Alfred Ernst (1930 - 2021)

By Jörg Rosenberg & Andy Sombke

Dr. Alfred Ernst, 90, passed away April 19 2021. He was born June 29 1930 and studied biology at the Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, Germany. After a short teaching period he started his dissertation in the group of Prof. Manfred Gersch in the section animal physiology (Bereich Tierphysiologie der Sektion Biologie) - at this time a leading lab for comparative endocrinology and neurosecretion in arthropods. He investigated neurosecretory cells in the ventral nerve cord and cerebral glands in the geophilomorph centipede Geophilus flavus using light and electron microscopy. Thus, he was a pioneer in exploring neurosecretory pathways in centipedes using transmission electron microscopy at that time.

After his dissertation in 1969, he continued in the same institute as a scientific assistant of Prof. Horst Füller and focussed on the ultrastructure of mainly sensory organs in centipedes and hexapods. Over a period of eight years, he published four very detailed contributions on different antennal sensilla of Geophilus flavus. In parallel with Monique Nguyen Duy-Jacquemin, who worked with millipedes, these two authors laid the foundation for subsequent works on the sensory biology of myriapods.

After German reunification in 1990, he finally had the possibility to get in personal contact with the international community and attended meetings of the German Zoological Society as well as the International Congresses of Myriapodology in Bialowieza (Poland) 1999, Mtuzini (South Africa) 2002, and Görlitz (Germany) 2008. Even in retirement he used the scanning electron microscope at the Electron microscopic centre of the University Hospital in Jena once a week and continuously compiled data on cuticular sensilla on antennae, maxillae, and forcipules of several myriapod and hexapod species that were published until 2016.

My (J.R.) first meeting with Alfred Ernst took place at the annual meeting of the German Zoological Society in Jena 1994 and we continued to meet at these congresses in Oldenburg 1996, Innsbruck 1999, Bonn 2000, and Osnabrück 2001, where we planned to investigate cuticular sensilla on the forcipules of centipedes. This cooperation was very fruitful and led to several abstracts, posters, and publications. Another fruitful cooperation after his retirement was established with the second author (A.S.). During my Ph.D. in Jena, I met Alfred Ernst and we started a cooperation on cuticular sensilla in myriapods and hexapods, which also led to several publications. Sadly, his dream on a comparative study on centipede antennal sensilla was not fulfilled, but Alfred Ernst contributed and assisted in the two comprehensive book chapters in the Treatise on Zoology on Myriapoda, and his large collection of electron microscopic images will surely be well used in future contributions. It fills us with pride that we dedicated our recent contribution on the ultrastructure of the scutigeromorph scape organ to the live and work of Alfred Ernst.

We not just lost a member of our myriapodological family but also a restless scientist, a good friend and a wonderful colleague who always enchanted us with is humour and modesty.

List of scientific publications by Dr. Alfred Ernst

Ernst, A. (1969): Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Neurosekretion bei Geophilus longicornis Leach unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Neurohämalorgane. Dissertation Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.

Ernst, A. (1971): Licht- und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen zur Neurosekretion bei Geophilus longicornis Leach unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Neurohämalorgane. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie (Leipzig), 182, 62-130.

Füller, H., Ernst, A. (1973). Die Ultrastruktur der femoralen Chordotonalorgane von Carausius morosus Br. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 91, 574-601.

Ernst, A. (1976): Die Ultrastruktur der Sinneshaare auf den Antennen von Geophilus longicornis Leach (Myriapoda, Chilopoda). I. Die Sensilla trichoidea. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 96, 586-604.

Füller, H., Ernst, A. (1977): Die Ultrastruktur der cercalen Cuticularsensillen von Periplaneta americana (L.). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 98, 544-571.

Ernst, A. (1979): Die Ultrastruktur der Sinneshaare auf den Antennen von Geophilus longicornis Leach (Myriapoda, Chilopoda). II. Die Sensilla basiconica. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 102, 510-532.

Ernst, A. (1981): Die Ultrastruktur der Sinneshaare auf den Antennen von Geophilus longicornis Leach (Myriapoda, Chilopoda). III. Die Sensilla brachyconica. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 106, 375-399.

Füller, H., Ernst, A., Klare, G. (1981): Iontophoretische und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen der Cercalnerven von Periplaneta americana (L.). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 105(3), 371-405.

Ernst, A. (1983): Die Ultrastruktur der Sinneshaare auf den Antennen von Geophilus longicornis Leach (Myriapoda, Chilopoda). IV. Die Sensilla microtrichoidea. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 109, 521-546.

Ernst, A., Füller, H. (1987): Zur Feinstruktur der Lamina ganglionaris von Periplaneta americana (L.). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 115, 393-416.

Füller, H., Klare, G., Ernst, A. (1989): Licht und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen des cercalen Chordotonalorgans von Periplaneta americana (L.). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Anatomie und Ontogenie der Tiere, 118(2), 165.189.

Ernst, A. (1994): Verteilung und Ultrastruktur der Sensilla trichoidea auf den Maxillen des Chilopoden Geophilus longicornis Leach. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft Jena 87[1], p. 239.

Ernst, A. (1995): Die Ultrastruktur der Sensilla coeloconica auf den Maxillipeden des Chilopoden Geophilus longicornis Leach. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft in Kaiserslautern 88[1], p. 160.

Ernst, A. (1996): Biciliarität von Sinneszellen in verschiedenen Cuticularsensillen des Chilopoden Geophilus longicornis Leach. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft in Oldenburg 89[1], p. 272.

