[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 0%|#313476 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”#313476″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/www.aquabol.sk\/cesamir2020\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/CESAMIR-banner-NEW01.png” title_text=”CESAMIR banner NEW01″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#93acc1″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#2b87da 0%|rgba(239,255,249,0.11) 100%” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(239,255,249,0.11)” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”hero section” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 0%|#e7edf9 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”#e7edf9″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”50px||50px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”130px||130px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|auto|54px|auto||” custom_padding=”10px|0px|10px|0px” border_color_all=”#4646c4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_font_size=”36px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#4496da” divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”3px” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ max_width=”90px” max_width_tablet=”13%” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_margin=”15px|||” custom_padding=”|||” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.aquabol.sk\/cesamir2020\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Day04a.png” title_text=”Day04a” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”illustration” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ transform_translate=”-3px|0px” transform_translate_linked=”off” width=”90.3%” custom_margin=”3px|||||” custom_padding=”2px||1px|||” filter_hue_rotate=”285deg” filter_saturate=”120%” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”9:00 PLENARY: Amrita Srivathsan – Filling the reference databases: rapid, large-scale barcoding using Nanopore sequencing” open_toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ closed_toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ icon_color=”#313476″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” open_icon_color=”#313476″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ title_text_color=”#0C71C3″ title_font=”|600|||||||” title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”22px” closed_title_font=”||||||||” closed_title_text_align=”center” closed_title_line_height=”1.8em” body_font_size=”20px” body_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”#f5f9fb” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-63px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||29px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Despite centuries of exploration, a significant portion of the Earth\u00b4s biodiversity remains undiscovered and poorly understood, particularly among hyperdiverse taxa and in\u00a0species-rich regions of the world. Traditional methods of species discovery and\u00a0description are often slow and resource-intensive, highlighting the need for\u00a0innovative, cost-effective, and decentralised approaches. Moreover, little do we know about how most species interact with each other. It is essential therefore that we enable large-scale species discovery, integrative taxonomy, and interaction research. Large-scale DNA barcoding is a critical part of the toolkit that can help us in addressing these by filling the reference databases, enabling the rapid identification, and pre-sorting of\u00a0unidentifiable specimens. This approach is particularly effective for taxa like insects, where specimens can be processed using a \u201creverse workflow\u201d. In this workflow, all collected specimens are sequenced first, and then grouped into putative species units for\u00a0further examination by expert taxonomists. A key challenge in this process is obtaining DNA barcodes from thousands of specimens efficiently and affordably. The advent of\u00a0the\u00a0MinION, a portable and real-time sequencing device, addresses this challenge. The\u00a0MinION is not only affordable, with an initial setup cost of less than $5,000, but also facilitates decentralised barcoding efforts globally. These features, along with low-cost and simple molecular methods are ideal for large-scale barcoding projects.<\/span><\/p>\n I will present a user-friendly workflow designed to streamline large-scale barcoding using the MinION, along with the software ONTbarcoder2, which is equipped with a GUI that processes raw data from the MinION sequencer. ONTbarcoder2 generates consensus DNA barcodes, corrects errors, and ensures quality control. One of the significant advancements in ONTbarcoder2 is its real-time barcoding capability, which allows for the rapid identification of unknown specimens as the sequencing data is generated. This feature greatly enhances the speed and allows users to stop the run when desired amount of data is collected. Using this workflow, we can now routinely generate approximately 10,000 barcodes per MinION flow cell at a cost of less than $0.10 per barcode. Additionally, for smaller-scale projects, the \u201cFlongle\u201d flow cell offers the ability to\u00a0barcode several hundred specimens.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to reference barcodes, new sequencing technologies are allowing for\u00a0the\u00a0study of species interactions at scale. As an example, I will discuss a study on insect-vertebrate interactions using fly fecal samples. By removing the need for DNA extractions, a large number of insects can be processed. Combined with MinION sequencing, we can now begin to unravel ecological interactions for a broad range of\u00a0taxa and in various environments. These developments give us the capacity to study complex ecological interactions and obtaining natural history data for a number of\u00a0species for which we lack such data.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”10px|0px|40px|0px||” border_color_all=”#4646c4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_accordion icon_color=”#0C71C3″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”RS4: DNA BARCODING 1″ open=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”|600|on||||||” body_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”|700|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”20px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”10:30 Grabowski M: Massive DNA barcoding of aquatic insects in Lake Skadar basin points to high diversity but surprisingly low faunal connectivity between waterbodies ” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Lake Skadar (LS) is the largest and the youngest Balkan lake shared by Montenegro and\u00a0Albania. A characteristic feature of its basin is the presence of numerous geologically old karstic spring systems. The lake and its basin are known for rich biodiversity and\u00a0endemism. Recent studies show that local aquatic invertebrates, particularly crenic fauna, are far from being well-documented. The lake is protected and included in\u00a0the\u00a0Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. However, the ecosystem of\u00a0the\u00a0LS basin is highly endangered due to recent development of tourism industry and\u00a0associated anthropogenic pressure. Thus, a rapid survey of the local aquatic biodiversity is of utter importance. Our study, done in May\/June 2018, encompassed 58\u00a0sites in springs, streams and lake coastal waters, scattered throughout the LS basin. Using the PacBio Sequel II System in CBG (Guelph), we obtained over 4,500 COI barcodes for aquatic insects, mostly Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Odonata and Coleoptera, belonging to 60 families and, based on the Barcode Index Number algorithm, clustered to over 500 BINs that can be treated roughly as imperfect yet handy species-equivalents. In numerous cases, particularly aquatic insects (e.g., Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera), the survey provided records of species new to LS basin, Montenegro, Albania and also some potentially new to science. Regarding spatial distribution of BIN diversity, our results not only showed high BIN-level diversity in the relatively small area, but also high distinctiveness of BIN composition and little genetic connectivity, hence isolation, also between localities close to each other. It points to the importance of preserving the regional waterbodies at a very local scale, as even degradation of single waterbodies can potentially lead to irreversible biodiversity loss. The barcodes will provide a possibility for employing cost-effective methods such as DNA metabarcoding and, in perspective, ecologically harmless eDNA sampling in bioassessment and biomonitoring of local freshwater ecosystems. The work was supported by the Montenegrin Ministry of Sciences (\u201cDNA\u2010Eco\u201c project), by National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA, PL) and National Science Centre (NCN, PL).