Curator and Head of Invertebrate Zoology
Department of Invertebrate Zoology
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767, USA
Email: gsvenson@cmnh.org

Appointments
2012-present: Curator and Head of Invertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
2012-present: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University

Professional Preparation
2001, B.Sc. with Distinction in Research, Entomology, Cornell University
2007, Ph.D., Zoology, Brigham Young University
2008-10, Postdoctoral Research Associate, New York State Museum

Research Interests
I am primarily focused on the systematics and phylogenetics of the praying mantises (Mantodea). My work includes revisionary projects as well as larger scale phylogenetic based investigations of biogeography and character evolution. Using traditional and modern techniques, I aim to revise the higher-level relationships of the group while adding to the diversity of mantises through genus level revisions.

Fieldwork
2011 Australia (Queensland)
2010 Nicaragua
2010 Dominican Republic
2009 Bolivia
2009 Cameroon
2009 Borneo (Sarawak)
2008 Madagascar
2008 South Africa
2008 Vanuatu (Efaté & Espiritu Santo)
2008 Papua New Guinea (New Britain & Ireland)
2006 Borneo (Sarawak)
2006 South Africa (Cape Province)
2006 Zambia (Copperbelt District)
2005 South Africa (Kruger National Park)
2005 India (Western Ghats)
2005 Peru (Tambopata)
2004 India (Assam & Meghalaya)
2004 India (Western Ghats)
2004 Bolivia
2003 Argentina/Chile
2003 Peru (Tambopata)
2003 Borneo (Sabah)
2003 West Malaysia
2003 India (Andhra Pradesh & Western Ghats)
2002 United States (Pacific Northwest)
2002 Australia (Tasmania and N.T.)
2002 United States (southeastern)
2001 Australia (northern Queensland, N.T.)
2001 Papua New Guinea (Highlands)

Selected Publications (Digitized Publications)
Svenson, G.J. and W. Vollmer. Accepted. A case of the higher-level classification of praying mantises (Dictyoptera, Mantodea) obscuring the synonymy of Majangella Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Liturgusidae, Liturgusinae) and Ephippiomantis Werner, 1922 (Hymenopodidae, Acromantinae). Zootaxa

Prete, F.R., S. Dominguez, J.L. Komito, R. Theis, J.M. Dominguez, L.E. Hurd & G.J. Svenson (in press). Appetitive Responses to Computer-Generated Visual Stimuli by Female Rhombodera basalis, Deroplatys lobata, Hierodula membranacea, and Miomantis sp. (Insecta: Mantodea). Journal of Insect Behavior http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10905-012-9340-x.

Cameron, S.L., N. Lo, T. Bourguignon, G.J. Svenson, T.A. Evans. 2012. A mitochondrial genome phylogeny of termites (Blattodea: Termitoidae): Robust support for interfamilial relationships and molecular synapomorphies define major clades. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 65(1): 163-173. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2012.05.034

Miller, K.B., C. Hayashi, M.F. Whiting, G.J. Svenson, J.S. Edgerly. 2012. The phylogeny and classification of Embioptera (Insecta). Systematic Entomology 37: 550-570. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00628.x

Prete, F.R., R. Theis, J.L. Komito, J.M. Domínguez, S. Domínguez, G.J. Svenson, and F. Wieland. 2012. Visual Stimuli that Elicit Visual Tracking, Approaching and Striking Behavior from an Unusual Praying Mantis, Euchomenella macrops (Insecta: Mantodea). Journal of Insect Physiology 58: 648-659.

Roy, R., and G.J. Svenson. 2011. Revision of Platycalymma Westwood, 1889, and the synonymy of Ichromantis Paulian, 1957 (Mantodea, Iridopterygidae, Tropidomantinae). Zootaxa 3014: 1-25.

Svenson, G.J., and R. Roy. 2011. Taxonomic treatment of the endemic Malagasy praying mantis genus Hyalomantis with the description of three new species (Mantodea, Iridopterygidae, Tropidomantinae). Zootaxa 2777: 1-24.

Prete, F.R., J.L. Komito, S. Domínguez, G.J. Svenson, L.Y. López, A. Guillen, and N. Bogdanivich. 2011. Visual stimuli that elicit appetitive behaviors in three morphologically distinct species of praying mantis. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 197: 877-894.