Ben Wielstra
Associate professor
- Name
- Dr. B.M. Wielstra
- Telephone
- +31 71 527 5135
- b.m.wielstra@biology.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0002-7112-5965
Genomes can undergo major changes in composition due to 1) hybridization, combining the genetic material of two distinct species, and 2) structural re-arrangements, splitting up a single stretch of DNA into two independently evolving units. I study how genomes evolve in response to the associated positive and negative fitness consequences. The study system I work on is the genus Triturus, the crested and marbled newts.
More information about Ben Wielstra
PhD Candidates
Postdocs
News
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Mismatched timing: how climate change challenges bird migration -
Biology students expose exotic amphibians in the dunes -
Supergenes make bizarre traits possible -
NWO grant of 350.000 for Wielstra lab -
Hybrid zones: a quick guide by Ben Wielstra -
Balanced lethal systems: a quick guide by Ben Wielstra
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Ben Wielstra about newts, bizarre evolution and Naturalis
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Untangling the Evolution of a Balanced Lethal System -
Five ERC Starting Grants for young Leiden University researchers
Former PhD Candidates
Former Postdocs
Research
My work heavily relies on genomic data and the main study system I work on is the genus Triturus, the crested and marbled newts. I am particularly interested in the evolutionary history of closely related species – how such species originated and obtained their current distribution and how they interact during the course of their evolution, as ecological divergence drives them apart and gene flow pulls them together. My early work mainly involved phylogeography (inferring glacial refugia), systematics (resolving rapid radiations) and taxonomy (diagnosing cryptic species). Recently, I have been studying hybridization, both under natural conditions (in particular hybrid zone movement) and anthropogenically induced (the complicated conservation issues of ‘genetic pollution’). Presently, I am conducting a research program, funded with an ERC Starting Grant, aiming to understand the evolution of balanced lethal systems. Balanced lethal systems are extremely maladaptive as they cut reproductive potential in half. Yet, they have evolved time and again along the branches of the tree of life. I hope to solve this evolutionary mystery.
Brief biography
I studied biology at IBL, after which I pursued my PhD at Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Subsequently, I conducted five years of postdoctoral research abroad, at the University of Sheffield and UCLA, before returning to IBL (and Naturalis) as Assistant Professor.
I am an honorary researcher at Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
My Google Scholar profile can be found here.
Check out my personal website Newt Research.
Grants
Grants and fellowships as PI:
- ERC Starting Grant
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Global Fellowship
- Newton International Fellowship
Grants and fellowships as host:
- NWO Open Competitie ENW M-1
- NWO Promotiebeurs voor leraren
- Martin & Temminck Fellowship
- NWO-ALW Open Programme
Key publications
Wielstra, B. (2020). Balanced lethal systems. Current Biology 30(13): R742-R743.
Wielstra, B. (2019). Historical hybrid zone movement: more pervasive than appreciated? Journal of Biogeography 46(7): 1300-1305.
Wielstra, B., McCartney-Melstad, E., Arntzen, J.W., Butlin, R.K., Shaffer, H.B. (2019). Phylogenomics of the adaptive radiation of Triturus newts supports gradual ecological niche expansion towards an incrementally aquatic lifestyle. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 133: 120-127.
Associate professor
- Science
- Instituut Biologie Leiden
- IBL Animal Sciences
- Kalaentzis K., Koster S., Arntzen J.W., Bogaerts S., France J., Franzen M., Kazilas C., Litvinchuk S.N., Olgun K. & Visser M. de Wielstra B. (2025), Phylogenomics resolves the puzzling phylogeny of banded newts (genus Ommatotriton), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 203: 108237.
- Wei J., Xu F., Cole E.F., Sheldon B.C., Boer W.F. de, Wielstra B.M., Fu H., Gong P. & Si Y. (2024), Spatially heterogeneous shifts in vegetation phenology induced by climate change threaten the integrity of the avian migration network, Global Change Biology 30(1): e17148.
