RonbjergPopGen: V European Congress of Mammalogy

The effects of environmental stressors on ecosystems are complex, and tools that improve our understanding are necessary. Until now, efforts have been mainly ecologically based with little practice of incorporating genetic diversity measurements into risk assessment. However, with the use of genetic approaches the information level returned is potentially much higher. The precise genetic consequences of population perturbations result from a complex balance among effects on population substructure, size, and founding events. Hence, there is a need for tools that will support the interpretation of genetic erosion effects and selective effects in investigations aimed to detect such events. The course aims to provide an introductory overview of the most essential methods commonly used in Conservation Genetics and of the most essential genetic methods commonly used for the detection of environmental perturbations, focusing on the joint application of neutral and non-neutral genetic markers and demographic techniques. The course will be structured with morning lectures and afternoon exercises in which students will be given datasets to analyse and will have an opportunity to analyse their own data. Rather than provide comprehensive coverage of any single technique, the course aims to teach students how to identify the most appropriate technique(s) for specific types of data sets, and for specific questions.

V European Congress of Mammalogy

The European Congresses of Mammalogy aim to bring together mammalian biologists from European and also non-European countries. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere of these congresses provides an excellent opportunity to hear the latest developments in various fields of mammalogy, to share research experience and expertise, and to develop new and closer contacts with colleagues from different countries.

Following the successful congresses in Lisbon (1991), Southampton (1995), Jyväskylä (1999) and Brno (2003), it is now the turn of a Mediterranean country to host this exciting event and to invite mammalogists to the 5th European Congress of Mammalogy (ECM5) in Siena.

Workshops

Saturday, 22:

IUCN/SSC Deer Specialist Group Meeting

Susana Gonzales <sugonza@iibce.edu.uy>

Competition in Lagomorph species: a multidisciplinary approach

K. Hacklaender <Klaus.hacklaender@boku.ac.at>

A. Meriggi <meriggi@unipv.it>

Genes, Chromosomes and populations : a Symposium in honour of Nicolai N. Vorontsov

V. Volobouev <vitaly@mnhn.fr>

E. Capanna <ernesto.capanna@uniroma1.it>

Rodent-borne viruses: from field to genes

H. Henttonen <heikki.henttonen@metla.fi>

J. Laakkonen <juha.laakkonen@metla.fi>

A. Plyusnin <alexander.plyusnin@helsinki.fi>

Sunday, 23:

Phylogeography in Southern Europe: The role of glacial refuges in shaping mammalian genetic diversity

A. Grill <grill@science.uva.nl>

E. Randi <met0217@iperbole.bologna.it>

Remote sensing in mammalian studies: aims, methods and results

L. Baskin <baskin@orc.ru>

V. Radeloff <radeloff@wisc.edu>

Mammals and their metazoan parasites: Are there general rules?

B. R. Krasnov <krasnov@bgu.ac.il>

Monday, 24:

Large herbivores and their effects on animal community composition, diversity and abundance

R. Andersen <reidar.andersen@chembio.ntnu.no>

Island mammals

J. Gurnell <j.gurnell@qmul.ac.uk>

Mammal conservation in Europe: status and priorities

G. Amori <giovanni.amori@uniroma1.it>

B. Krystufek <boris.krystufek@zrs-kp.si>

T. Mitchell-Jones <tony.mitchell-jones@naturalengland.org.uk>

Tuesday, 25:

Non-lethal methods to manage wildlife

T. Roper <t.j.roper@sussex.ac.uk>

G. Massei <g.massei@csl.gov.uk>

Mammal conservation in Europe: strategies and delivery

G. Amori <giovanni.amori@uniroma1.it>

B. Krystufek <boris.krystufek@zrs-kp.si>

T. Mitchell-Jones <tony.mitchell-jones@naturalengland.org.uk>

Role of long-term studies and experimentation in mammalian life histories –

H. Ylönen <hylonen@bytl.jyu.fi>

H. Hofer <hofer@izw-berlin.de>

Wednesday, 26:

Patterns and processes in fluctuations of small mammal populations (NEW!)

O. Huitu <otso.huitu@metla.fi>

J. Sundell <janne.sundell@helsinki.fi>

Alien mammals

S. Roy <s.roy@csl.gov.uk>

P. Genovesi <piero.genovesi@infs.it>

M. Clout <m.clout@auckland.ac.nz>

Non-invasive genetic methods for monitoring populations of elusive mammalian species

P. Taberlet <pierre.taberlet@ujf-grenoble.fr>

E. Randi <met0217@iperbole.bologna.it>