Ernst, A. (1997): Sensilla microtrichoidea - mutmassliche "Stellungsrezeptoren" an der Basis der Antennenglieder des Chilopoden Geophilus longicornis Leach. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft in Mainz 90,1, p. 274.

Ernst, A. (1999): Structure and function of different cuticular sensilla in the centipede Geophilus longicornis Leach. Fragmenta faunistica 42 suppl., p. 13.

Ernst, A. (1999): Fine structure and distribution of different cuticular sensilla in Geophilus longicornis Leach (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae). Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft in Innsbruck; Zoology 102 [Suppl. II (Abstracts 92.1)], p. 39.

Ernst, A. (2000): Fine structure and distribution of basiconic sensilla in the centipede Necrophloeophagus longicornis Leach. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft in Bonn; Zoology 103 [Suppl. III (Abstracts 93.1)], p. 56.

Ernst, A. (2000). Struktur und Verbreitung verschiedener Cuticularsensillen bei Geophilus longicornis Leach (Chilopoda, Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae). In: Wytwer, J. & Golovatch, S. I. (Eds.), Progress in Studies on Myriapoda and Onychophora, 113-129.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J. (2001): Sensilla coeloconica on the maxillipedes of centipedes. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft in Osnabrück; Zoology 104 [Supplement IV (Abstracts 94.1)], p. 40.

Rosenberg, J. and Ernst, A. (2001): Sensilla coeloconica on the poison fang (maxillipede) of Lithobius forficatus (Chilopoda). Distribution, SEM and TEM investigations. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft in Osnabrück; Zoology 104 [Supplement IV (Abstracts 94.1)], p. 42.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J., Mesibov, R., & Hilken, G. (2002). Sensilla coeloconica on the maxillipedes of the centipede Craterostigmus tasmanianus Pocock, 1902 (Chilopoda, Craterostigmomorpha). Abhandlungen und Berichte des Naturkundemuseums Görlitz, 72, 207-214.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J. (2002): Structure and distribution of sensilla coeloconica on the maxillipedes of centipedes. Abstracts of the 12th International Congress of Myriapodology, 29th July-2nd August 2002, Mtuzini, South Africa, p. 24.

Rosenberg, J. and Ernst, A. (2002): Sensilla coeloconica on the maxillipedes of larval and adult Lithobius species (Chilopoda, Lithobiomorpha). Abstracts of the 12th International Congress of Myriapodology, 29th July-2nd August 2002, Mtuzini, South Africa, p. 32.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J. (2003). Structure and distribution of sensilla coeloconica on the maxillipedes of Chilopoda. In: Hamer, M. (Ed.), Myriapodology in the New Millennium (Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Myriapodology Mtuzini, South Africa 2002), African Invertebrates, 44(1), 155-168.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J., Hilken, G. (2005): Structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in Craterostigmus tasmanianus Pocock, 1902 (Chilopoda, Craterostigmomorpha). Abstracts of the 13th International Congress of Myriapodology, 25th-29th July 2005, Bergen, Norway, p. 39.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J., Hilken, G. (2006). Structure and distribution of antennal sensillae in the centipede Craterostigmus tasmanianus Pocock, 1902 (Chilopoda, Craterostimomorpha). Proceedings of the 13th International Congress of Myriapodology Bergen, Norway 25th-29th July 2005 (Meidell, B.; Hansen, H.J.; Somme, L. Eds.). Norwegian Journal of Entomology 53(2), 153-164.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J., Hilken, G. (2008): Structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in Cryptops hortensis Donovan (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha). Abstracts 14th International Congress of Myriapodology Görlitz/Germany 2008; Peckiana/Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz 6, p 104.

Ernst, A., Rosenberg, J., & Hilken, G. (2009). Structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in the centipede Cryptops hortensis (Donovan, 1810) (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha). Soil Organisms, 81(3), 399-411.

Ernst, A., Sombke, A., Hilken, G., Rosenberg, J., Voigtländer, K. (2011): Structure and distribution of antennal sensillae in the centipede Scolopendra oraniensis Lucas, 1846 (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha). Proceedings of the 15th International Congress of Myriapodology, Brisbane, Australia, 18.-22. July, p 42

Sombke, A., Rosenberg, J., Hilken, G., Westermann, M., Ernst, A. (2011): The source of chilopod sensory information: External structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in Scutigera coleoptrata (Chilopoda, Scutigeromorpha). Journal of Morphology, 272, 1376-1387.

Ernst, A., Hilken, G., Rosenberg, J., Voigtländer, K., & Sombke, A. (2012): Structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in the centipede Scolopendra oraniensis (Lucas, 1846) (Chilopoda, Scolopendromorpha). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 352, 217-225.

Sombke, A., Hilken, G., Rosenberg, J., Ernst, A. (2014): Structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in centipedes. 16th International Congress of Myriapodology Olomouc, Czech Republic July 2014, p. 84.

Sombke, A., Ernst, A. (2014): Structure and distribution of antennal sensilla in Oranmorpha guerinii (Gervais, 1837) (Diplopoda, Polydesmida). Arthropod Structure & Development, 43(1), 77-86.

Hädicke, C.W., Ernst, A., Sombke, A. (2016): Sensing more than the bathroom: sensilla on antennae, cerci and styli of the silverfish Lepisma saccharina Linnaeus, 1758 (Zygentoma: Lepismatidae). Entomologia Generalis, 36(1), 71-89.