- Prins N. & Wielstra B.M. (2024), Moving hybrid zones: when two species meet, mate, and compete, Frontiers for Young Minds 12: 1207354.
- Dufresnes C., Monod‐Broca B., Bellati A., Canestrelli D., Ambu J., Wielstra B.M., Dubey S., Crochet P.‐A., Denoël M. & Jablonski D. (2024), Piecing the barcoding puzzle of Palearctic water frogs (Pelophylax) sheds light on amphibian biogeography and global invasions, Global Change Biology 30(3): e17180.
- Kazilas C., Dufresnes C., France J.M., Kalaentzis K., Martínez-Solano I., Visser M.C. de, Arntzen J.W. & Wielstra B.M. (2024), Spatial genetic structure in European marbled newts revealed with target enrichment by sequence capture, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 194: 108043.
- Dufresnes C., Dubey S., Wielstra B.M., Jablonski D. & Denoël M. (2024), Panacea or nemesis?: Re-assessing the reliability of serum-albumin intron 1 for genetic analyses in Western Palearctic water frogs, Alytes 41(1-4): 5-17.
- Struijk R.P.J.H., Prins N., Koster S., Putters N., Jansen N., Esselaar J., Visser M.C. de, France J.M. & Wielstra B.M. (2024), Knoflookpad in Callantsoog: verspreiding, voortplanting en geografische herkomst, RAVON 26(1): 2-5.
- Vucic T., Drobnjakovic M., Ajdukovic M., Bugarcic M., Wielstra B.M., Ivanovic A. & Cvijanovic M. (2024), A staging table of Balkan crested newt embryonic development to serve as a baseline in evolutionary developmental studies, Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution 342(7): 465-482.
- Elfering R., Mannix S., Allain S., Ambu J., Crochet P.-A., van Doorn L., Dufresnes C., Jehle R., Julian A., Baird F.K., O'Brien D., Secondi J., Speybroeck J., Theodoropoulos A., Stark T. & Wielstra B.M. (2024), Extreme genetic depletion upon postglacial colonization hampers determining the provenance of introduced palmate newt populations, Amphibia-Reptilia 45(3): 349-356.
- Xu F., Wu W., Wei J., Xin Q., Wielstra B.M., La Sorte F.A., Ma Z., Lei G., Lei J., Wu W., Yang Y., Gong P., Xu B. & Si Y. (2024), Migratory herbivorous waterfowl track multiple resource waves during spring migration, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 291(2030): 20241448.
- Stark T. & Wielstra B.M. (2024), De herkomst van geïntroduceerde populaties vinpootsalamander, Schubben & Slijm 16(3): 8.
- Stark T., Struijk R. & Wielstra B. (2024), Exoten alert: Oostelijke ringslang gezocht in Limburg!, Schubben & Slijm 16(2): 10-11.
- Wielstra B. (2024), Taxonomy, systematics and distribution of banded newts. In: Fahrbach M. & Gerlach U. (Eds.), The genus Ommatotriton. Frankfurt Contributions to Natural History no. 101. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira.
- Meilink, W.R.M., Beek F.D. van, Breevaart I. van de, Geus S. de, Hellendoorn C., Jahangier F., Lim A., Sluimers M., Wali A.M., Delft J.C.W. van, Herder J.E., France J.M. & Wielstra B.M. (2024), Difficulties in species identification in water frogs (genus Pelophylax) using morphological and molecular markers in The Netherlands, Alytes 41(1-4): 49-55.
- Brouwer J. de, Helder B., France J.M., Visser M.C. de, Struijk R.P.J.H. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), An isolated crested newt population in Dutch coastal dunes: distribution relict or introduction?, Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1): 19-26.
- Koster S., Prins N., Dufresnes C., France J.M., Visser M.C. de, Struijk R.P.J.H. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), The conservation paradox of an introduced population of a threatened species: spadefoot toads in the coastal dunes of the Netherlands, Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1): 11-18.