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”10:50 \u0141abudzka M: Integrative taxonomy of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera of Przemyskie Foothills and Bieszczady Mountains streams” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The Bieszczady Mountains and Przemyskie Foothills are characterised by the occurrence of remnants of Carpathian wildernesses recognised as one of the most important pristine mountain landscapes in Poland. The biodiversity of aquatic insects in\u00a0the\u00a0streams of\u00a0the\u00a0Bieszczady Mountains and Przemyskie Foothills has not been studied extensively yet. These regions are an attractive tourist destination, and therefore the fauna of their streams is potentially exposed to habitat loss and water pollution. Learning more about the biodiversity of both regions can be crucial in implementing plans for their protection. This project focuses on aquatic insects from EPT index groups (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) as an indicator of the potential biodiversity of streams and\u00a0their water quality. The DNA barcoding approach followed by morphological identification was used for estimating cryptic diversity and to extend the Polish barcode library (PolBOL) in the Carpathians. The invertebrates were collected from different dominating mesohabitats, namely stones, gravel, wood, and detritus, to\u00a0ensure the\u00a0biodiversity of the streams was fully captured. The results will give an\u00a0insight into the\u00a0level of diversity of aquatic insects in both regions, as well as help dispel the\u00a0discussion on the desirability of expanding the buffer zone of Bieszczadzki National Park and the establishment of the Turnicki National Park, which could offer additional protection for the streams of the Przemyskie Foothills.<\/span><\/p>\n Research is financed by the University of Lodz Students Grant \u201cIntegrative taxonomy of\u00a0mayflies and stoneflies of Przemyskie Foothills and Bieszczady Mountains\u201d no.\u00a0SGB_647 and FAN(B) project \u201cBenthos of streams in Pog\u00f3rze Przemyskie \u2013 issues for\u00a0planned Turnicki National Park\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”11:10 Terec A-B: Species level identification of Simuliidae (Insecta, Diptera) from Romania using DNA barcode data” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n A total of 275 larvae, pupae, and adults of Simuliidae from different watercourses in\u00a0Romania were examined to test the utility of the standard DNA barcode region of\u00a0the\u00a0mtCOI gene as a species-level identification tool for all life stages. 29 morphospecies from 3 genera were analysed: genus Prosimulium<\/i> Roubaud, 1906 with one subgenus and 4 species, genus Twinnia<\/i> Stone et Jamnback, 1955 with a genus Simulium<\/i> Latreille, 1802 with 4 subgenera and 24 species. The Neighbor-Joining tree, inferred based on the DNA barcode sequences, grouped most specimens according to\u00a0species or species-groups recognised by morphometric studies. Intraspecific sequence differences within morphospecies ranged from 0.00% to 5.96%. In some cases, however, the larger differences (2.33\u20135.96%) indicated the presence of important cryptic diversity. In total, we generated 233 DNA barcode sequences during our study, thus obtaining a total of 30 different BINs and 26 species. During the present work, 8\u00a0species are recorded for the first time from Romania: Twinnia hydroides<\/i> Nov\u00e1k, 1956, Simulium petricolum<\/i> (Rivosecchi, 1963), S.\u00a0beltukovae<\/i> (Rubtsov, 1956), S.\u00a0cryophilum<\/i> (Rubtsov, 1959), S.\u00a0craigi<\/i> Adler & Currie, 1986, S.\u00a0trifasciatum <\/i>Curtis, 1839, S.\u00a0reptantoides<\/i> Carlsson, 1962 and S.<\/i>\u00a0aff.\u00a0monticola<\/i>. The Simuliidae fauna from Romania is now represented by 72 different species. The DNA barcode data combined with morphology are a useful tool for the identification of Simuliidae species in Romania, however, we noticed large gaps in the case of species that are range restricted or\u00a0regionally distributed, including some endemic species. In the case of the latter category, the lack of molecular data makes species-level identification difficult, which is\u00a0further complicated by the high cryptic diversity characteristic for the region.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”11:30 Rewicz T: Diversity and distribution of epigean amphipods in Poland through DNA barcodes” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Amphipods are among the most abundant and diverse crustaceans in Palearctic freshwaters. This group is extensively used in applied and basic research, including biodiversity assessments, ecotoxicology, and evolutionary ecology. Nevertheless, even well-studied model organisms may exhibit overlooked cryptic diversity. DNA barcoding, based on partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) sequences, has been proven to be a valuable tool for species determination and revealing the cryptic diversity in many taxa, including amphipods.<\/span><\/p>\n Here, we present studies on epigean freshwater and brackishwater amphipods from Poland. Recent findings and descriptions of new species enhanced the Polish checklist to\u00a0at least 27 species. Nine species (33%) of Polish Amphipoda fauna are invasive species, seven of which have Ponto-Caspian origin. We can also find five brackish species (G.\u00a0zaddachi<\/i>, G.\u00a0salinus<\/i>, G.\u00a0locusta<\/i>, G.\u00a0oceanicus<\/i>, Apocorophium lacustre<\/i>) and one semi-terrestrial talitrid \u2014 Cryptorchestia garbinii<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Here, DNA barcodes from 993 individuals and 26 species were analysed, including sequences from previous studies and more than 400 newly generated DNA barcodes. We studied representatives of the six families: Gammaridae (831\u00a0ind., 19 species); Pontogammaridae (118\u00a0ind., 2 species), Corophiidae (20\u00a0ind., 2 species), Talitridae (12\u00a0ind., 1 species), Pallaseidae (3\u00a0ind., 1 species), Crangonyctidae (1\u00a0ind., 1 species). We found 38 BINs and exact correspondence between BINs and traditionally recognised species matched for 21 species (78%). Deep intraspecific sequence divergences with distinct lineages were revealed within six species, with two (Gammarus pulex<\/i>, G.\u00a0salinus<\/i>, G.\u00a0tigrinus<\/i>), three (Echinogammarus ischnus<\/i>, G.\u00a0fossarum<\/i>, G.\u00a0tatrensis<\/i>), and four (G.\u00a0jazdzewskii<\/i>) BINS, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n Our findings are the first, almost complete, country-scaled attempt to provide a DNA barcode reference library of Amphipoda.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_accordion icon_color=”#0C71C3″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”RS5: ECOLOGY, CLIMATE & PARASITES 1″ open=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”|600|on||||||” body_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”|700|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”20px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”10:30 Borza P: Insights into the trophic ecology of invasive Ponto-Caspian mysids (Crustacea: Mysida)” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Four euryhaline mysid species from the Ponto-Caspian region have become invasive in\u00a0Europe in recent decades causing considerable changes in the ecosystems. In this presentation, I would like to summarise our recent results on the trophic ecology of\u00a0these omnivorous species. In the first study, we aimed to clarify the formerly controversial filtering mechanism in mysids using Limnomysis benedeni<\/i> as a model species and\u00a0provided evidence for the involvement of the maxillae and the existence of\u00a0the\u00a0ventral filtration current. We then compared the filter areas and mesh sizes of\u00a0the\u00a0four invasive Ponto-Caspian species and quantified their filtering capacity in\u00a0an\u00a0aquarium experiment. The result showed that Limnomysis benedeni<\/i> \u2013 featuring an\u00a0additional pair of filtering screens \u2013 is the most effective filter feeder of the four species, but all of them can utilise suspended particles as a food source. In another experiment, we compared the predatory functional responses of the species using Daphnia pulex<\/i> as\u00a0prey. The attack rates indicated that the pelagic Hemimysis anomala<\/i> is the most effective predator of the four species, while Katamysis warpachowskyi<\/i> had the lowest consumption. Limnomysis benedeni<\/i> and Paramysis lacustris<\/i> showed intermediate predatory efficiencies similar to each other. These differences were also reflected in\u00a0the\u00a0stable isotope-based trophic positions of the species.