Home

Trends in Biodiversity in Time and Space

Description of project:

Advanced topics in systematics and biodiversity studies will be introduced and practiced:

  • Advanced phylogenetics: application of state of the art computeralgorithms.
  • Homology assessment: the reconstruction of character evolution and the role of evo-devo analyses of specific structures.
  • Biodiversity information systems: the building of data bases and the possibilities of data mining, e.g. for spatial pattern analyses.
  • The development of phylogenomics as an approach in Systems biology, incl. multidisciplinary approaches to understanding adaptive and non-adaptive radiations.
  • Advanced spatial pattern analyses and historical biogeography: integrative approaches to map and analyze present distributions, reconstruct past distributions, and model possible future distributions; this includes advanced Island Biogeography in relation to conservation aspects, Paleobiogeography and –ecology.

Learning goals

  • Course objectives: To provide a theoretical basis for the research applications showcased in “Wealth of the World”; good understanding of concepts of time and space; of collection data, data basing and data mining; of the practice of phylogeny reconstruction; of biogeographic methods and practice; of the integration of paleo/actual data.
  • Final qualifications: Theoretical understanding and hands on experience with current phylogeny reconstruction algorithms, GIS, species distribution modeling, phylogeographical methods, dating techniques, etc.

Duration of training:
Details will be provided in due time; in general: 1 week phylogeny, 1 week biogeography, 1 week speciation, 1 week geological time, all with focus on advanced methods and concepts.

Training period:
Semester 1 of academic year 2012-2013.
Details will be provided in due time.

Target Audience:
MSc students, PhD students as well as early career researchers

Name of training provider:
Peter van Welzen, Peter Hovenkamp, Lars van den Hoek Oostende, Menno Schilthuizen, Pim Arntzen, Willem Renema

Institution:
Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

Registration fee and deadline:
Details will be provided in due time.

Payment:
Payment details and deadline will be provided upon acceptance to the training.