MetaZooGene WG Symposium: New insights into biodiversity, biogeography, ecology, and evolution of marine zooplankton based on molecular approaches

Dublin, Ireland (hybrid)

Date: 23 September 2022

Convenors:
Ann Bucklin, University of Connecticut (USA)
Katja Peijnenburg, Naturalis Biodiversity Center and University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Leocadio Blanco-Bercial, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (Bermuda)
Silke Laakmann, Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg and Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research (Germany)

Sponsor: Scientific Committee for Ocean Research (SCOR); MetaZooGene Working Group (SCOR WG157)

Marine zooplankton are key players in pelagic food webs, central links in ecosystem function, useful indicators of water masses, and rapid responders to environmental variation and climate change. This symposium seeks to explore advances in molecular approaches to analysis of biodiversity, biogeography, ecology, and evolution of marine zooplankton, with particular focus on integration with other analytical and observational approaches, including morphological microscopic taxonomic identification, optical and acoustic imagery, trophic biomarker analysis, and more.  Discussion will provide new insights into the promise and prospects of molecular analysis and recent methodological advancements for accurate identification of species, quantitative (abundance and biomass) measurement, analysis of trophic relationships and food web structure, and more. This symposium will provide a platform for participants to network and discuss interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to future zooplankton research.

Early Career Scientists (ECS) are especially welcome and encouraged to submit oral and poster presentation abstracts. ECS includes students, PhD candidates, and practicing scientists who received their highest degree within the past 7 years (2015 – 2022).