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”10:50 \u017bbikowski J: Can macrophytes affect the structure of Chironomidae larvae also in nearby unvegetated zones?” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n It is well known that in zones covered with macrophytes, the diversity and abundance of\u00a0Chironomidae larvae is generally greater than in unvegetated zones. The results of\u00a0the first author\u2019s research indicate that at a short distance from macrophytes, the\u00a0diversity and abundance of Chironomidae larvae are still relatively high (despite the\u00a0lack of plants) and gradually decrease as we move away from the macrophytes. This suggests that macrophytes affect the Chironomidae larvae structure also in nearby unvegetated areas. It was assumed that this factor may be the presence of coarse detritus (particles with a diameter >500\u00a0\u00b5m) in bottom sediments, originating from the decomposition of macrophytes. The research was carried out in two different types of\u00a0water bodies, a lake, and a lowland dam reservoir. Two sampling sites were located in\u00a0each of them, both in places without macrophytes. One of them was located approx. 20\u00a0m from the macrophytes, so-called site D \u201ddetritus\u201d (more coarse detritus in\u00a0the\u00a0sediments) and the second one approx. 80\u00a0m away, site WD \u201cwithout detritus\u201d (less coarse detritus in the sediments). The depth, oxygenation of the over bottom layer of water and the sediment type at both sites were very similar. Several series of samples were taken during one year. It was found that the number of taxa and diversity (Shannon index) of Chironomidae larvae were higher at site D, both in the lake and in the dam reservoirs. However, their density in the lake was also higher on site D, but in the dam reservoirs on site WD. The dominance structure of Chironomidae larvae also differed between sites D and WD. The obtained results confirm our hypothesis that the presence of coarse detritus in bottom sediments may be an important factor shaping the\u00a0Chironomidae larvae structure. The presentation will present potential mechanisms of the impact of coarse detritus on Chironomidae larvae.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”11:10 Ivkovi\u0107 M: Diptera species turnover and dominance shifts triggered by climate-driven changes” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The diverse pressures of climate change have influenced many habitats, especially freshwater ones due to their greater sensitivity to stressors. Aquatic Diptera make up more than 50% of all aquatic insect species described, which makes them an ideal group to\u00a0monitor the changing climate as their diverse assemblages can reflect functions within the entire community. The aim of this research was to identify the\u00a0variations in an aquatic dipteran community during a 15-year period at a tufa barrier in a karst barrage lake system and the environmental factors that have the highest influence on this community. We analysed monthly data collected between 2007 and\u00a02021, when we collected adult specimens using 6 pyramid-type emergence traps. In total 167 taxa from 13 different families were gathered. NMDS based on Bray-Curtis similarity analysis among assemblages revealed the segregation of samples based on\u00a0different current velocity and substrate, indicating the importance of microhabitats in\u00a0dipteran community structuring. Dipteran taxa indicative of specific five-year time periods within the research were identified and were associated with changes in\u00a0the\u00a0environmental conditions, especially discharge. The threshold indicator taxa analysis presented specific species\u2019 responses to\u00a0changing discharge rates. The study shows that discharge rate, not water temperature, is the critical factor shaping dipteran composition, whether by removing or adding taxa to\u00a0the community. Species turnover showed an overall decrease in species number, i.e., in\u00a0species richness throughout the\u00a0research period. We conclude that changes in\u00a0the\u00a0dipteran community are not visible when analysing just the diversity indices, because of the huge functional traits, niches, adaptations, and species diversity of\u00a0the\u00a0group, but when determining environmental influence on the community in long term research these should be\u00a0combined with other data such as the overall abundance, the total number of species, as well the species turnover.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”10px|0px|40px|0px||” border_color_all=”#4646c4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_accordion icon_color=”#0C71C3″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”SS1: CARPATHIAN BIODIVERSITY 1″ open=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”|600|on||||||” body_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”|700|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”20px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”13:00 Csabai Z: First insight into the aquatic beetle genetic diversity of the Pannonian Ecoregion” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The Pannonian Basin, nestled in the heart of Europe, boasts characteristic habitats that harbour diverse wildlife shaped by its distinctive geological history and unique geographical and climatic features. From a phylogeographical perspective, this region stands out due to its abundance of endemic species and its role as a refugium and\u00a0a\u00a0gateway to the Balkan and eastern steppe fauna. Encompassing 133,000\u00a0km\u00b2, the\u00a0Pannonian ecoregion includes the entire Hungary and extends also across a part of\u00a0Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia, Czechia, and Ukraine, and is classified by some to\u00a0include minor portions of Austria and Slovenia.<\/span><\/p>\n The water beetle fauna of the Pannonian Basin is relatively well-documented, with\u00a0records of approximately 350 species in 14 families and over two hundred thousand occurrence data entries in databases. Over the past two decades, DNA barcoding has been crucial in\u00a0studying European water beetles, with more than half of\u00a0the species barcoded and\u00a0possessing at least one reference barcode. However, systematic barcoding remains essential at local levels to uncover hidden molecular diversity, spatial distribution patterns and elucidate phylogenetic relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n Compared to other regions, the Pannonian ecoregion lags behind in public reference barcoding data. It can be described as a large white spot, with only Hungary and Slovakia contributing sequences for less than 4% of known species (14 and 7 sequences for 6 and 7 species, respectively). These sequences originated from only 7 sites; most of the species only possess a single sequence. We initiated a project last year to address this deficiency by providing numerous and comprehensive barcode records. As a start, ~200 sequences representing ~70 species collected from ~30 sites across Hungary were provided. In this talk, we highlight key aspects of our dataset, showcasing unique BINs and intriguing case studies that contribute to a deeper understanding of aquatic beetle diversity within the Pannonian ecoregion.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”13:20 Macko P: Aquatic beetles in Tatra lakes \u2013 when globally small players mean a lot in terms of genetic diversity” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Alpine regions cover less than 3% of the Earth’s land surface, excluding Antarctica, but\u00a0they represent a particularly unique ecosystem with a high degree of endemism and\u00a0many endangered species. During the last glacial maximum, most of the alpine areas were covered by glaciers and firms, the gradual melting of which created ~50,000 alpine lakes and ponds only within Europe. At a time of increasing global warming, these unique freshwater habitats are an important refuge for many freshwater cold-tolerant species but\u00a0also for those that are not adapted to rising temperatures. However, their remoteness, short ice-free period, and frequently difficult accessibility make research on these ecosystems difficult. The aim of this study, as a part of a broader research initiative on\u00a0barcoding Tatra Mts freshwater fauna, was to analyse in detail the\u00a0genetic diversity of\u00a0common inhabitants of alpine lakes and ponds, the water beetles.<\/span><\/p>\n Within 387 sequences from 105 localities sampled between 2007\u20132018, 68 morphologically identified species in 27 genera and eight families were recorded, of\u00a0which 1\/3 was found for the first time in this area. To evaluate the genetic uniqueness of\u00a0the Tatra beetle fauna, we compared our data with those available in the BOLD database (>1,700 sequences from 26 countries). The total alignment consisted of 657 haplotypes representing 106 BINs. Additional delimitation approaches resulted in\u00a081\u00a0(ASAP) and 92 (mPTP) MOTUs. On average, ~75% of the globally captured putative species\/BINs were also recorded within the Tatra Mountains. The recorded species consisted of 179 haplotypes, of\u00a0which 30% were found exclusively here, confirming the\u00a0important role of the Tatra Mt lakes in maintaining unique genetic information. Relatively high intraspecific genetic diversity was also confirmed, especially in three recorded species, each consisting of two phylogenetically distant, likely Pleistocene lineages.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Our study confirmed that even relatively small but richly diversified alpine lakes can accumulate high genetic diversity and be an essential source of unique genetic information. Our data also significantly enriched the regional DNA barcode database, enabling more effective future monitoring of valuable alpine freshwater habitats. The\u00a0study was supported by the project VEGA 2\/0084\/21.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”13:40 Grabowski M: Biodiversity of Carpathian springs – an overview of the results of the Polish-Slovak-Hungarian project” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Springs possess several unique environmental characteristics, including thermal and chemical stability, typically low oxygen content, and isolation by geographical or\u00a0physicochemical barriers. This can result in low gene flow between springs and local episodes of adaptive radiation, potentially leading to significant differences in\u00a0biodiversity between different springs and high levels of endemism. Moreover, strong directional selection in isolated habitats greatly reduces the range of\u00a0morphological variation, potentially favouring speciation, including cryptic species. The study of cryptic diversity is crucial for a full understanding of species distribution, ecology, assessment of endemism patterns, as well as the development of appropriate biomonitoring and conservation strategies. All these characteristics make springs hotspots of biodiversity and endemism. Paradoxically, although springs are among the\u00a0key ecosystems for the functioning of the biosphere, they remain understudied. Our international project aims to provide original and detailed information on the location, environmental properties and biodiversity of different types of springs in five model Carpathian ranges with different geographical locations and geological structures in\u00a0Poland and Slovakia: 1. the Orava Beskid (northern Slovakia, flysch rocks) and the\u00a0\u017bywiec Beskid (southern Poland, flysch rocks); 2. the Pova\u017esk\u00fd Inovec (western Slovakia, carbonate rocks); 3. Bukovec Mountains (north-eastern Slovakia, flysch rocks), Bieszczady (south-eastern Poland, flysch rocks); 4. Veporskie Mountains (central Slovakia, crystalline rocks); 5. Beskid Wyspowy (southern Poland, flysch, volcanic rocks). During the two-year study, we collected samples of macroinvertebrates from 52 sites located in the above mountain ranges. The dominant groups were Oligochaeta, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Amphipoda, Isopoda, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera. DNA was extracted from more than 1,500 individuals. Approximately 900 DNA barcodes, representing 14 orders and four classes of invertebrates, have been obtained so far. They have been deposited in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) public repository as the basis for a reference DNA barcode library for Carpathian springs. So far, BOLD algorithms grouped the DNA sequences into 74 molecular operational taxonomic units (BINs \u2013 Barcode Index Numbers), which are rough equivalents of species, of which 23 BINs are new to BOLD. We will provide an\u00a0overview of the project as an example of a successful bottom-up international initiative focusing on poorly studied Carpathian aquatic habitats and funded by both national and international channels, as well as the first results on faunal and genetic connectivity between springs.<\/span><\/p>\n Funding provided by APVV SK-PL-21-0023, NAWA BPN\/BSK\/2021\/1\/00084\/U\/00001, UniLodz IDUB NR4\/ML\/2022, Eramsus+ BIP: Biodiversty of the Carpathian Springs.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”14:00 D\u00e9nes A-L: Genetic diversity of Diptera \u2013 DNA barcode analysis in the assessment of the ecological integrity of freshwaters from the Romanian Carpathians” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Dipterans are key players in the assessment of the ecological integrity of freshwaters. However, species-level identification of most taxa remains challenging, especially in\u00a0morphologically cryptic larvae. To improve these shortcomings, 1,149 mtCOI barcode sequences were generated from a bulk sample of macroinvertebrates, collected in\u00a0different mountainous headwaters and large lowland rivers in the Romanian Carpathians. These corresponded to 177 morphologically identified species and 77 undetermined taxonomic units, represented mostly by larvae. Analysis of the Barcode Index Number (BIN) System revealed 287 BINs, of which 82.5% coincide strongly with known species boundaries. However, DNA gap analyses yielded significant intraspecific differences, whereby K2P distances at this level ranged from 0% to 16.22%, with an\u00a0average of 2.81%, whereas interspecific distances within a genus ranged from 0% to\u00a026.97%, with an average of 13.15%, revealing the likely occurrence of overlooked cryptic or pseudo-cryptic species, especially in mountainous headwaters. 95\u00a0BINs were assigned for the first time in BOLD, with 31 representing unknown operational taxonomic units. Species-level identification was successful or confirmed for 531 larvae, based on\u00a0genetic similarity to corresponding adults, from which 48 larvae (28 taxa) were assigned to species-level exclusively using their genetic similarity in the BOLD database. Our data considerably improved the species-level identification effort of\u00a0macroinvertebrates in a region with exceptionally high aquatic biodiversity and\u00a0a\u00a0considerable number of regionally restricted or endemic taxa. Our results support the utility of DNA barcodes to delimit species boundaries for the majority of Diptera groups, especially in morphologically cryptic larvae, and provide an effective taxonomic tool to improve routine bio-assessment protocols with high-quality data.