|
Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre
Newsletter | September 2021
|
|
|
Last chance to visit Barnens Växthus
On August 21st, over 700 people joined for the inauguration of this year's Barnens Växthus ("The Kids' Greenhouse") at Trädgårdsföreningen in central Gothenburg. This event was an interactive festival of biodiversity, aimed at kids ages 6-9. Quite a few GGBC partners are involved, including Botaniska, Nordens Ark, Slottskogens Djurpark, and Gothenburg Natural History Museum.
Helen Ekvall, one of the organizers of the event talks about the participation from GGBC:
"The team has held over 50 lessons that focus on biodiversity in and around the Children's Greenhouse. The members of the GGBC have contributed to making the project a success! The final day is September 18th, which is also World Clean-up Day, so there is the possibility of a fun-packed, environmentally-positive day for the whole family this weekend!"
The Children's Greenhouse will be open this Wednesday through Friday evenings (15.00-18.00), and Saturday during the day. Check the City of Gothenburg's website for more information (in Swedish) here.
|
|
East African skinks: A search for 'missing' species
Harith Farooq and Allison Perrigo wrote about their project “Extinct or Shy” in The Conversation. Two burrowing lizards haven’t been recorded by scientists in a century. Now, a year-long hunt for them, carried out by Lúrio University students and in collaboration with Harith and Allison at the GGBC is underway!
Understanding where these species live now is critical to their IUCN Red List status, and may influence local designation of Key Biodiversity Areas and protected sites.
They are sampling in a sandy location on the northern coast of Mozambique, and finding all sorts of interesting species. You can see which species are turning up in the traps on Instagram at @eos_lumbo. The image above, taken by Ali Puruleia from Lúrio University, is an Afrotyphlops mucroso, one of the many species found during sampling.
Read the piece in The Conversation here
|
|
|
Help researchers map algal blooms
Ana Tronholm and colleagues are asking the public (YOU!) to report any algal blooms seen along the Swedish coast. The project is a part of the University of Gothenburg's focus on ocean-related citizen science. Read more about the project at the University of Gothenburg's website
Add your report on algal blooms here!
|
|
|
Korallernas egen Noas ark ska rädda dem från klimatkatastrofen
A Noah's Ark for corals
As the climate changes, coral reefs of the world are under increasing pressure. Researchers from the Seafaring Museum and Aquarium in Gothenburg are working on a project to safeguard the diversity of corals through the development of a "coral bank". Listen to Björn Källström and Jens Ulvås in this Swedish Radio interview as they talk about the project.
Listen to the interview in Vetenskapsradion, Swedish Radio here
|
|
Otto Wichterle Award to Pável Matos-Maraví
Pável Matos-Maraví was honoured with the Otto Wichterle Award 2021 by the Czech Academy of Sciences. The award is presented to selected, exceptionally outstanding, promising young scientists at the Czech Academy of Sciences for their remarkable contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge in a given area of science.
Congrats Pável!
|
|
Congrats to Dr. Melilia Mesbah
On Sep 14, Melilia Mesbah succesfully defended her PhD thesis “Etude taxonomique et biogéographique de quelques espèces du genre Silene L. (Caryophyllacées) en Algérie” at Université A.MIRA-BEJAIA, Algeria recieving the highest grade! Excellent work, Melilia!
Congrats Melilia!
|
|
|
Västkuststiftelsen has a new website
Västkuststiftelsen is working hard to make nature and the outdoors accesible for everyone in the region. And their new website is doing just that! Their website now features tips and pointers on wonderful locations to visit around Western Sweden. It's also chock-full of event such as guided tours in our local nature reserves.
Check out Västkuststiftelsen's new website here
|
|
|
|
Movie series on native bee species from Sweden
In this series of four short movies we get to hear about the nordic honey bee, the current status, threats and research that is being done alongside information from bekeepers around the region. The movies were created by a team from Nordens Ark, the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, the University of Gothenburg and Föreningen Nordbi.
|
|
|
Science Shambles - featuring Alexandre Antonelli
Alexandre Antonelli visited Science Shambles, a science Q&A show, to talk about mushrooms, plants and seaweed alongside other researchers in the field. The show is hosted by Robin Ince and Helen Czerski and is a part of the Cosmic Shambles Network.
|
|
|
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, extreme weather events and implications for society
BECC Grand Seminar
Thursday, 16th September 13:00-15:00
Online, Zoom
This seminar will discuss the results of the recent IPCC report and its implications for research and society, in light of this summers’ extreme weather events. Researches will share their perspectives from a variety of disciplines and subjects. Researchers are welcomed to join the discussions on which changes are needed in different sectors (such as forestry, agriculture, urban planning, and policy-making) and in research in order to reach the climate targets. The seminar is co-organized by the National Strategic Research Areas BECC and MERGE, together with the Thematic Collaboration Initiative LU Land.
Register before Sep 15th. Read more and sign up here
|
|
"Plogga" with Västkuststiftelsen!
Saturday, 18 Sep 14:00 - 15:00
Stora Teatern, Gothenburg
During World Clean-Up day we gather to help save the world! Together we will "plogga" (run or walk, and pick litter at the same time) around the canals together with Erik Ahlström, founder of the Plogga movement. There will be gloves and bags for everyone, just come dressed to move! The event is organised by the City of Gothenburg, Västkuststiftelsen strandstädning and Plogga.
