centrebaleardebiodiversitat
The Balearic Biodiversity Centre (CBB) organised a scientific meeting open to the Balearic community. The half-day event featured speakers such as:
Carolina Magalhães: “Exploring marine fish biodiversity along the Spanish coast using eDNA and metabarcoding technologies”.
Karen Schöninger: “Genome assembly of Tethysbaena scabra”.
October 3, 2024
Tommaso Cancellario participated in the European Night of Research (Port Vell, Palma) with a talk entitled Take a walk on the wild side: Discover the biodiversity of the Balearic Islands.
September 29, 2024
The CBB actively participated in the activities of the European Research Night (Port Vell, Palma) through an information stand.
September 29, 2024
Maria Capa gave a talk on biodiversity and the activities of the CBB to high school students from the Aarhus Gymnasium in Denmark.The presentation was part of a science outreach initiative organized under the Master’s program in Marine Ecology at the UIB.
September 25, 2024
September 24-27, 2024
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)
September 19, 2024
Adaptive radiations are a hallmark of island evolution. Oceanic archipelagos, which rise from the ocean floor and have never been connected to mainland areas, provide unparalleled opportunities for accidental colonizers to flourish and diversify. However, identifying the patterns and mechanisms driving species proliferation and ecological adaptation in the context of adaptive radiation is not always straightforward.
To address this, we combined molecular phylogenetic analysis, comparative genomics, geometric morphometry, and experimental testing to investigate the origins and diversification of the red devil spiders (genus Dysdera) in the Canary Islands. This genus comprises approximately 60 endemic species within this volcanic archipelago. Our phylogenomic data support a single origin of these endemic species (with one exception) and suggest that the ancestor colonized the archipelago during the early formation of the present-day islands. The single origin hypothesis is further reinforced by the significant reduction in genome size among island species, primarily due to the loss of repetitive elements.
Trophic specialization has been a key driver of diversification in these endemic species, as evidenced by multiple independent events of onychophagia and accelerated speciation in specialized lineages. Notably, our findings also suggest that the processes of speciation and ecological adaptation are largely independent. The red devil spiders provide one of the most compelling examples of island diversification, and the extensive genomic, morphological, and ecological data available make this system an invaluable model for studying the mechanisms that generate and sustain biodiversity over time.
speaker
Dr. Miquel Arnedo (Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, Universitat de Barcelona)
when and where
19/09/2024
12:00h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)
September 2-6, 2024
In this course, participants will learn the fundamentals of population genetics theory and how to apply it to infer population processes and species history. We will examine how patterns of genetic diversity change over time and the processes driving these changes. Additionally, we will analyze microevolutionary processes, their impact on species diversity, and how to reconstruct species histories. The goal is to understand how evolutionary processes generate patterns and changes that shape biodiversity over time and space.
The second module of the course will focus on one of the primary methods for investigating genetic diversity in populations with limited or no reference genomes: RAD-seq (restriction site-associated DNA sequencing). Over three days, participants will learn how to generate and analyze RAD-seq data and apply widely used population genetics methods.
teacher
Narjes Yousefi (University of Zurich)
when and where
02/09/2024 – 06/09/2024
9h – 16h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)
Students from CIEE Palma’s study abroad program visited the CBB to see its facilities and learn about biodiversity and taxonomy. The activity was lead by Enrique Arboleda.
July 25, 2024
June 17-19, 2024
The richness and diversity of species exhibit temporal and spatial variability influenced by environmental and historical factors. This course aims to familiarize participants with fundamental methodologies applicable in the R programming language for biodiversity research. Following a brief review of the previous introductory course on R, the primary objectives are: (1) to explain common statistical models used in biodiversity research, including their underlying assumptions and practical applications, and (2) to explore the use of DNA-based data (e.g., phylogenies) to address key questions in biodiversity research.
teachers
Diego Fontaneto (CNR)
when and where
17/06/2024 – 19/06/2024
10h – 17h
Edifici complex M2 (Carrer Blaise Pascal, 7, Parc Bit)
María Capa delivered a presentation on the CBB during the launch of the Network of Centers for Biodiversity Research and Management. This event was part of the launch for the Complementary Plan on RDI in the field of biodiversity.
June 10, 2024