Staff directory

Marc De Meyer

Information
Department: Biology
Division: Invertebrates
Job Title: Head of department (acting)
Specialisms: Diptera, taxonomy, phylogeny, insect-plant relationships
Email: marc.de.meyer@africamuseum.be
Phone: 32 2 769 5360
Education

- PhD section Zoology
1990 University of Antwerp (Belgium)
- MSc section Biology
1983 University of Antwerp (Belgium)
- BEd section Biology
1983 University of Antwerp (Belgium)
- Post graduate Tropical Medical Biology
1984 Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp (Belgium)

Career

Since January 1998: Head of the Entomology Section at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (after re-structuring in 2014: Head of the Invertebrates Service).

Since January 2013: Acting Head of the Biology Department at the Royal Museum for Central Africa.

November 1996-December 1997: long term expert and co-ordinator, 'Taita Hills project: biodiversity and habitat fragmentation' (project sponsored by VlIR: Flemish Interuniversity Council. Employed by University of Antwerp, based at National Museums of Kenya)

July-October 1996: Secretary at Belgian Embassy in Nairobi Kenya, Development Co-operation Section (as short time replacement, on local conditions).

February 1993-June 1996: Senior Research Scientist, National Museums of Kenya, Dept Invertebrate Zoology (from February 1993 till December 1995 as technical assistance within co-operation scheme between Governments of Kenya and Belgium

January 1990 - January 1993: Lecturer Dept of Zoology, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya (as technical assistance within co-operation scheme between Governments of Kenya and Belgium)

September 1987 - January 1990: Permanent collaborator at the dept Entomology, Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen (KBIN, Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences) Brussel, Belgium.

September 1985 - August 1987: Secondary School teacher at government school (Madiba Secondary School, Mahalapye) in Botswana. Employed by the Government of Botswana, and supported by Belgian Government

October 1983 - August 1985: Scientific researcher at the Laboratory for General Zoology, University of Antwerp. Research supported by two successive grants from the IWONL (Institute for the Advancement of Scientific Research in Industry and Agriculture).

Research

Systematics and phylogeny: systematic and phylogenetic research on Diptera, with emphasis on Tephritidae and Pipunculidae (Diptera). Specific ongoing activities:
- systematic revision of several ceratitidine genera (Tephritidae)
- phylogeny of Afrotropical Ceratitidini (Tephritidae)
- molecular characterization and population genetics of Afrotropical fruit fly pests
- evolution of host choice in fruit flies

Faunistics, biogeography and biodiversity: emphasis on Pipunculidae (worldwide), Tephritidae and Syrphidae (Afrotropical). Surveys and biogegraphical analysis of Diptera fauna of specific biotopes in East Africa. Specific ongoing activities:
- analysis of distribution patterns of Ceratitis (Tephritidae) in Africa
- montoring, surveillance and climatic modelling of African tephritid fruit fly pests
- invasion history of African tephritid fruit fly pests
- host plant specificity for dacine fruit flies
- fauna of Tephritidae in East Africa

Database development: Afrotropical insects with emphasis on particular insects groups in Africa. Specific ongoing activities:
- world catalogue of Pipunculidae
- taxon database of Coleoptera in collections of Africamuseum
- biodiversity database Dacini (Tephritidae) of Africa