- Kuijt. M., Oskam L., Boer I. den, Dufresnes C., France J.M., Gilbert M.J., Visser M.C. de, Struijk R.P.J.H. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), The introduction of three cryptic tree frog species in the Dutch coastal dunes challenges conservation paradigms, Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1): 1-10.
- Vliegenthart C., Vrede M. van de, Boer I. den, Gilbert M.J., Lemmers P., France J.M., Visser M.C. de, Struijk R.P.J.H. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), The limits of mtDNA analysis for determining the provenance of invasive species: a midwife toad example, Amphibia-Reptilia 44(1): 27-33.
- Struijk R.P.J.H., Stark T. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), Exotische groene kikkers in Nederland: Ravon, Kijk op Exoten 11(3): 10-11 (42).
- Struijk R.P.J.H. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), Hybridisatierisico’s door nieuwe boomkikker-taxa in Nederland: Ravon, Kijk op Exoten 43: 10-11.
- Visser M.C. de, Prins N., France J.M., Struijk R. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), Exotische amfibieën in de duinen ontmaskerd met mtDNA barcoding, Holland's Duinen 82(1): 25-29.
- Wielstra B.M., Boer I. den, France J.M., Visser M.C. de & Struijk R. (2023), MtDNA barcoding van exotische amfibieën in de duinen, RAVON 89(2): 26-29.
- Riemsdijk I. van, Arntzen J.W., Bucciarelli G.M., McCartney-Melstad E., Rafajlović M., Scott P.A., Toffelmier E., Shaffer H.B. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), Two transects reveal remarkable variation in gene flow on opposite ends of a European toad hybrid zone, Heredity 131: 15-24.
- Ambu J., Martínez-Solano Í., Suchan T., Hernandez A., Wielstra B.M., Crochet P.-A. & Dufresnes C. (2023), Genomic phylogeography illuminates deep cyto-nuclear discordances in midwife toads (Alytes), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 183: 107783.
- Robbemont J., Van Veldhuijzen S., Allain S.J.R., Ambu J., Boyle R., Canestrelli D., Cathasaigh É.Ó, Cathrine C., Chiocchio A., Cogalniceanu D., Cvijanović M., Dufresnes C., Ennis C., Gandola R., Jablonski D., Julian A., Kranželić D., Lukanov S., Martínez-Solano I., Montgomery R., Naumov B., O’Neill M., North A., Pabijan M., Pushendorf R., Salvi D., Schmidt B., Sotiropoulos K., Stanescu F., Stanković D., Stapleton S., Šunje E., Szabolcs M., Vacheva E., Willis D., Zimić A., France J.M., Meilink W.R.M., Stark T., Struijk R.P.J.H., Theodoropoulos A., De Visser M.C. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), An extended mtDNA phylogeography for the alpine newt illuminates the provenance of introduced populations, Amphibia-Reptilia 44(3): 347-361.
- Boer I. den & Wielstra B.M. (2023), Avontuurlijke boomkikker bezoekt de Pier van Scheveningen, Schubben & Slijm 53: 5.
- Kalaentzis K., Arntzen J.W., Aziz A., Berg V. van den, Beukema W., France J.M., Olgun K., Riemsdijk I. van, Üzüm N., Visser M.C. de & Wielstra B.M. (2023), Hybrid zone analysis confirms cryptic species of banded newt and does not support competitive displacement since secondary contact, Ecology and Evolution 13(9): e10442.
- Wielstra B.M., Visser M.C. de, Stark T. & Struijk R.P.J.H. (2023), Herkomst van exotische Alpenwatersalamanders blootgelegd, Schubben & Slijm 54: 8-9.
- Stark T., Struijk R. & Wielstra B.M. (2023), Speuren naar exotische groene kikkers, Schubben & Slijm 54: 24-24.
