Balearic Biodiversity Centre
Courses and Seminars
Training
Our free courses and seminars
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February 3, 2025
Seminar: Diversity and evolution of branching worms and their host sponges
The annelid family Syllidae represents a fascinating lineage of marine worms. It is the largest and most diverse family among the annelids, with more than 1,000 species that inhabit virtually all habitats and deep seas. These marine worms are known for their various modes of reproduction (sexual and asexual) and their incredible capacity for regeneration. Among them, certain species stand out for their unique branched body structures, such as the symbiotic “arboreal silica worms” (Ramisyllis spp.) that live within sponges. These worms possess a single head but develop a body that repeatedly branches into numerous posterior ends. By employing an integrative approach that combines morphology, molecular biology, and ecology, our research seeks to uncover how these branching worms have evolved and formed specialized relationships with their sponge hosts.
speaker
Dra. Maite Aguado (Biodiversity Museum of the Georg-August-University Göttingen)
When and where
03/02/2025
12:00h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)
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February 3, 2025
Seminar: Short read genomics
While long-read sequencing made it possible to assemble genomes with resolved chromosomes, the bottleneck to achieving the goal of sequencing all life on Earth was the availability of high-quality samples. Scientific collections, rich with specimens from around the globe, offer an invaluable resource for short-read sequencing . I will present methods of using genome sequencing data for draft genomic assemblages and highlight their potential for phylogenomics, genomics, and biodiversity research, using nereid phylogeny as an example.
speaker
Dr. Christoph Bleidorn (Georg-August-University in Göttingen)
where and when
03/02/2025
12:00h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)
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January 21-24, 2025
Course in Measuring Biodiversity: Tools and Limitations
Measuring biodiversity is a cornerstone of ecological research, species conservation, and environmental monitoring. Over the years, this field has seen significant advancements, with increasingly precise and sophisticated methods developed to evaluate diversity across various levels, from genetic variation to entire ecosystems. These approaches range from traditional metrics, such as species richness, to cutting-edge tools that incorporate functional and phylogenetic dimensions, offering a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of biodiversity.
Selecting the appropriate method, however, depends on several factors, including the ecosystem in question, the research objectives, and available resources. In this context, it is crucial to critically assess the limitations, biases, and assumptions underlying each methodology. By doing so, researchers can enhance the accuracy and relevance of their findings, ultimately contributing to a more rigorous and reliable foundation for biodiversity science.
teacher
where and when
21/01/2025 – 24/01/2025
9:30h – 16:30h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)
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November 4-7, 2024
Functional diversity analysis course in R
Over the past two decades, the study of functional diversity (FD) in ecology has grown exponentially, significantly enhancing our understanding of biological diversity and its evolution across space and time. Nearly every subdiscipline of ecology now acknowledges the immense value that functional analyses of species and communities bring to the field. This growing interest has spurred the development of numerous methods to measure different facets of FD. However, these varied approaches have introduced terminological inconsistencies and confusion when selecting the most appropriate method for specific ecological questions.
In this course, we will explore the best and worst practices in FD analysis, with a particular focus on the BAT package in R—a powerful tool for assessing biodiversity.
teachers
Stefano Mammola (Italian National Research Council, Institute of Water)
when and where
04/11/2024 al 07/11/2024
9:30h a 16:30h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)
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September 24-27, 2024
Species distribution models course in R
This course is designed for students, researchers, and anyone interested in mapping the potential impacts of climate change on species distribution. Participants will learn to access species occurrence data from online biodiversity repositories like GBIF, download and visualise climate variable maps in GIS format, and explore ecological niche modelling (ENM) using R. The course covers programming fundamentals and introduces various algorithms used in ENM, providing the tools needed to deepen your understanding and apply these techniques effectively.
teachers
Sara Varela González (Universidad de Vigo)
Sofía Galván Arcones (Universidad de Vigo)
when and where
24/09/2024 to 27/09/2024
9h – 15h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)