More information in the joint Facebook event.
|
|
European BIOBLITZ 2021
September 24-25, 2021
Join an epic race for wildlife this September as citizens across Europe take part in the worlds’ first 48-hour continental BioBlitz!
Nature is vitally important and nature is in trouble, but we can all help with nature’s recovery by helping fill in the gaps in what we know about the species on our doorsteps. This September, researchers, school groups, citizens and wildlife enthusiasts across the continent are coming together in a race against the clock to put nature on the map, submitting photos and observations of wildlife in their neighbourhoods through the free, easy to use iNaturalist mobile phone app.
Read more about the project and how you can participate here
|
|
Welcome to the launch of the new Swedish biodiversity platform!
October 4, 10:00 - 12:00
Join the inauguration of SBDI. During the ceremony a brief overview of the platform will be given and the platform is placed in an international perspective by keynote speakers Alexandre Antonelli, Director of Science, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Donald Hobern, Executive Secretary, International Consortium for the Barcoding of Life (iBOL). SBDI will be officially inaugurated by Maria Thuveson, Executive Director at the Swedish Research Council and Head of the Swedish GBIF Delegation.
See registration info and full program for the inauguration here
|
|
|
Information webinar from The European Biodiversity Partnership under Horizon Europe
Tuesday, October 12, 11:00-12:30
Online
The European Biodiversity Partnership under Horizon Europe (previously BioDiversa) is arranging an information webinar for potential applicants for the call on "Supporting the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems across land and sea". The call will be officially launched early October 2021. Registration will open in September.
Find more information at their website here
|
|
|
Are you an insect taxonomist in the EU?
Are you an insect taxonomist, either as an amateur or professionally? Add your name to the “Red list of insect taxonomist”. This EU-funded initiative from the European Commission calls on all insect-savvy people to list their names and expertise, in order to get a better picture of the competencies around the EU.
|
|
|
Member Research Highlights
|
|
Molecular Clocks and Archeogenomics of a Late Period Egyptian Date Palm Leaf Reveal Introgression from Wild Relatives and Add Timestamps on the Domestication
Maria Fernanda Torres and Alexandre Antonelli are part of a research team that look into the hybridization between the date palm and its two closest relatives. By integrating archaeogenomics of a ∼2,100-year-old P. dactylifera leaf from Egypt, molecular-clock dating, and coalescence approaches with population genomic tests they provide minimum and maximum timestamps for the reticulated evolution of this cornerstone species in Middle Eastern and North African agriculture.
Read the publication in Molecular Biology and Evolution here
|
|
|
Elevated nutrients and herbivory negatively affect Dictyota growth dynamics
In this study, Ana Tronholm and colleagues tested the effects of elevated nutrients and herbivory as main drivers of algal phase shifts in the Caribbean reefs, as previously hypothesized. Their results indicated that in the US Virgin Islands, the growth of Dictyota species, the dominant fleshy macroalgae, is indeed influenced primarily by the top-down effects of herbivory, whereas the bottom-up effects of nutrients are weak likely due to algae nutrient repletion. This study reinforces the need for conservation and management of herbivores in coral reef ecosystems in order to mitigate the effects from anthropogenic stressors.
Read the publication in Marine Ecology Progress Series here
|
|
|
A reflection on four impactful Ambio papers: The biotic perspective
Anne Bjorkman and colleague give a reflection on some of the most impactful advances in our understanding of the consequences of anthropogenic climate change. Looking at the papers behind these advances, they focus especially on the legacy of these research outcomes from the biotic perspective.
Read the publication in Ambio here
|
|
|
Annual air temperature variability and biotic interactions explain tundra shrub species abundance
Anne Bjorkman is part of a large research team that use extensive vegetation surveys and a trait-based approach to answer which abiotic and biotic factors explain abundance of shrub species and functional groups in the Arctic tundra, and if these relationships can be interpreted using plant traits related to resource acquisition. The results indicate that approaches exclusively based on resource acquisition traits might be limited in their ability to predict abundances of individual groups and species, particularly in response to complex abiotic environments.
Read the publication in Journal of Vegetation Science here
|
|
|
Touch me carefully: a step towards understanding morphological diversity in the South American spiny sunflowers (Compositae, Barnadesioideae)
Paola de Lima Ferreira and Alexandre Antonelli together with colleagues provide a generic synopsis of the subfamily Barnadesioideae based on the most recent generic circumscriptions, including a key, expanded morphological descriptions, information on geographical distribution and habitat, photographs and taxonomic notes for all genera.
Read the publication in Phytotaxa here
|
|
|
Have you published recently using your GGBC affiliation?
Email a link to the publication to info@ggbc.gu.se so we can share your paper!
Are you a GGBC member publishing biodiversity-related research?
Don't forget to use this affiliation in addition to your main employment affiliation(s):
Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Box 461, Gothenburg, Sweden
|
|
|
|
Rhinos are better transported upside down
That's what some of this years Ig Nobel Prize awarded researchers found while conducting a study where they suspended 12 tranquillised black rhinoceroses by their feet from a crane, and measured their physical responses. As silly as it sounds, the transportation of large, wild animals for conservational purposes is a tricky business with the welfare and safety of translocated individuals at the centre of attention. The Ig Nobel Prize is awared annually to research that "first make you laugh but then make you think".
Read the study behind this finding in Journal of Wildlife Diseases here
|
|
|
Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre
Box 461, 40530, Gothenburg, SWEDEN
|
|
|
|
|
|