- Stark T., Wielstra B., Struijk R. & Graaf R. van de (2023), Genetisch onderzoek groene kikkers, RAVON 25(3): 55.
- Elfering R., Bijlsma L., Mannix S., Plomp S., Theodoropoulos A. & Wielstra B. (2023), Kamsalamanders met kleurafwijking uit Meijendel, Holland's Duinen 83: 38-39.
- Gaczorek T.S., Marszałek M., Dudek K., Arntzen J.W., Wielstra B. & Babik W. (2023), Interspecific introgression of MHC genes in Triturus newts : evidence from multiple contact zones, Molecular Ecology 32(4): 867-880.
- Riemsdijk I. van, Arntzen J.W., Babik W., Bogaerts S., Franzen M., Kalaentzis K., Litvinchuk S.N., Olgun K., Wijnands J.W.P.M. & Wielstra B.M. (2022), Next-generation phylogeography of the banded newts (Ommatotriton): a phylogenetic hypothesis for three ancient species with geographically restricted interspecific gene flow and deep intraspecific genetic structure, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 167: 107361.
- Wielstra B.M. (2022), Invasieve hybridisatie: een uitdagend natuurbeschermingsvraagstuk, Kijk op Exoten 38: 2-3.
- Berdan E.L., Flatt T., Kozak G.M., Lotterhos K.E. & Wielstra B. (2022), Genomic architecture of supergenes: connecting form and function, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 377(1856): 20210192.
- Berdan E.L., Blanckaert A., Butlin R.K., Flatt T., Slotte T. & Wielstra B.M. (2022), Mutation accumulation opposes polymorphism: supergenes and the curious case of balanced lethals, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 377(1856): 20210199.
- Struijk R.P.J.H., Backx B., Demirkapu B., Visser M.C. de & Wielstra B.M. (2022), ‘Rise and fall’ van een populatie westelijke smaragdhagedissen in Scheveningen, RAVON 24(2): 24-27.
- Wielstra B.M. (2021), Hybrid zones, Current Biology 31(3): R108-R109.
- Visser M.C. de, France J.M., Meilink W.R.M. & Wielstra B.M. (2021), Een evolutionair raadsel: het dodelijke chromosoom 1 syndroom in Triturus-salamanders, RAVON 23(1): 9-12.
- Palomar G., Dudek K., Wielstra B.M., Jockusch E.L., Vinkler M., Arntzen J.W., Ficetola G.F., Matsunami M., Waldman B., Těšický M., Zieliński P. & Babik W. (2021), Molecular evolution of antigen-processing genes in salamanders: do they coevolve with MHC class I genes?, Genome Biology and Evolution 13(2): evaa259.
- Wielstra B.M., Saliv D. & Canestrelli D. (2021), Genetic divergence across glacial refugia despite interglacial gene flow in a crested newt, Evolutionary Biology 48(1): 17-26.
- Arntzen J.W., López-Delgado J., Riemsdijk I. & Wielstra B.M. (2021), A genomic footprint of a moving hybrid zone in marbled newts, Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 59(2): 459-465.
- Asztalos M., Wielstra B., Struijk R.P.J.H., Ayaz D. & Fritz U. (2021), Aliens in the Netherlands: local genetic pollution of barred grass snakes (Squamata: Serpentes: Natricidae), Salamandra: German journal of Herpetology 57(1): 174-179.
- Rancilhac L., Irisarri I., Angelini C., Arntzen J.W., Babik W., Bossuyt F., Künzel S., Lüddecke T., Pasmans F., Sanchez E., Weisrock D., Veith M., Wielstra B., Steinfartz S., Hofreiter M., Philippe H. & Vences M. (2021), Phylotranscriptomic evidence for pervasive ancient hybridization among Old World salamanders, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 155: 106967.
- Struijk R.P.J.H., Demirkapu B., Visser M.C. de & Wielstra B.M. (2021), Exotische smaragdhagedissen in de duinen bij Scheveningen, Kijk op Exoten (34): 12-13.
