Dr. Yoko Matsumura

Project Leader

Zoologisches Institut und Museum
Allgemeine und Systematische Zoologie

Loitzer Str. 26
17489 Greifswald

Tel.: +49 (0)3834 420-4246
yoko.matsumura@uni-greifswald.de

yoko.matumura.hamupeni@gmail.com

Looking for a thesis topic?

Here is a teaser for a possible project with me. Get in touch if you are interested!

Research Interests

Rapid divergence of the animal genitalia is one of the prevailing trends found in internal inseminators, and male genitalia are often used as diagnostic characters to identify closely related species. I would like to address how the shape differences between those related species arose and are being retained in their evolution. Therefore I devote myself to evolutionary morphology, functional morphology and biomechanics of genitalia of insects (prospectively spiders as well).

One of my research focuses is the coevolution of male and female genitalia, focusing on elongated genitalia. In variable groups of insects and spiders, species with elongated genitalia are known. Their lengths can sometimes exceed their body lengths. The origins and functions of the elongated genitalia, especially elongated male genitalia, vary from group to group. I am exploring how the elongated genitalia work and are moved during copulation, what roles for the functionality the morphological and mechanical properties of genitalia play, and why these properties are species-specific.

As side projects, I study systematics and taxonomy of leaf beetles and ground lice, on which I have been working for quite some time. 

 