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”14:20 Rendo\u0161 M: Exploring the hidden world: first insight into diversity of epikarst invertebrates in the Western Carpathians” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Epikarst, the uppermost zone of the karst landscape, functions as a critical interface between soil and carbonate rocks, forming a perched aquifer that stores and gradually releases water infiltrated from precipitation. This unique environment serves as both a water reservoir and a subterranean aquatic habitat for minute invertebrates, yet its biological and ecological processes remain significantly understudied. Between 2019 and 2020, we conducted extensive sampling of epikarst invertebrates using 27 filtering devices in the Dem\u00e4nov\u00e1 Cave System, northern Slovakia. Our integrative approach employed both conventional morphological techniques and molecular tools, specifically DNA barcoding, to evaluate the invertebrate diversity of this understudied subterranean ecosystem. Utilising the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene as the standard barcoding marker, we successfully generated 784 DNA barcodes representing 36 morphospecies from 17 orders and 6 animal classes, with a predominant representation of Arthropoda (98.3%). Morphological identification revealed 10 obligatory aquatic species, including four stygobionts limited to groundwaters and nine amphibiotic species, as well as 17 terrestrial species, including five troglobionts associated with the cave environment. Our study provides a unique documentation of the genetic and species diversity of Metazoa within the epikarst, with more than 70% of Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) being new to the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD). Importantly, 24 out of 28 morphologically identified subterranean species lacked sequence coverage in BOLD, emphasising the novelty of our findings. Notable cases of intraspecific divergence were observed, particularly in subterranean taxa, showcasing the existence of morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species within the fragmented karst system. Our data provide evidence for undescribed species of harpacticoid copepod Elaphoidella and suggest the potential presence of a new-to-science family within the order Amphipoda. In the case study of the Dem\u00e4novsk\u00fd cave system, we demonstrate that the genetic and species diversity of invertebrates associated with seeping epikarst waters is vastly understudied. Our findings shed light on the overlooked realm of subterranean biodiversity, emphasising the need for future extensive investigations into groundwater life diversity in the Western Carpathians and adjacent regions. This study serves as a crucial foundation for understanding and conserving the unique ecosystems thriving in the depths of the epikarst.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_accordion icon_color=”#0C71C3″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”RS6: INVASIVE SPECIES 1″ open=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”|600|on||||||” body_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”|700|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”20px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”13:00 Copilas-Ciocianu D: Invasive Ponto-Caspian amphipods experience a significant trophic niche contraction outside the native range” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Range expansion of invasive species is often assumed to be associated with an increased trophic niche breadth. However, evidence remains inconclusive due to a scarcity of studies comparing both the native and invaded ranges. Here, we test the trophic niche expansion hypothesis by examining stable isotopes and diet-related functional morphological traits across native (NW Black Sea) and invaded (SE Baltic Sea) ranges of amphipods Dikerogammarus villosus<\/i> and Pontogammarus robustoides<\/i>, originating from the Ponto-Caspian region \u2013 a major source of invaders in Holarctic inland waters. Stable isotopes revealed that both species underwent a twofold dietary niche contraction with a shift towards decreased carnivory in the invaded range. This dietary shift was morphologically mirrored by an overall attenuation of prey grasping appendages, antennae, and mouthpart palps. The magnitude of dietary and morphological change was greater in D.\u00a0villosus<\/i>, indicating a greater adaptive potential. Our findings indicate that previous experimental reports of aggressive predation in D.\u00a0villosus<\/i> reflect opportunistic foraging and align with local stable isotope studies which generally indicate a low trophic position. We conclude that Ponto-Caspian species can undergo rapid dietary changes outside the native range, and that a broad dietary niche is not a prerequisite for successful non-native establishment.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”13:20 \u0160idagyt\u0117-Copilas E: Faster aerobic metabolism in invasive Ponto-Caspian vs. native amphipods” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Ponto-Caspian amphipods are among the most successful aquatic invaders. In the last century, their rapid spread across the Holarctic has been marked by transformations of\u00a0native macroinvertebrate communities, local species extirpations, and potential food-web changes. Often the success of these species is attributed to enhanced environmental tolerance, reproductive success, aggressiveness, and\/or efficient assimilation of food resources. We propose that elevated metabolism may underlie all these notorious traits ascribed to their invasiveness. To that end here we tested the\u00a0hypothesis that across the\u00a0freshwaters of the Southeastern Baltic region, the Ponto-Caspian amphipods have a\u00a0higher aerobic metabolism than the natives. We conducted closed-chamber respirometry across the range of dissolved oxygen (DO; normoxia to\u00a0anoxia) in 11 gammaroid species after 2\u20136 weeks of laboratory acclimation to\u00a0the\u00a0measurement temperature (~17\u00b0C). Six included species were native (Gammarus jazdzewski<\/i>, G.\u00a0lacustris<\/i>, G.\u00a0pulex<\/i>, G.\u00a0varsoviensis<\/i>, Pallaseopsis quadrispinosa<\/i>, and\u00a0Synurella ambulans<\/i>) and five were of the Ponto-Caspian origin (Chaetogammarus warpachowskyi<\/i>, Dikerogammarus<\/i> haemobaphes<\/i>, D.\u00a0villosus<\/i>, Obesogammarus crassus<\/i>, Pontogammarus robustoides<\/i>). To standardise the oxygen consumption (OC), we first established the species allometries in normoxia. Then we analysed the 808 curves of OC vs. DO using single-breakpoint piecewise linear regressions. Using the resulting parameters that describe the curve shape, we classified the respiratory responses to oxyconformation (rising increasingly), oxyregulation (rising decreasingly), or oxystress (rising and then falling OC with increasing DO). While the allometry steepness varied more by species than by the group of origin, the offset was consistently higher in the Ponto-Caspian species, translating into ~60% higher oxygen consumption. Oxyregulation response was the most common in both groups; however, among the newcomers, oxyregulation was less common and not as efficient, while oxyconformation and oxystress emerged more often and more articulately. Confirming the hypothesis, the results support our idea that the invasive Ponto-Caspian gammaroids primarily share elevated metabolism. However, superiority in well-oxygenated environments may come at the cost of decreased competitiveness in impoverished conditions due to unmet oxygen needs. The differentiation in oxygen demand may allow for coexistence between the native and invasive amphipods by habitat partitioning at the meso- or macrohabitat scales, with smaller lakes, closed bays and\/or river pools serving as refuges for the aboriginal species. On the other hand, the more even distribution of response shapes within the newcomer species may also indicate adaptation potential even to such environments. This study was financed by the Research Council of Lithuania (Contract No. S-MIP-20-26).