- Wielstra B.M. & Arntzen J.W. (2021), Genetic homogeneity in a Pontocaspian crested newt species (Triturus karelinii) suggests recent isolation of its three allopatric range sections, Amphibia-Reptilia 42(2): 179–187.
- Fahrbach M., Visser M. de & Wielstra B. (2021), The hybrid zone between the Italian and Northern Crested Newts (Triturus carnifex and T. cristatus) reaches Germany, Salamandra: German journal of Herpetology 57(3): 428-434.
- Meilink W.R.M., France J., Visser M.C. de & Wielstra B. (2021), Balanced lethal systems: an evolutionary mystery, Frontiers for Young Minds 9: 632945.
- Helder B., Brouwer J. de, Ouwehand J., Visser M. de & Wielstra B. (2021), Koi-kamsalamander, Schubben & Slijm 48: 8.
- Palomar G., Dudek K., Migalska M., Arntzen J.W., Ficetola G.F., Jelić D., Jockusch E., Martínez-Solano I., Matsunami M., Shaffer H.B., Vörös J., Waldman B., Wielstra B.M. & Babik W. (2021), Coevolution between MHC class I and antigen-processing genes in salamanders, Molecular Biology and Evolution 38(11): 5092-5106.
- Arntzen J.W., Jehle R. & Wielstra B.M. (2021), Genetic and morphological data demonstrate hybridization and backcrossing in a pair of salamanders at the far end of the speciation continuum, Evolutionary Applications 14(12): 2784-2793.
- Wielstra B.M. (2020), Balanced lethal systems, Current Biology 30(13): R742-R743.
- Wielstra B.M. Arntzen J.W. (2020), Extensive cytonuclear discordance in a crested newt from the Balkan Peninsula glacial refugium, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 130(3): 578-585.
- Xu G. Wielstra B.M. Rich S.M. (2020), Northern and southern blacklegged (deer) ticks are genetically distinct with different histories and Lyme spirochete infection rates, Scientific Reports 10: 10289.
- Riemsdijk I. van Struijk R.P.J.H. Pel E. Janssen I.A.W. Wielstra B.M. (2020), Hybridisation complicates the conservation of Natrix snakes in the Netherlands, Salamandra: German journal of Herpetology 56(1): 78-82.
- Wielstra B.M. (2020), Digest: biased male–male competition drives asymmetric introgression in lizards*, Evolution 74(10): 2427-2428.
- Si Y., Wei J., Wu W., Zhang W., Hou L., Yu L. & Wielstra B.M. (2020), Reducing human pressure on farmland could rescue China’s declining wintering geese, Movement Ecology 8: 35.
- Struijk R.P.J.H. Riemsdijk I. van Wielstra B.M. (2020), ‘Gestreepte’ ringslangen in Nederland – Genetica, achtergrond en risico’s, RAVON 22(3): 54-57.
- Wielstra B. (2019), Triturus newts, Current Biology 29(4): R110-R111.
- Riemsdijk I. van, Butlin R.K., Wielstra B. & Arntzen J.W. (2019), Testing an hypothesis of hybrid zone movement for toads in France, Molecular Ecology 28(5): 1070-1083.
- Wielstra B., McCartney-Melstad E., Arntzen J.W., Butlin R.K. & Shaffer H.B. (2019), Phylogenomics of the adaptive radiation of Triturus newts supports gradual ecological niche expansion towards an incrementally aquatic lifestyle, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 133: 120-127.
- Üzüm N., Avcı A., Olgun K., Bülbül U., Fahrbach M., Litvinchuk S.N. & Wielstra B. (2019), Cracking cryptic species: external characters to distinguish two recently recognized banded newt species (Ommatotriton ophryticus and O. nesterovi), Salamandra: German journal of Herpetology 55(2): 131-134.
- Lv Z., Yang J., Wielstra B., Wei J., Xu F. & Si Y. (2019), Prioritizing Green Spaces for Biodiversity Conservation in Beijing Based on Habitat Network Connectivity, Sustainability 11(7): 2042.
- Wielstra B. (2019), Historical hybrid zone movement: More pervasive than appreciated, Journal of Biogeography 46(7): 1300-1305.
- Dufresnes C., Strachinis I., Suriadna N., Mykytynets G., Cogalniceanu D., Székely P., Vukov T., Arntzen J.W., Wielstra B., Lymberakis P., Geffen E., Gafny S., Kumlutas Y., Ilgaz C., Candan K., Mizsei E., Szabolcs M., Kolenda K., Smirnov N., Géniez P., Lukanov S., Crochet P.-A., Dubey S., Perrin N., Litvinchuk S.N. & Denoël M. (2019), Phylogeography of a cryptic speciation continuum in Eurasian spadefoot toads (Pelobates), Molecular Ecology 28(13): 3257-3270.
- Wielstra B., Canestrelli D., Cvijanovic M., Denoel M., Fijarczyk A., Jablonski D., Liana M., Naumov B., Olgun K., Pabijan M., Pezzarossa A., Popgeorgiev G., Salvi D., Si Y., Sillero N., Sotiropoulos K., Zielinski P. & Babik W. (2018), The distributions of the six species constituting the smooth newt species complex (Lissotriton vulgaris sensu lato and L. montandoni) – an addition to the New Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe, Amphibia-Reptilia 39(2): 252-259.
- Arntzen J.W., Uzum N., Ajdukovic M.D., Ivanovic A. & Wielstra B.M. (2018), Absence of heterosis in hybrid crested newts, PeerJ 6: e5317.
- Riemsdijk I. van, Nieuwenhuize L. van, Martinez-Solano I., Arntzen J.W. & Wielstra B.M. (2018), Molecular data reveal the hybrid nature of an introduced population of banded newts (Ommatotriton) in Spain, Conservation Genetics 19(1): 249-254.
- Si Y., Xu Y.J., Xu F., Li X.Y., Zhang W.Y., Wielstra B.M., Wei J., Liu G.H., Luo H., Takekawa J., Balachandran S., Zhang T., De Boer W.F., Prins H.H.T. & Gong P. (2018), Spring migration patterns, habitat use, and stopover site protection status for two declining waterfowl species wintering in China as revealed by satellite tracking, Ecology and Evolution 8(12): 6280-6289.
- Wielstra B., Zielinski P. & Babik W. (2017), The Carpathians hosted extra-Mediterranean refugia-within-refugia during the Pleistocene Ice Age: genomic evidence from two newt genera, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 122(3): 605-613.
- Wielstra B.M., Burke T., Butlin R.K. & Arntzen J.W. (2017), A signature of dynamic biogeography: enclaves indicate past species replacement, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 284(1868): 20172014.
- Riemsdijk I. van, Arntzen J.W., Bogaerts S., Franzen M., Litvinchuk S.N., Olgun K. & Wielstra B.M. (2017), The Near East as a cradle of biodiversity: a phylogeography of banded newts (genus Ommatotriton) reveals extensive inter- and intraspecific genetic differentiation, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 114: 73-81.
- Wielstra B.M., Burke T., Butlin R.K., Avcı A., Üzüm N., Bozkurt E., Olgun K. & Arntzen J.W. (2017), A genomic footprint of hybrid zone movement in crested newts, Evolution Letters 1(2): 93-101.
- Wielstra B., Burke T., Butlin R.K., Schaap O., Schaffer H.B., Vrieling K. & Arntzen J.W. (2016), Efficient screening for ‘genetic pollution’ in an anthropogenic crested newt hybrid zone, Conservation Genetics Resources 8(4): 553-560.
