
M.Sc. Cristian Klunk
CV
Since 2019
PhD candidate in Ecology and Conservation at Universidade Federal do Paraná and TU Darmstadt.
Biomechanics of bite in ants with Finite Element Analysis.
2017-2019
Master's degree in Ecology and Conservation at Universidade Federal do Paraná. Ecology, Ecophysiology, Evolution.
Master's thesis: “Evolution of environmental resistance in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and its implications”.
2012-2016
Study of Biology at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina: Ecology, Myrmecology.
Diploma thesis: “Simple does not mean poor: grasslands and forests harbor similar ant species richness and distinct composition in highlands of southern Brazil”
Research interests
I am interested in the biomechanics of bite in ant workers, mainly the role of the mandible and head morphology in the dissipation of stresses caused by muscular contraction and bite strikes.

Contact
klunkcristian at gmail.com
M.Sc. Cristian L. Klunk
Department of Zoology
Universidade Federal do Paraná
Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation
82590-300 Curitiba - PR
Brazil
Phone +55 (41) 996921012
Publications
Research projects
CAPES
2023
(9) KLUNK, C. L.; ARGENTA, M.A.; CASADEI-FERREIRA, A.; PIE, M.R. Mechanical demands of bite in plane head shapes of ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) workers. Ecology and Evolution, v. 13, n. 6, p. e10162, 2023. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10162
2022
(8) KLUNK, C. L.; FRATONI, R. O.; RIVADENEIRA, C. D.; SCHAEDLER, L. M.; PEREZ, D. M. Climate and body size have differential roles on melanism evolution across workers in a worldwide ant genus. OECOLOGIA. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-022-05211-x.
(7) SILVA, R. R.; MARTELLO, F.; FEITOSA, R. M.; ...; KLUNK, C. L.; ...; RIBEIRO, M. C. ATLANTIC ANTS: a data set of ants in Atlantic Forests of South America. ECOLOGY., 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3580.
2021
(6) KLUNK, C. L.; PIE, M. R. No evidence for dominance–discovery trade-offs in Pheidole (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) assemblages. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY., v.99, p.1002 - 1008, 2021. dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2021-0074.
(5) KLUNK, C. L.; ARGENTA, M. A.; FERREIRA, A. C.; ECONOMO, E. P.; PIE, M. R. Mandibular morphology, task specialization and bite mechanics in Pheidole ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of The Royal Society Interface., v.18, p.1 - 9, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2021.0318.
(4) PEREZ, DANIELA M.; KLUNK, CRISTIAN L.; ARAUJO, SABRINA B. L. Imperfect synchrony in animal displays: why does it occur and what is the true role of leadership? PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES., v.376, p.20200339, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2020.0339.
2020
(3)TELLES, FRANCISMEIRE JANE; KLUNK, CRISTIAN LUAN; MAIA, FABIANO RODRIGO DA; BRITO, VINÍCIUS LOURENÇO GARCIA DE; VARASSIN, ISABELA GALARDA. Towards a new understanding of the division of labour in heterantherous flowers: the case of Pterolepis glomerata (Melastomataceae). BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v.131(1), p.1 - 11, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blaa107.
2018
(2)KLUNK, C. L.; GIEHL, E. L. H.; LOPES, B. C.; MARCINEIRO, F. R.; ROSUMEK, F. B. Simple does not mean poor: grasslands and forests harbor similar ant species richness and distinct composition in highlands of southern Brazil. BIOTA NEOTROPICA., v.18(3), p.1 - 9, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-BN-2017-0507.
2014
(1)BINDER, L. B.; SOUZA, V. R. C.; CARON, N.; FARINA, K.; ALMEIDA, C. S.; KLUNK, C. L.; CASTELLANI, T. T. PROJETO BROTAR: O FAZER EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL COM CRIANÇAS. Revista de Ensino de Biologia da Associação Brasileira de Ensino de Biologia (SBEnBio)., v.7, p.1055 - 1067, 2014.