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”13:40 Mucciolo S: Exploring the osmoregulation of two Ponto-Caspian invaders through the expression of membrane proteins” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The voluntary or accidental introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) is one of\u00a0the\u00a0major challenges affecting the environment, leading to a homogenisation of\u00a0biodiversity worldwide. One of the main sources of freshwater NIS in Europe is\u00a0the\u00a0Ponto-Caspian region, which has a turbulent geological history characterised by\u00a0several sea-level changes and fluctuating environmental stressors, such as salinity, temperature, and oxygen. Two remarkable invasive species from Ponto-Caspian region are the gammaroid amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus <\/i>(Sowinsky, 1894) and the annelid Hypania invalida<\/i> (Grube, 1860), which underwent a rapid geographic range expansion in\u00a0central and western Europe. Salinity regime tolerance is considered one of the most significant factors limiting the distribution of the species in aquatic environments and indeed, among the traits invasive species display, a higher euryhalinity seems to facilitate the establishment and the invasion success of species in new habitats. The invasion of\u00a0freshwater habitats by brackish or marine species has been reported frequently for\u00a0those coming from the Ponto-Caspian region, notwithstanding the high energetic costs required to retain osmotic levels in body fluids when inhabiting freshwater environments. The work aims to assess the expression of some proteins involved in\u00a0osmoregulation, such as Na-K-2Cl co-transporter (NKCC) and aquaporins (AQPs). Data about these proteins are scarce and scattered; however, we recently recovered in silico<\/i> the presence of several paralogs of AQPs in both amphipods and annelids, and we experimentally confirmed their presence in the latter. We searched and annotated putative AQPs genes in public genomes and transcriptomes, inferring their evolutionary relationships through phylogenetic analyses and discussing their putative physiological relevance. Our results showed how most of the AQPs of amphipods are similar to those of\u00a0other crustaceans, despite the Prip-like displaying different paralogs, and report for the\u00a0first time a putative Aqp8-like for arthropods. We also found that the candidate genes of Prip-like, Bib-like, Aqp12-like, and Glp-like may help solve deeper relationships in\u00a0phylogenies of amphipods while leaving uncertainties in shallower parts. Concerning the annelids, we identified a total of 401 Aqp sequences in 27 annelid species, including 367 sequences previously unrecognised as Aqps. Similar to vertebrates, phylogenetic tree reconstructions clustered these annelid Aqps in four clades: AQP1-like, AQP3-like, AQP8-like and AQP11-like. We found no clear indication of the existence of paralogs exclusive to annelids; however, several gene duplications seem to have occurred in\u00a0the\u00a0ancestors of some Sedentaria annelid families, mainly in the AQP1-like clade. Our results suggest a diversification of the structures and functions of AQPs in Annelida comparable to that observed in other taxa.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”14:00 Hershkovitz Y: First comprehensive overview of invasive aquatic macroinvertebrates in Israel” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Freshwater ecosystems across the globe confront mounting challenges due to invasive, non-native species. Streams, in particular, are susceptible to the establishment of non-native species, leading to significant alterations in community dynamics, nutrient cycling, and\u00a0overall ecosystem functioning.<\/span><\/p>\n During the last decade we have been monitoring aquatic macroinvertebrates across Israel as part of an ongoing effort to assess the ecological state of these ecosystems. The\u00a0database contains >1,000 biological and ecological samples collected from ca. 400 reaches in 105 streams across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n Overall, we documented 22 alien taxa (16 families, 5 orders): two polychaetes (Namalycastis hawaiiensis<\/i>, Nereis persica<\/i>), one leech (Barbronia <\/i>sp.), 10 snails (Pyrgophorus coronatus<\/i>, Potamopyrgus antipodarum<\/i>, Pseudosuccinea columella<\/i>, Radix <\/i>sp., Physa fontinalis<\/i>, Physella acuta<\/i>, Ferrissia clessiniana<\/i>, Planorbella duryi<\/i>, Mieniplotia scabra<\/i>, Tarebia granifera<\/i>), one marine bivalve (Mytilopsis sallei<\/i>) and 8 decapods (Neocaridina denticulate<\/i>, Monocorophium insidiosum<\/i>, Belzebub hanseni<\/i>, Cherax quadricarinatus<\/i>, Procambarus clarkii<\/i>, Procambarus virginalis<\/i>, Penaeus aztecus<\/i>, Callinectes sapidus<\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n Non-native species are highly widespread across the country, with at least one of these species in 70% of the sampled streams. In some cases, up to 6 alien species were recorded from the same reach. The most abundant invasive taxon is P.\u00a0acuta<\/i> which was found in all 10\u00a0basins and at >50% of the monitored sites; followed by P.\u00a0coronatus<\/i> occurring in 70% of\u00a0the catchments and 20% of the sampled streams. Nevertheless, in some sites the latter species was found to be extremely abundant with >10,000 specimens per sq. meter.<\/span><\/p>\n The pathways of alien introduction are not always clear, although some freshwater species (e.g., M.\u00a0scabra<\/i>, Crayfish) were probably introduced into the wild through aquarium content releases, whereas others (e.g., P.\u00a0antipodarum<\/i>) could have been unintentionally spread as\u00a0\u201cstowaways\u201d on aquatic and semi-aquatic plants. Several marine species (e.g., M.\u00a0sallei, M.\u00a0insidiosum, P.\u00a0aztecus<\/i>) have been found to reside in the estuaries of coastal streams, probably through discharged ballast waters.<\/span><\/p>\n The ecological impacts of an extensive alien species occurrence have not been fully investigated, and currently there are no strategies to eradicate these alien species in Israel. An attempt to exterminate P.\u00a0clarkii<\/i> by drying a short stream section was so far considered unsuccessful. This situation calls for a joint national effort to test and effective legislative prevention measures and apply eradication techniques.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”14:20 Arba\u010diauskas K: Introduction of Ponto Caspian crustaceans into a central European lake: consequences for crustacean assemblage and food web” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n To improve fish feeding and production, many lakes in the Baltic Sea basin were stocked with Ponto-Caspian peracarid crustaceans during the mid-20th century. Lake Dusia, the third largest Lithuanian lake, has been inhabited by five native peracarid crustacean species, including \u201cglacial relict species\u201d. After the deliberate introduction of Ponto-Caspian species this lake during the early 1980s sheltered ten peracarid crustacean species and was declared unique among the temperate and boreal lakes of Europe in richness of this assemblage. Since then, a drastic shift in the peracarid assemblage took place. All but one native peracarid species went extinct. Fish food composition data and application of stable isotopes for food web analysis clearly showed that introduced peracarids are readily assimilated by fish. However, the evidence of improvement of fish feeding and production has not been documented clearly. The outcomes and patterns of introduction of alien crustaceans on lake Dusia ecosystem will be presented in more detail and discussed.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”10px|0px|40px|0px||” border_color_all=”#4646c4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_accordion icon_color=”#0C71C3″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”RS7: FAUNA OF LAKE OHRID 1″ open=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”|600|on||||||” body_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”|700|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”20px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”15:20 Mamos T: Distribution, diversity, and diversification of Gammarus species flock in the ancient Lake Ohrid, overview of the project progress” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Lake Ohrid, located in the Balkan Peninsula at the Albanian\/Macedonian border, is\u00a0the\u00a0oldest European lake (ca. 1.3\u00a0My old), one of the world\u2019s smallest ancient lakes and\u00a0an important biodiversity hotspot. At the same time, considering the lake surface, it\u00a0harbours the highest level of endemism, especially in the case of amphipod crustaceans (ca.\u00a090%). Most of Lake Ohrid amphipods belong to the local endemic Gammarus<\/i> (Amphipoda, Crustacea) species flock. Still, the evolutionary processes underlying speciation within this group in ancient lakes are weakly understood. Therefore, the\u00a0Ohridian Gammarus<\/i> species flock, encompassing about a dozen species, is\u00a0an\u00a0exceptional model for testing adaptive radiation compared to other such systems. The current study aims to unravel the evolutionary processes behind the origins of\u00a0the\u00a0endemic Gammarus<\/i> species flock in this ancient lake using an integrative approach. We incorporate molecular study through extensive COI barcoding and transcriptome sequencing as well as a detailed examination of the functional morphology of the species flock and relatives.