Curriculum Vitae
Education
Since 06.2021 PostDoc at University Greifswald, Germany in the project “How have animal genitalia co-diversified between the sexes? Linking biomechanics to genital evolution in insects.”
09.2020 – 05.2021 Guest researcher at Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel
06.2017 – 08.2020 PostDoc at Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Germany in the project “Functional morphology and biomechanics of sexual intertwining in beetles and their evolutionary implications.”
04.2015 – 05.2017 PostDoc at Keio University, Tokyo, Japan and a guest scientist at Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Germany in the project “How did co-diversification between male and female genitalia evolve? -biomechanical approaches-”
06.2014 – 03.2015 PostDoc at Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Germany in the project “How does sexual conflict drive coevolution of male and female elongated genitalia?”
06.2012 – 05.2014 PostDoc at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany in the project “Have adaptive constraints affected the evolution of innovations? – a model case of extremely elongated penises in the class Insecta.”
03.2012 – 06.2012 Guest researcher at Hokkaido University, Japan in the project “Molecular phylogeny of the leaf beetle subfamily Criocerinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the correlated evolution of reproductive organs.”
04.2009 – 03.2012 Doctorate PhD Phil., Graduate school of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan.(Doctoral thesis: Evolutionary history of the extremely elongated intromittent organ in Criocerinae (Insecta, Coleoptera) – Have developmental constraints affected evolution of forms?)
04.2007 – 03.2009 MSc, Graduate school of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Japan.
04.2003 – 03.2007 B.S., Department of Biology, Toyama University, Japan.
Third-party fundings and scholarships
06.2021 – 05.2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship (DFG grant no. MA 7400/1-2), German Science Foundation
06.2017 – 08.2020 Postdoctoral Fellowship (DFG grant no. MA 7400/1-1), German Science Foundation
04.2015 – 12.2016 Postdoctoral Fellowship (PD grant no. 15J03484), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
07.2014 – 03.2015 Fellowship for a research stay in a foreign institute, the Yamada Science Foundation, Japan
06.2012 – 06.2014 Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research Abroad, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
09.2011 Travel grant for 5th Dresden Meeting on Insect Phylogeny 2011, Global COE Program “Establishment of Center for Integrated Field Environmental Science”, MEXT, Japan
04.2010 – 03.2012 PhD Student-Fellowship (DC2), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
11.2009 Travel grant for a filed survey (Ulu Gombak Field Research Centre & Cameron Highlands, Malaysia), Global COE Program “Establishment of Center for Integrated Field Environmental Science”, MEXT, Japan
08.2009 Travel grant for 31st International Ethological Congress, Global COE Program “Establishment of Center for Integrated Field Environmental Science”, MEXT, Japan
05.2009 – 03.2010 Global COE Research assistantship for doctoral candidates of Career-up Program at the Hokkaido University, Global COE Program “Establishment of Center for Integrated Field Environmental Science”, MEXT, Japan
Publications
in press
Matsumura, Y., Kovalev, A., Gorb, S.N. (accepted). Mechanical properties of a female reproductive tract of a beetle and implications for penile penetration. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
2021
Matsumura, Y., Kamimura, Y., Lee, C.-Y., Gorb, S.N., Rajabi, H. (2021) Penetration mechanics of elongated female and male genitalia of earwigs. Scientific Reports, 11, 7920.
Matsumura, Y., Jafarpour, M., Reut, M., Shams Moattar, B., Darvizeh, A., Gorb, S.N., Rajabi H. (2021) Excavation mechanics of the elongated female rostrum of the acorn weevil Curculio glandium (Coleoptera; Curculionidae). Applied Physics 127, 1–11.
2020
Matsumura, Y., Jafarpour, M., Ramm, S.A., Reinhold, K., Gorb, S.N., Rajabi, H. (2020) Material heterogeneity of male genitalia reduces genital damage in a bushcricket during sperm removal behaviour. The Science of Nature 107, 52.
Salerno, G., Rebora, M., Piersanti, S., Matsumura, Y., Gorb, E., Gorb, SN. (2020) Variation of attachment ability of Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) during nymphal development and adult aging. Journal of Insect Physiology 127, 104117.
Matsumura, Y., Gürke, S., Tramsen, H.T., Gorb, S.N. (2020) 3D printed spermathecae as experimental models to understand sperm dynamics in leaf beetles. BMC Zoology 5, 9.
Saltin, B.D., Matsumura, Y., Reid, A., Windmill, J.F., Gorb, S.N., Jackson, J.C. (2020) Resilin distribution and sexual dimorphism in the midge antenna and their influence on frequency sensitivity. Insects 11, 520.
Beutel, R.G., Richter, A., Keller, R.A., Hita Garcia, F., Matsumura, Y., Economo, E.P., Gorb, S.N. (2020) Distal leg structures of the Aculeata (Hymenoptera): A comparative evolutionary study of Sceliphron (Sphecidae) and Formica (Formicidae). Journal of Morphology 281, 737–753.
Matsumura, Y., Beutel, R.G. †, Rafael, J.A.†, Yao, I.†, Câmara, J.T.†, Lima, S.P., Yoshizawa, K. (2020) The evolution of Zoraptera. Systematic Entomology 45, 349–364. (†: 2-5th authors contributed equally)
2019
Matsumura, Y., Michels, J., Rajabi, H., Shimozawa, T., Gorb, S.N. (2019) Sperm transfer through hyper-elongated beetle penises – morphology and theoretical approaches. Scientific Reports 9, 10238.
Saltin, B.D., Matsumura, Y., Reid, A., Windmill, J.F., Gorb, S.N., Jackson, J.C. (2019) Material stiffness variation in mosquito antennae. Journal of the Royal Society Interface 16 (154), 20190049.
Cerkvenik, U., Van Leeuwen, J.L., Kovalev, A., Gorb, S. N., Matsumura, Y., Gussekloo, S.W. (2019) Stiffness gradients facilitate ovipositor bending and spatial probing control in a parasitic wasp. Journal of Experimental Biology 222(9), jeb195628.
2018
Mashimo, Y., Matsumura, Y., Beutel, R.G., Njoroge, L., Machida, R. (2018) A remarkable new species of Zoraptera, Zorotypus asymmetristernum sp. n. from Kenya. Zootaxa 4388 (3), 407–416.
2017
Matsumura, Y., Kovalev, A., Gorb, S.N. (2017) Penetration mechanics of a beetle intromittent organ with bending stiffness gradient and a soft tip. Science Advances 3, eaao5469.
Matsumura, Y., Suenaga, H., Kamimura, Y., Gorb, S.N. (2017) Traumatic mating by hand saw-like spines on the internal sac in Pyrrhalta maculicollis (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae). Zookeys 720, 77–89.
Reut, M., Matsumura, Y., Kozlowski, M.W., Beutel, R.G. (2017) Bizarre mating in the entimine weevil Polydrusus picus. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 56 (2), 192–195.
Matsumura, Y., Kubo, T. (2017) Eversion and withdrawal of an intromittent organ before sexual maturation prepares male beetles for copulation. Royal Society Open Science 4, 161029.
Matsumura, Y., Michels, J., Appel, E., Gorb, S.N. (2017) Functional morphology and evolution of the hyper-elongated intromittent organ in Cassida leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). Zoology 120, 1–14.
2016
Matsumura, Y., Njoroge, L. (2016) A new record of Zoraptera (Insecta) from Kenya, with remarks on their habitat. Journal of East African Natural History 105 (2), 213–222.
Filippov, A., Matsumura, Y., Kovalev, A., Gorb, S.N. (2016) Stiffness gradient of the beetle penis facilitates propulsion in the spiraled female spermathecal duct. Scientific Reports 6, 27608.
2015
Filippov, A., Kovalev, A., Matsumura, Y., Gorb, S.N. (2015) Male penile propulsion into spiralled spermathecal ducts of female chrysomelid beetles: a numerical simulation approach. Journal of Theoretical Biology 384, 140–146.
Matsumura, Y.†, Wipfler, B.†, Pohl, H., Dallai, R., Machida, R., Mashimo, Y., Câmara, J.T., Rafael, J.A., Beutel, R.G. (2015) Cephalic anatomy of Zorotypus weidneri New, 1978: new evidence for a placement of Zoraptera. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 73 (1), 85–105 †equally contributed.
Dallai, R., Gottardo, M., Mercati, D., Rafael, J.A., Machida, R., Mashimo, Y., Matsumura, Y., Beutel, R.G. (2015) The intermediate sperm type and genitalia of Zorotypus shannoni Gurney – evidence supporting infraordinal lineages in Zoraptera (Insecta). Zoomorphology 134 (1), 79–91.
Jałoszyński, P., Matsumura, Y., Beutel, R.G. (2015) Evolution of a giant intromittent organ in Scydmaeninae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae): functional morphology of the male postabdomen in Mastigini. Arthropod Structure & Development 44, 77–98.
2014
Matsumura, Y., Yao, I., Beutel, R.G., Yoshizawa, K. (2014) Molecular phylogeny of the leaf beetle subfamily Criocerinae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and the correlated evolution of reproductive organs. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 72 (2), 95–110.
Dallai, R., Gottardo, M., Mercati, D., Machida, R., Mashimo, Y., Matsumura, Y., Rafael, J.A., Beutel, R.G. (2014) Comparative morphology of spermatozoa and reproductive systems of zorapteran species from different world regions (Insecta, Zoraptera). Arthropod Structure & Development 43 (4), 371–383.
Matsumura, Y., Yoshizawa, K., Machida, R., Mashimo, Y., Dallai, R., Gottardo, M., Kleinteich, T., Michels, J., Gorb, S.N., Beutel, R.G. (2014) Two separate intromittent organs in Zorotypus caudelli (Insecta, Zoraptera): a seemingly paradox coexistence of an extremely long and narrow tube and a large spermatophore. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 112, 40–54.
Mashimo, Y., Matsumura, Y., Machida, R., Dallai, R., Gottardo, M., Yoshizawa, K., Friedrich, F., Wipfler, B., Beutel, R.G. (2014) 100 years Zoraptera – a phantom in insect evolution and the history of its investigation. Insect Systematics & Evolution 45, 371–393.
Friedrich, F., Matsumura, Y., Pohl, H., Bai, M., Hörnschemeyer, T., Beutel, R.G. (2014) Insect morphology in the age of phylogenomics - innovative techniques and its future role in systematics. Entomological Science 17, 1–24. (invited review)
Dallai, R., Gottardo, M., Mercati, D., Machida, R., Mashimo, Y., Matsumura, Y., Beutel, R.G. (2014) Giant spermatozoa and a huge spermatheca: a case of coevolution of male and female reproductive organs in the ground louse Zorotypus impolitus (Insecta, Zoraptera). Arthropod Structure & Development 43 (2), 135–151.
2013
Matsumura, Y., Maruyama, M. (2013) A new synonym of Lema (Lema) dilecta Baly, 1873 (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera). Elytra New Series 3 (1), 173–174.
Dallai, R., Gottardo, M., Mercati, D., Machida, R., Mashimo, Y., Matsumura, Y., Beutel, R.G. (2013) Divergent mating patterns and a unique mode of external sperm transfer in Zoraptera: an enigmatic group of pterygote insects. Naturwissenschaften 100, 581–594.
Matsumura, Y., Machida, R., Wipfler, B., Beutel, R.G., Yoshizawa, K. (2013) Parallel evolution of novelties: extremely long intromittent organs in the leaf beetle subfamily Criocerinae. Evolution & Development 15 (4), 305–315.
Lee, C.-F., Matsumura, Y. (2013) On newly and recently recorded species of the genus Lema Fabricius (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Criocerinae) from Taiwan. Zookeys 262, 17–37.
2012
Matsumura, Y., Yoshizawa, K. (2012) Homology of the internal sac components in the leaf beetle subfamily Criocerinae and evolutionary novelties related to the extremely elongated flagellum. Journal of Morphology 273, 507–518.
2011
Matsumura, Y., Yao, I. (2011) Isolation of nine polymorphic microsatellite loci in the leaf beetle, Lema (Lema) coronata (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Criocerinae). European Journal of Entomology 108, 697–699.
Matsumura, Y., Sasaki, S., Imasaka, S. (2011) Introduction of “Chrysomelid Beetles Club Mailing List” and about the rediscovery of Lema (Lema) cyanella from Japan with illustrated keys to the related species. Sayabane N.S. 3, 13–19. (In Japanese with English summary and illustrated keys to species)
Matsumura, Y., Sasaki, S., Imasaka, S., Sano, M., Ôhara, M. (2011) Revision of Lema (Lema) concinnipennis Baly, 1865 species group (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) in Japan. Journal of Natural History 45 (25–26), 1533–1561.
2010
Matsumura, Y., Yoshizawa, K. (2010) Insertion and withdrawal of extremely elongated genitalia: a simple mechanism with a highly modified morphology in the leaf beetle, Lema coronata. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 99, 512–520.
2009
Matsumura, Y., Akimoto, S. (2009) Mating behavior and genital damage during copulation in the leaf beetle Lema coronata (Chrysomelidae, Criocerinae). Entomological Science 12, 215–217.
2008
Matsumura, Y., Suzuki, K. (2008) Comparative morphology of internal reproductive systems in leaf beetles of the Donaciinae and Criocerinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and its implication for the phylogeny. Zootaxa 1845, 1– 32.