Roland Melzer

Prof. Roland Melzer is the Head of the Arthropoda varia Section at the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology (ZSM), affiliated with Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. His research focuses on arthropod morphology, marine zoology, and evolutionary biology, with a particular emphasis on Cambrian arthropods, fossilized sensory structures, and biodiversity patterns. His work integrates paleontology, comparative anatomy, and functional morphology, often employing advanced imaging and computational techniques.

• Leading expeditions to Chilean fjords and Adriatic marine environments to study benthic biodiversity
• Pioneering studies on arthropod eyes, larval development, and host-parasite interactions
• Co-editing journals like Spixiana and contributing to global biodiversity databases

Research interests include the evolution of arthropod appendages, marine invertebrate biogeography, and the application of 3D kinematics to extinct species. His recent work highlights convergent evolution in fossilized visual systems and the ecological roles of mites in avian symbiosis.

Over 200 publications span topics from Cambrian fossils to modern marine crustaceans, with a focus on interdisciplinary approaches bridging paleontology, morphology, and biodiversity conservation.