<\/span><\/p>\n In a result, we see that the distribution of the Gammarus<\/i> species flock is vertically structured, reflecting habitat zonation and suggesting parapatric speciation as one of\u00a0the\u00a0possible mechanisms behind the flock’s diversification. Two new molecular units representing putatively new species are revealed. The onset of flock radiation overlaps with the time of lake formation, while the subsequent speciation events and demographic changes relate presumably to glacial and postglacial water level changes and\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0colonisation of new depth ranges and the associated springs. The\u00a0transcriptomic data show complex patterns of diversification, probably resulting from hybridisation during the flock radiation, while morphological variability shows relatively high diversity and divergence between species. All this suggests that adaptive radiation was the main force behind origins of the Gammarus<\/i> species flock in ancient Lake Ohrid.<\/span><\/p>\n This work is funded by the Polish National Science Centre (OPUS16 grant Nb. UMO-2018\/31\/B\/NZ8\/03103).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”15:40 Kr\u00f3likowska K: First COI barcode reference library for the ancient Lake Ohrid basin \u2013 how much have we progressed?” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Lake Ohrid, located at the border of North Macedonia and Albania, is considered the\u00a0oldest lake in Europe (1.5\u00a0My). It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its high level of endemism. Its biodiversity is still not fully known, and only few taxonomic groups have been analysed using an integrative approach that includes DNA methods (e.g., freshwater snails, leeches from the genus Dina<\/i>, asselids and gammarids). What is more, some taxa are particularly challenging in identification, contain undescribed species or\u00a0represent complexes of cryptic species so the DNA barcoding comes in handy for such.<\/span><\/p>\n The main aim of our study is to create a reliable publicly accessible reference library of\u00a0macroinvertebrates inhabiting Lake Ohrid basin and its surrounding springs. The\u00a0samples were collected in 2019 and 2022 by dredging or kick-sampling and\u00a0preserved in 96% ethanol. The material was sorted into higher taxonomic groups. The\u00a0animals belonging to\u00a0Diptera, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Turbelaria, Trichoptera, Hemiptera, Plecoptera, Oligochaeta, Coleoptera, Hydracarina, Ephemeroptera, Isopoda and Odonata were divided into morphotypes. From one to five individuals (1920 in total) of each morphotype the\u00a0cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) DNA barcode was obtained. The PCR products were sequenced using the Sanger and Oxford Nanopore platform. All obtained sequences were deposited in the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD). The final dataset contained 1460 barcode sequences belonging to 322 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) of which 47 were new for BOLD. Additionally, to provide information about distribution of microorganisms in\u00a0the\u00a0Lake, substrate from different habitat zones was processed using a metabarcoding approach with 7 markers. Our study suggests that there are still some undescribed invertebrate species inhabiting Lake Ohrid basin and its springs. There is a need for further investigation of Lake Ohrid fauna to fully understand this unique ecosystem and protect it\u00a0from human impacts and degradation.<\/span><\/p>\n This work is funded by the Polish National Science Centre (OPUS16 grant Nb. UMO-2018\/ 31\/B\/NZ8\/03103).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”16:00 Andrade LF: An overview of the lateral line organ in amphipods with emphasis on the Gammarus species flock from the ancient Lake Ohrid” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The lateral line organ is an intriguing sensory structure of gammarids, presumed to\u00a0function as chemo-, mechano-, and\/or electro-receptors. This organ is composed of\u00a0two rows of dorsal and lateral units that are spread along the body. These structures are often found on each somite and telson, and each unit is characterised by a nearly straight or curved excavation on the cuticle with an arrangement of flattened microtrichs inserted within a rounded concentric \u201cring\u201d. Despite some previous studies shedding light on the lateral line organ, many aspects of its composition and function are still unclear. As such, our study aims to investigate the structure and variation of this organ in\u00a0amphipod crustaceans from diverse habitats and modes of life, with emphasis on\u00a0the\u00a0Gammarus<\/i> species flock from the ancient Lake Ohrid. Preliminary analyses of\u00a0species of 20 amphipod families from a broad geographic range show remarkable differentiation of the lateral line structure, making it possible to assume it as a potential morphological marker of adaptive radiation. As a study case, specimens collected from Lake Ohrid across a depth gradient from 5 to 240 meters were compared with sister species living in local springs and streams, all exposed to varied water current intensities, predation pressure and chemical composition. For the initial analysis, 10\u00a0males and 10 females of similar sizes from five species (Gammarus parechiniformis<\/i>, G.\u00a0roeselii<\/i>, G.\u00a0sketi<\/i>, G.\u00a0solidus<\/i> and G.\u00a0stankokaramani<\/i>) were selected, coated with gold, and analysed through Scanning Electron Microscopy. The results show clear interspecific differences in the morphology of the lateral lines, including the degree of\u00a0curvature of the excavations and the number of microtrichs of species from the same sampling site. Additionally, size- and sex-specific changes were observed. Based on\u00a0these observations, we hypothesize that, in different environmental conditions, even the conspecific individuals might show divergent patterns in the structure of the lateral line. This could suggest that the organ is a specialised and adaptable structure, helping the gammarids in spatial orientation.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_accordion icon_color=”#0C71C3″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”25px” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_accordion_item title=”RS8: TAXONOMY & MORPHOLOGY 1″ open=”on” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”|600|on||||||” body_text_align=”left” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_text_color=”#0C71C3″ toggle_level=”h5″ toggle_font=”|700|||||||” toggle_text_align=”left” toggle_font_size=”20px”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”15:20 Duchet C: Stage-specific effects of warming on the larval development and temperature-size rule in Sympetrum striolatum” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Warming, predicted to be up to +8\u00b0C by 2100, can impact freshwater biota through a\u00a0range of mechanisms such as individual growth rate modifications and altered nutrient cycling. Among the most affected are ectotherms, which constitute 95% of aquatic life. Body size reduction of ectotherms has been proposed as one of the universal responses to global warming. Observed body size shifts in ectotherms can be explained by\u00a0the\u00a0\u201ctemperature-size rule\u201d (TSR) stating that organisms grow faster but reach a smaller size at a given stage of\u00a0development (e.g., size at maturity or adult size) at higher temperatures. However, it\u00a0remains unclear what physiological mechanisms might regulate TSR and whether the same pattern is always shown during ontogenetic development.<\/span><\/p>\n In this context, we examined the effects of warming on individual growth and\u00a0development of the larvae of the dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum<\/i> in a laboratory experiment. Eggs of\u00a0S.\u00a0striolatum <\/i>were exposed to six constant temperatures (9, 13, 17, 21, 25 and 29\u00b0C), and development of larvae was followed from hatching to adult emergence. Moulting, mortality, and emergence success were recorded throughout the\u00a0experiment. The first, third and last instar exuviae, as well as dead larvae were collected for body measurements.