Thursday 30 June 2016

Postgraduate Seminar Speakers 14th July 2016

Postgraduate Seminar Speakers 14th July 2016

1pm - Zoology Museum (Wallace 129)



S P E A K E R   1

Sex and parasites in the mangrove: who is winning the arms race?

Waldir Filho



Pathogens are powerful selective agents implicated in maintaining genetic variation in host resistance.  According to the Red Queen hypothesis, this is because parasites exert frequency-dependent selection against common genotypes, favouring sexual reproduction and genetic variability. However, asexual or self-fertilising populations that persist despite low genetic diversity challenge the traditional idea that low variation should result in reduced ability to respond to pathogens and threat the long-term viability of populations. In order to test the relationship between outcrossing, inbreeding and fitness in mixed mating species, we have analysed the parasite loads and genetic diversity of K. hermaphroditus populations from three different mangroves in North East Brazil, and will be discussing the implications of few parasites and genetic diversity for the long term persistence of populations.

S P E A K E R   2

Biodiversity conservation in alpine aquatic ecosystems in Gran Paradiso National Park (Western Italian Alps)

Matteo Rolla


High elevation water ecosystems are sensitive to several local and global anthropogenic impacts such as climate change and long transport of atmospheric pollutants. Water exploitation, alien species introduction and local sources of pollutants also have strong impacts on the biodiversity of these sites. The Life+ BIOAQUAE project is focused on the conservation and restoration of alpine aquatic ecosystems in Gran Paradiso National Park. It consists of three main actions: 1) eradication of non-native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) from four high altitude alpine lakes, 2) interventions to improve the quality of high altitude aquatic environments and 3) conservation actions to protect the marble trout (Salmo marmoratus). Special emphasis will be given to the eradication activities that propose a novel, low impact technique (the exclusive use of nets and 

Tuesday 28 June 2016

Science Club Events - 30/06/2016

Science Club Series - 2015/16

Date: 30/06/2016

Venue: Zoology Museum

Time: 14:00 - 17:00 pm


We are delighted to host a product demonstration and Q&A session with representatives from Biotrack/Lotek/Sirtrack/Biosonics, leading producers of telemetry and radio tracking equipment.





Join us at the Zoology Museum, right after the postgraduate seminar series, for a mix of presentations, question times, and hands-on product demonstration. Time allowing, there will also be an outdoor activity for those wanting to get a short crash course into VHF radiotracking!






Everyone most welcome and please let also your students know!



For the full list of Science Club Events, see our blog here 

Monday 27 June 2016

Postgraduate Seminar Series

College of Science Postgraduate Seminar

 Series 


June - August 2016

Venue: Zoology Museum (unless noted otherwise)
Time: Thursdays 1pm


30th June

Becky Cliffe
Title:  Life in the slow lane: The sloth niche, divine or dangerous; a case study in Costa Rica
&
Marta Rodríguez-Rey
Title Disentangling the main factors for the spread of aquatic invasive species

14th July

Matteo Rolla 
Title Biodiversity conservation in alpine aquatic ecosystems in Gran Paradiso National Park (Western Italian Alps)
&
Waldir M. Berbel-Filho
Title:  Sex and parasites in the mangrove: who is winning the arms race?


28th July


Suzana G. Leles
Title Neither phytoplankton nor zooplankton: welcome to the mixotrophic world of marine plankton
&
Bethan Kultschar
Title Metabolite profiling of a robust cyanobacteria for industrial biotechnology
&
Dania Albini
Title: Morphological and chemical defences induced by Daphnia magna (cladocera) in two green algae, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Chlorella vulgaris. Modelling the strategy

4th August



Jessica Knoop 
Title: Seaweed aquaculture - challenges and perspectives
&
Sanaa Abed
Title: Natural enemy composition rather than richness determines pest density and plant biomass






Chloe Robinson
Title: O ye of little plague? Linking genetic diversity of North American Signal Crayfish populations (Pacifastacus leniusculus) with prevalence of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci)”
&
Andrew Lucas
Title: From Community to Individual: DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Pollen Transport by Hoverflies
&
Dan Sankey

Title: The importance of body orientation in collective herding behaviour

Postgraduate Seminar Series

College of Science Postgraduate Seminar

 Series 


June - August 2016

Venue: Zoology Museum (unless noted otherwise)
Time: Thursdays 1pm


30th June

Becky Cliffe
Title:  Life in the slow lane: The sloth niche, divine or dangerous; a case study in Costa Rica
&
Marta Rodríguez-Rey
Title Disentangling the main factors for the spread of aquatic invasive species

14th July

Matteo Rolla 
Title Biodiversity conservation in alpine aquatic ecosystems in Gran Paradiso National Park (Western Italian Alps)
&
Waldir M. Berbel-Filho
Title:  Sex and parasites in the mangrove: who is winning the arms race?


28th July


Suzana G. Leles
Title Neither phytoplankton nor zooplankton: welcome to the mixotrophic world of marine plankton
&
Bethan Kultschar
Title Metabolite profiling of a robust cyanobacteria for industrial biotechnology
&
Dania Albini
Title: Morphological and chemical defences induced by Daphnia magna (cladocera) in two green algae, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Chlorella vulgaris. Modelling the strategy




Jessica Knoop 
Title: Seaweed aquaculture - challenges and perspectives
&
Sanaa Abed
Title: Natural enemy composition rather than richness determines pest density and plant biomass



11th August



Chloe Robinson
Title: O ye of little plague? Linking genetic diversity of North American Signal Crayfish populations (Pacifastacus leniusculus) with prevalence of crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci)”
&
Andrew Lucas
Title: From Community to Individual: DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Pollen Transport by Hoverflies
&
Dan Sankey

Title: The importance of body orientation in collective herding behaviour

Postgraduate Seminar Speakers 30/06/2016



Postgraduate Seminar Speakers 30th August 2016
                                                                         1pm - Zoology Museum (Wallace 129)


S P E A K E R  

"Life in the slow lane: The sloth niche, divine or dangerous; a case study in Costa Rica."


The sloths survival strategy is camouflage, and as a result, observational research is lacking and very little is known about wild sloth ecology. Without this knowledge, the development of conservation strategies is exceedingly difficult. This project forms a broad study into the ecology, physiology and genetic diversity of two-fingered (C. hoffmanni) and three-fingered (B. variegatus) sloths in Costa Rica. We combine wild sloth activity and movement data with studies into the metabolic rate, energy expenditure, temperature regulation, digestive physiology and population genetics of these poorly understood and highly unusual mammals.


S P E A K E R  

“Disentangling the main factors for the spread of aquatic invasive species”

Invasive species are the second cause of biodiversity loss negatively affecting the invaded ecosystem, native biota and impacting on the economy and health. The situation is highly risky in aquatic ecosystems because freshwater fish are the most imperilled group in the world. Using Species Distribution Models techniques and remote sensing we will try to understand which bioclimatic and anthropogenic variables are more relevant for the distribution of most invasive aquatic species with the aim of predicting and preventing their spread.