ADVANCED COURSE: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON BIODIVERSITY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY

25 Feb 2017 - July 19-21 , 2017 | CIBIO-InBIO, Vairão, Portugal

Biogeography gives the framework to describe life on Earth. The diversity of life on Earth (biodiversity) exhibits spatial and temporal patterns that beg for theoretical models for their description. This three day course reviews several theoretical approaches describing patterns of species richness and species abundance. We will give emphasis to the development and careful interpretation of the mathematical formulae and their relationship with the biological phenomena they describe.

The objective of this course is to make its participants familiar with theoretical approaches in ecology, being able to understand their foundations and rationales, as well as their limitations, and whenever possible demystify the use of mathematics in ecology. After this course we hope the attendants would be gain a new appreciation for the role of theoretical models in ecology, with a view to being able to follow recent advancements in and contribute to theoretical ecology.

PROGRAMME

Topics to discuss:

Biogeography: A brief historical account
Distribution of species: Spatial and temporal patterns
Measures of Biodiversity
Source-sink dynamics
Metapopulations
The theory of Island biogeography
The neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography

First day

09:45-11:15 – Introduction – Basic Principles
11:30-13:00 – Historical account of biogeography
14:00-15:00 – Analysis of biogeographical patterns
15:15-16:15 – Spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity
16:45-17:45 – Practical exercises

Second day

09:45-11:15 – Measures of biodiversity
11:30-13:00 – Source-sink dynamics
14:00-15:00 – Metapopulations
15:15-16:15 – Metapopulations
16:45-17:45 – Practical exercises

Third day

09:45-11:15 – The theory of Island biogeography
11:30-13:00 – The theory of Island biogeography
14:00-15:00 – The neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography
15:15-16:15 – The neutral theory of biodiversity and biogeography
16:45-17:45 – Practical exercises

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Luís Borda-de-Água - InBIO |THEOECO
Saeid Alirezazadeh - InBIO |THEOECO

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Minimum: 6

Priority will be given to:

1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;
PhD students attending other courses;
Other post-graduate students and researchers.

REGISTRATION
Registration deadline: May 31, 2017.

Participation is free of charge for BIODIV students | 65 € (students) / 125 € (other participants). CIBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%. Does not include lunch nor coffee breaks.
To register, please send an e-mail accompanied by your short CV (max. two A4 pages) to post.graduation@cibio.up.pt Please refer your status (PhD student, MSc Student, Other) and the University to which you are affiliated.