<\/span><\/p>\n Temperature had a strong effect on growth, development, and survival rate of\u00a0S.\u00a0striolatum<\/i> larvae. At 9\u00b0C, the eggs did not hatch after 5 months of exposure, while all the larvae died within two weeks at 29\u00b0C. Furthermore, the larvae successfully hatched and continued to\u00a0develop at 21 and 25\u00b0C, while contrasting survival and larval development were observed at 13 and 17\u00b0C. As expected, larvae grew faster at higher temperatures, but we did not detect a decrease in growth rates at temperatures near the\u00a0upper thermal limit. We also observed that during the first stages, body size declined at higher temperatures within this range of temperatures. However, this relationship was reversed during development, such that body size of late larval stages (F0) and adults increased with temperature, which contrasts with the expected TSR found in many ectotherms. Our results challenge the\u00a0generality of TSR and suggest that body size responses to warming can vary through ontogeny, possibly in relation to adaptive constraints.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”15:40 Kis P: Unfolding the wings: predicting wing morphology from body size in aquatic beetles” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Flying is one of the most significant dispersal strategies among insects, enabling them to\u00a0colonise new habitats. Among these adept flyers, beetles (Coleoptera) stand out with\u00a0their perfected wing structures, featuring elytra and intricate folding mechanisms that shield their hindwings from external influences. As the beetles colonised aquatic habitats, they had to adapt to very special environments. The majority of the aquatic beetle species are able to fly and in many cases the ability to fly is essential, especially in\u00a0sensitive habitats. Newly emerged aquatic habitats are firstly colonised mostly by\u00a0beetles. When faced with adverse conditions, water beetles often resort to aerial dispersal in search of\u00a0more suitable environments. Despite the critical role of flight, considerable variability exists in wing morphology among species and even within populations, suggesting potential adaptation to diverse habitats. Body length is not necessarily determining the\u00a0ability of flight, but indeed it is a significant factor. Our main question was if\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0possible to find a significant correlation between the body length of\u00a0different aquatic beetle species and the\u00a0morphology of their wings, and which parameters of\u00a0the\u00a0wing can be reliably predictable by using the body length of\u00a0the\u00a0species. Utilising digital landmark measurements, we examined 15 parameters of\u00a0wing morphology in\u00a0100\u201350 specimens of\u00a0Hydrobius fuscipes<\/i> (Hydrophilidae) and\u00a0Rhantus suturalis<\/i> (Dytiscidae). After preselection of variables, linear regression and\u00a0generalised additive models as well as PCA and CVA methods were used to test and visualise the complex relationships in the\u00a0dataset. Both species were characterised by high variance, but our findings reveal a\u00a0significant positive correlation between body size and wing length, indicating that larger beetles tend to\u00a0possess longer wings. Moreover, our analysis suggests that additional wing parameters can be predicted based on body size, highlighting the potential for\u00a0body length as a\u00a0reliable predictor of\u00a0beetle wing morphology. Our study also uncovered significant differences in body and wing parameters between male and female specimens within these species, underscoring the\u00a0importance of considering intra-specific variations.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][et_pb_accordion_item title=”16:00 Kov\u00e1cs Z: Age-dependent variation of aedeagal morphology in Agabus uliginosus and the status of A. lotti (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae)” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”||5px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” toggle_font=”–et_global_heading_font|500|||||||” toggle_font_size=”18px” open=”off” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The taxonomic status of Agabus lotti<\/i> within the Agabus uliginosus<\/i> species group has been a subject of debate due to morphological similarities and lack of molecular data. In\u00a0this study, we conducted a comprehensive morphological and molecular analysis of\u00a0specimens from Central Europe, focusing on the Hungarian population. Morphological comparisons of genital structures revealed age-dependent variations, suggesting a\u00a0gradual transition from A.\u00a0lotti<\/i> to A.\u00a0uliginosus<\/i>. Molecular analysis of COI sequences further supported this hypothesis, showing minimal genetic differences among most specimens, with only one individual exhibiting distinctiveness. Therefore, A.\u00a0lotti<\/i> should be regarded as a junior synonym of A.\u00a0uliginosus<\/i>. Our findings highlight the need for\u00a0additional multi-marker studies covering a broader geographic range and\u00a0including both molecular and morphological approaches to elucidate the\u00a0taxonomic and\u00a0phylogenetic relationship within this species group. The inclusion of\u00a0Hungarian samples notably enriched the diversity of haplotypes, emphasising the\u00a0importance of\u00a0expanding sampling efforts in future research.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_accordion_item][\/et_pb_accordion][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”hero section” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 0%|#e7edf9 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”#e7edf9″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”50px||50px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”130px||130px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.aquabol.sk\/cesamir2020\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/CESAMIR2024_SUMMARY-thu.jpg” title_text=”CESAMIR2024_SUMMARY thu” _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Subscribe” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#f5f9fb” custom_padding=”50px|0px|50px|0px||” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_slide=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”Mailchimp|fe69e960a2″ first_name_field=”off” last_name_field=”off” success_message=”Thank you!” title=”Stay Up To Date” description=”<\/p>\n Subscribe to our mailing list and keep informed with all the news about CESAMIR2024 conference! *<\/p>\n * Your e-mail address will be used for conference purposes only.<\/p>\n ” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ form_field_background_color=”#003c7c” form_field_text_color=”#ffffff” form_field_focus_background_color=”#282b66″ form_field_focus_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”|600|||||||” header_font_size=”35px” header_line_height=”1.3em” body_font=”||||||||” body_font_size=”18px” body_line_height=”1.8em” result_message_font=”||||||||” result_message_text_color=”#000000″ result_message_font_size=”30px” use_background_color=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#005fba” button_border_width=”8px” button_border_color=”#005fba” button_border_radius=”0px” button_letter_spacing=”1px” button_font=”|700||on|||||” button_icon=”=||divi||400″ background_layout=”light” border_radii_fields=”on||||” button_letter_spacing_hover=”1px” focus_background_color=”#ffffff” focus_text_color=”#ffffff” global_colors_info=”{}” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”1px” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Day 4 – Thursday, July 11Despite centuries of exploration, a significant portion of the Earth\u00b4s biodiversity remains undiscovered and poorly understood, particularly among hyperdiverse taxa and in\u00a0species-rich regions of the world. Traditional methods of species discovery and\u00a0description are often slow and resource-intensive, highlighting the need for\u00a0innovative, cost-effective, and decentralised approaches. Moreover, little do we know […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":484,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"\nCongress Hall \u00a0 10:30 – 11:50<\/h4>\n
Business Lounge \u00a0 10:30 – 11:30<\/h4>\n
Congress Hall \u00a0 13:00 – 14:40<\/h4>\n
Business Lounge \u00a0 13:00 – 14:40<\/h4>\n
Congress Hall \u00a0 15:20 – 16:20<\/h4>\n
Business Lounge \u00a0 15:20 – 16:20<\/h4>\n