Spitzweg C, Vamberger M, Ihlow F, Fritz U, Hofmeyr M D (2020): How many species of Angulate Tortoises occur in Southern Africa? (Testudines: Testudinidae: Chersina). Zoologica Scripta, 49, 412-426.
- Ihlow F, Courant J, Secondi J, Herrel A, Rebelo R, Measey GJ, Lillo F, De Villiers FA, Vogt S, De Busschere C, Backeljau T, Rödder D (2016): Impacts of climate change on the global invasion potential of the African-clawed Frog Xenopus laevis. PlosONE, 11, e0154869.
- Ihlow F, Flecks M, Hartmann T, Cota M, Makchai S, Meewattana P, Dawson JE, Kheng L, Rödder D, Fritz U (2016): Integrative taxonomy of Southeast Asian Snail-eating Turtles (Geoemydidae: Malayemys) reveals a new species and mitochondrial introgression. PlosONE, 11, e0153108.
➝ since 9/2022: Postdoctoral fellow (Maria Reiche Postdoctoral Fellowship) at the Chair of Computational Landscape Ecology at the Technische Universität Dresden.
➝ 2019-2022: PostDoc, PI of Individual research grant (DFG IH133/1-1) at the Phylogeography department of the Museum of Zoology Senckenberg Dresden.
➝ 2018-2019: Postdoctoral fellow (Margarethe-Koenig award) at the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn.
➝ 2013-2017: Doctorate student (Dr. rer. nat) at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn and Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn. Defense date: 14.03.2017, grade: summa cum laude
➝ 2005-2012: Student (Diploma) at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University Bonn and Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn.
Forgotten treasures – using historic collections to assess the diversity and systematics of wide-ranging taxa. A case study using African Hinge-back Tortoises (Kinixys spp.), Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (Project ID: DFG IH133/1-1). Role: PI.
Diversity and distribution of Southern African tortoises and freshwater turtles. Funding: Mapula Trust. Role: PI.
Diversity and distribution of Southeast Asian tortoises and freshwater turtles. Funding: Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), IDEA Wild, British Chelonia Group, Alexander Koenig Gesellschaft (AKG), EAZA Shellshock campaign & Turtle Conservation Fund (TCF), Schildkröten-Interessengemeinschaft Schweiz, Fund for the protection of globally endangered amphibians and reptiles by the German Society of Herpetology and Herpetoculture (DGHT) in cooperation with the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP), Role: PI.
Awards
09/2021 Maria Reiche Postdoctoral Fellowship 2021 (A fellowship for 2 years by the Graduate Academy, TU Dresden; awarded: 09/21 starting date: 09/2022)
02/2018 Margarethe Koenig dissertation award 2017 (Awarded as a fellowship for 1 year by the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK))
01/2018 Bernhard Rensch dissertation award 2018 (By the German Society for Biological Systematics (GfBS)
02/2016 1st place, scientific poster competition 2016 17th annual meeting of the German Society for Biological Systematics (GfBS)
03/2015 1st place, scientific poster competition 2015 16th annual meeting of the German Society for Biological Systematics (GfBS)
committee activities
Since 2022 Review board member of the Turtle Taxonomy Fund (TTF)
Since 2021 Invited member of the Turtle Taxonomy Working Group (TTWG) – the taxonomy task force of the TFTSG
Since 2021 Managing Editor for Salamandra, German Journal of Herpetology
Since 2012 Invited member of the IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG)