Commissioners
Dr. Miguel A. Alonso-Zarazaga
Overview:
Dr Alonso-Zarazaga’s research is primarily
focused on the systematics, taxonomy and evolution of Coleoptera
Curculionoidea, with special interest in the families Apionidae
and Nanophyidae worldwide, and in the fauna of the Iberian peninsula
and neighbouring areas. He is also interested in the plant-insect
relationship and the host shifting. Among his contributions are
the review of supraspecific taxa in the Palaearctic region of
Nanophyidae (1989) and Apionidae (1990), his role as member
of the Advisory Board, Taxonomic Expert and Group Coordinator
of a part of the Coleoptera for the Project Fauna Europaea (2000-2004),
the publication (together with Dr. C.H.C. Lyal) of a World Catalogue
of Family and Genus names of Curculionoidea (1999) and its sequel,
the World Weevil Database known as WTaxa (http://wtaxa.csic.es)
which will house more than 140,000 names and data on the Curculionoidea,
including an extensive bibliography and an electronic library.
He is deeply interested in zoological nomenclature, having translated
into Spanish the 4th Edition of the Code and being one of the
four original founders of the European Association for Zoological
Nomenclature.
Summary of Research & Education:
Born in Melilla on 5th March 1956, Miguel learned
classical languages at school and he was later trained as a botanist
and geneticist at the Universities of Málaga and Granada,
specialising in Fabaceae, but later, under Dr. A Cobos’s
(the famous coleopterist) guidance and advice, he shifted towards
the study of the insects attacking these plants, and specially
weevils. His Dr.Sc. degree was obtained in Málaga on 24
September 1985 on the systematics of the Palaearctic Apionidae
(s.l.). He was a secondary school professor and amateur entomologist
until he won an entomologist position in the National Museum
of Natural History (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales) in
1989, where he has been Head of Department for more than 5 years.
Since then, he has devoted his efforts to the study of the Iberian
fauna (and neighbouring areas) of Curculionoidea and other weevils
worldwide, as well as to the constructions of entomological databases,
having collaborated with the European Environmental Agency, Fauna
Ibérica and Species 2000 and served with the ECAT subcommittee
of the GBIF. He has taught also courses on zoological nomenclature,
one of these (20 hrs.) is institutionally held and offered every
year by the Museum Friends’ Society.
Contact details:
Depto. de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC)
C/. José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2
E-28006 Madrid
Spain
Tlf. +34-914111328 int. 1110
Fax +34-915645078
E-mail: mcnaz39 (at) mncn (dot) csic (dot)
es
