The Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, organizes the second edition of the International Phd course on Species Distribution Models. This PhD course will cover:

• Ecological and evolutionary theory on species distributions and species niches
• Methodological issues (calibration, forecasting, validation,etc)
• Training in SDM software
• Applications of SDMs to a broad range of questions from global change biology to phylogeography

More information: http://macroecology.ku.dk/teaching/int_phd_course/

Workshop: Climate Adaptation, University of Helsinki 11-14 Sept 2011 - Registration will close soon

Workshop: ‘ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE FROM A SPATIAL PERSPECTIVE’
11-14 September 2011 at Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Finland

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE NEXT WEEK (JUNE 30TH)

Short description:
Advancing our understanding how organisms adapt to environmental variation lies at the core of ecology and evolutionary biology, and has become especially relevant in the light of current human-induced environmental change as a major threat to global biodiversity. When predicting species’ responses to climate change, including range shifts and adaptation, it is crucial to take into account spatial patterns of local adaptation and population dynamics at the regional and geographical scale.

We organize a conference (~60 participants) with a primary focus on adaptation to environmental variation, in particular climatic and thermal adaptation, from a spatial perspective at the regional and geographic level. We intend to bring together current high-quality research at multiple levels of investigation, including ecology, evolutionary genetics, physiology, theory and conservation. We aim to combine studies including a broad range of organisms, including plants, vertebrates and aquatic organisms, but with a main focus on ectotherms.

The conference will be organised around three main sessions:
• Latitudinal and altitudinal clinal variation
• Landscape/metapopulation  approaches to ecological and evolutionary dynamics
• Ecological and evolutionary dynamics at the range margins

Keynote speakers:
• Dr. Jon Bridle (University of Bristol, UK)
• Prof. Klaus Fischer (Greifswald University, Germany)
• Prof. Ilkka Hanski (University of Helsinki, Finland)
• Prof. Pär Ingvarsson (Umeå University, Sweden)
• Prof. Volker Loeschcke (Aarhus University, Denmark)
• Prof. Juha Merilä (University of Helsinki, Finland)
• Prof. Patricia Schulte (University of British Columbia, Canada)
• Prof. Chris Thomas (University of York, UK)

Organizers:
Maaike de Jong & Marjo Saastamoinen
Metapopulation Research Group, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki

For more information and online registration (registration deadline is June 30th 2011):
http://www.helsinki.fi/science/metapop/workshop/

PhD course - Modelling species distributions under climate change

Modelling species distributions under climate change

Organizer: David Nogués-Bravo: Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen.

Venue: Four floor, Universitetsparken 15, Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, Department of Biology, Copenhagen, DK-2100. Denmark

Supported by:
Faculty of Science of Copenhagen University, Department of Biology, Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate
Scientific content: Understanding species distributions is a core topic in ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation and global change biology and SDMs are a key tool for forecasting species distribution due to climate change. This PhD course will cover ecological and evolutionary theory on species distributions and species niches, methodological issues, training in SDM software, and applications of SDMs to a broad range of questions from global change to phylogeography. The course will encompass lectures, computer practical and seminars based on paper discussions. The students will read, before attending, a compendium with original research papers representing landmark studies. Each student will be required to prepare for the course by reading a specified background literature (~20 papers). During the course all students are expected to participate in paper discussions and practical, and to attend to the lectures. Full attendance of the entire PhD course, preparation through background reading, and pro-active participation in seminars and practical are required to obtain the 5 ECTS.

List of teachers:
Prof. Miguel Bastos Araújo, Museo Nacional Ciencias Naturales, CSIC.
http://www.ibiochange.mncn.csic.es/people/miguel-araujo

Dr. David Nogués-Bravo, University of Copenhagen,
http://macroecology.ku.dk/dk/people/

Dr. Katharine Ann Marske, University of Copenhagen,
http://macroecology.ku.dk/dk/people/

Participation: This international PhD course is open to PhD student. Applicants will be selected according to the relevancy of their PhD project and their achievements in the field so far. There will be room for a maximum of 15 students in the course, so strong competition for attendance is expected.

Registration: Email a brief description of your PhD research project and a1-page curriculum vitae (emphasizing your scientific experience and achievements) to David Nogués-Bravo, dnogues@bio.ku.dk. Dead-line July 1st 2011.
Fee: 2000 dkk. Course participants must pay for travel, accommodation and meals during the course. PhD students at the Faculty of Science of Copenhagen University do not need to pay the fee.