- Mathai J., Duckworth J.W., Meijaard E., Fredriksson G., Hon J., Sebastian A., Ancrenaz M., Hearn A.J., Ross J., Cheyne S., Wilting A. & Borneo Carnivore Consortium (2016), Carnivore conservation planning on Borneo: identifying key carnivore landscapes, research priorities and conservation interventions, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 33: 186-217.
- Wielstra B.N. & Arntzen J.W. (2016), Description of a new species of crested newt, previously subsumed in Triturus ivanbureschi (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae), Zootaxa 4109(1): 73-80.
- Wielstra B.M., Voros J. & Arntzen J.W. (2016), Is the Danube crested newt Triturus dobrogicus polytypic?: A review and new nuclear DNA data, Amphibia-Reptilia 37(2): 167-177.
- Xu Y.J., Gong P., Wielstra B.M. & Si Y. (2016), Southward autumn migration of waterfowl facilitates cross-continental transmission of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus, Scientific Reports 6: 30262.
- Bozkurt E., Olgun K. & Wielstra B.M. (2015), First record of facultative paedomorphism in the Kosswig's newt Lissotriton (vulgaris) kosswigi (Freytag, 1955) (Urodela; Salamandridae), endemic to northwestern Turkey, Turkish Journal of Zoology 39(5): 976-980.
- Meilink W.R.M., Arntzen J.W., Delft J.J.C.W. van & Wielstra B.M. (2015), Genetic pollution of a threatened native crested newt species through hybridization with an invasive congener in the Netherlands, Biological Conservation 184: 145-153.
- Struebig M.J., Wilting A., Gaveau D.L.A., Meijaard E., Smith R.J., Fischer M., Metcalfe K., Kramer-Schadt S. & The Borneo Mammal Distribution Consortium (2015), Targeted conservation to safeguard a biodiversity hotspot from climate and land-cover change, Current Biology 25(3): 372-378.
- Wielstra B.M., Babik W. & Arntzen J.W. (2015), The crested newt Triturus cristatus recolonized temperate Eurasia from an extra-Mediterranean glacial refugium, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 114(3): 574-587.
- Wielstra B.M., Bozkurt E. & Olgun K. (2015), The distribution and taxonomy of Lissotriton newts in Turkey (Amphibia, Salamandridae), ZooKeys 484: 11-23.
- Wielstra B.M., Arntzen J.W., van der Gaag K.J., Pabijan M. & Babik W. (2014), Data concatenation, Bayesian concordance and coalescent-based analyses of the species tree for the rapid radiation of Triturus newts, PLoS ONE 9(10): e111011.
- Wielstra B.M. & Arntzen J.W. (2014), Exploring the effect of asymmetric mitochondrial DNA introgression on estimating niche divergence in morphologically cryptic species, PLoS ONE 9(4): e95504.
- Wielstra B.M. & Arntzen J.W. (2014), Kicking Triturus arntzeni when it's down: large-scale nuclear genetic data confirm that newts from the type locality are genetically admixed, Zootaxa 3802(3): 381-388.
- Wielstra B.M., Duijm E., Lagler P., Lammers Y., Meilink W.R.M., Ziermann J.M. & Arntzen J.W. (2014), Parallel tagged amplicon sequencing of transcriptome-based genetic markers for Triturus newts with the Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing platform, Molecular Ecology Resources 14(5): 1080-1089.
- Wielstra B.M., Sillero N., Vörös J. & Arntzen J.W. (2014), The distribution of the crested and marbled newt species (Amphibia: Salamandridae: Triturus): an addition to the New Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe, Amphibia-Reptilia 35(3): 376-381.
- Arntzen J.W., Wielstra B.M. & Wallis G.P. (2014), The modality of nine Triturus newt hybrid zones assessed with nuclear, mitochondrial and morphological data, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 113(2): 604-622.
- Vukov T.D., Cvijanovic M., Wielstra B.M. & Kalezic M.L. (2014), The roles of phylogeny and climate in shaping variation in life-history traits of the newt genus Triturus (Caudata, Salamandridae), Annales Zoologici Fennici 51(5): 445-456.
- Wielstra B.M., Baird A.B. & Arntzen J.W. (2013), A multimarker phylogeography of crested newts (Triturus cristatus superspecies) reveals cryptic species, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 67(1): 167-175.
- Wielstra B.M., Litvinchuk S.N., Naumov B., Tzankov N. & Arntzen J.W. (2013), A revised taxonomy of crested newts in the Triturus karelinii group (Amphibia: Caudata: Salamandridae), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 3682(3): 441-453.
- Ivanovic A., Uzum N., Wielstra B.M., Olgun K., Litvinchuk S.N., Kalezic M.L. & Arntzen J.W. (2013), Is mitochondrial DNA divergence of Near Eastern crested newts (Triturus karelinii group) reflected by differentiation of skull shape?, Zoologischer Anzeiger 252(2): 269-277.
- Zielinski P., Nadachowska-Brzyska K., Wielstra B.M., Szkotak R., Covaciu-Marcov S.D., Cogalniceanu D. & Babik W. (2013), No evidence for nuclear introgression despite complete mtDNA replacement in the Carpathian newt (Lissotriton montandoni), Molecular Ecology 22(7): 1884-1903.
- Wielstra B., Crnobrnja-Isailovic J., Litvinchuk S.N., Reijnen B.T., Skidmore A.K., Sotiropoulos K., Toxopeus A.G., Tzankov N., Vukov T. & Arntzen J.W. (2013), Tracing glacial refugia of Triturus newts based on mitochondrial DNA phylogeography and species distribution modeling, Frontiers in Zoology 10: 13.
- Wielstra B.M. & Arntzen J.W. (2012), Postglacial species displacement in Triturus newts deduced from asymmetrically introgressed mitochondrial DNA and ecological niche models, BMC Evolutionary Biology 12: 161.
- Wielstra B., Beukema W., Arntzen J.W., Skidmore A.K., Toxopeus A.G. & Raes N. (2012), Corresponding mitochondrial DNA and niche divergence for crested new candidate species, PLoS ONE 7(9): e46671.
- Wielstra B., Boorsma T., Pieterse S.M. & Iongh H.H. de (2011), The use of avian feeding guilds to detect small-scale forest distrubance: a case study in East Kalimantan, Borneo, Forktail 27: 60-67.
- Vukov T.D., Sotiropoulos K., Wielstra B.M., Dzukic G. & Kalezic M.L. (2011), The evolution of the adult body form of the crested newt (Triturus cristatus superspecies, Caudata, Salamandridae), Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 49(4): 324-334.
- Wielstra B.M. & Arntzen J.W. (2011), Unraveling the rapid radiation of crested newts (Triturus cristatus superspecies) using complete mitogenomic sequences, BMC Evolutionary Biology 11: 162.
- Wielstra B., Themudo G.E., Guclu O., Olgun K., Poyarkov N.A. & Arntzen J.W. (2010), Cryptic crested newt diversity at the Eurasian transition: t, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 56(3): 888-896.
- Arntzen J.W. & Wielstra B.M. (2010), Where to draw the line? A nuclear genetic perspective on proposed range boundaries of the crested newts Triturus karelinii and T. arntzeni, Amphibia-Reptilia 31(3): 311-322.
- Themudo G.E., Wielstra B.M. & Arntzen J.W. (2009), Multiple nuclear and mitochondrial genes resolve the branching order of a rapid radiation of crested newts (Triturus, Salamandridae), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52(2): 321-328.
- Arntzen J.W., Themudo G.E. & Wielstra B.M. (2007), The phylogeny of crested newts (Triturus cristatus superspecies): nuclear and mitochondrial genetic characters suggest a hard polytomy, in line with the paleogeography of the centre of origin, Contributions to Zoology 76(4): 261-278.