Workshop on deep-sea invertebrate taxonomy standardization
With the aim of capacity building in deep-sea faunal systematics for the purpose of better marine
biodiversity resource management and environmental impact assessment, China Ocean Mineral
Resource Research and Development Association (COMRA) has taken initiatives to run deepsea invertebrate taxonomy standardization workshops. COMRA will organize its second
workshop in November 2015 (see information of workshop in attachment). The International
Seabed Authority (ISA) has been invited to act as co-sponsor for this upcoming workshop and
now calls for applications to be workshop participants from the ISA members. The
recommended participants must demonstrate a good track-record in deep-sea biodiversity
research/survey and be dedicated scientists who are willing to continue their work on deep-sea
taxonomy. Some background in systematics and invertebrate taxonomy will be a big asset.
All the applications must reach the ISA office by August 10, 2015. Each application shall
include a supporting letter from the ISA member, a CV, and contact details.
COMRA will assess the applications in coordination with the ISA. Skype interviews will be
conducted to check applicant’s scientific background and standard of English. Official
invitations will be sent to successful applicants (around 6) before the end of August. For each
participant, COMRA will cover the living expenses of participant during the workshop while the
ISA and ISA members will be responsible for international traveling expenses of their
participants.
Brief information on upcoming workshop
Site:
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay,
Hong Kong, HKSAR
Duration:
November 8 -21, 2015
Theme:
Deep-sea Mollusca and Arthropods: Taxonomy, Biology, Ecology,
Sampling Methods
Workshop Instructors:
Professor Greg Rouse, UCSD, USA;
Dr. Janet Voight, Field Museum of Natural History, USA;
Prof. Alan Jamieson, University of Aberdeen, UK
COMAR advanced training workshops on deep-sea benthos
2nd: workshop: Systematics (Mollusca and Crustacea) and Sampling Methods
Nov 9 to Nov 20, 2015, HKUST, HONG KONG
Instructors: Drs Greg Rouse, Alan Jamieson and Janet Voight
Nov 8
Welcome gathering, 6pm
Nov 9 (Monday)
9:00 -10:30
Instructor Greg Rouse
Introduction to workshop
Lecture 1
Introduction to systematics, tree-thinking, basic terminology. Parsimony, tree
searching, multiple equally parsimonious trees & consensus. Character coding.
10:45 -12:15 Lecture 2
Molecular sequence data. Alignment.
12:15- 14:00 Lunch
14:00- 17:30
Computer Exercises
Nov 10 (Tuesday)
9:00 - 10:30
Instructor Greg Rouse
Lecture 3
Alternatives to Parsimony: Distance methods, Models and Maximum Likelihood,
Bayesian
10:45 – 12:15 Lecture 4
Combining Data, Hypothesis testing
12:15 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 17:30 Computer Exercises
Molecular data 1. Basic Alignment and Parsimony Analysis. GenBank. Using
Clustal and MUSCLE in Mesquite.
Nov 11 (Wednesday) Instructor Greg Rouse
9:00 - 10:30
Lecture 5
Current Nomenclature; Biodiversity measurement; taxonomic surrogacy
10:45 – 12:15 Lecture 6
Historical biogeography, Phylogeography, Key innovations and diversification
rates, Fossils, molecular clocks and dating on trees
12:15 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 17:30 Computer Exercises
Species exercise. Taxonomy exercise; Linnean and Phylocode. Integrating
geography & DNA
Nov 12 (Thursday) Instructor Janet Voight
9:00 -10:30
Lecture 7
Mollusca 1 Bivalves?
10:45 -12:15 Lecture 8
Mollusca II Gastropods?
12:15- 14:00 Lunch
14:00- 17:30 Field trip to collect specimens from local habitats
Nov 13 (Friday)
9:00 -10:30
Instructor Janet Voight
Lecture 8
Mollusca III Cephalopods?
10:45 -12:15 Lecture 9
Mollusca IV Habitats and Patterns?
12:15- 14:00 Lunch
14:00- 17:30 Identification/Discussions
Nov 14 (Saturday)
9:00 -17:30
Trainees to work on group/individual mini-projects, molecular/ morphological
data. Course Leaders to come up with some deep-sea questions to be assessed in
the time frame available.
Nov 15 (Sunday)
9:00 -12:15 Trainee's group project
12:15- 14:00 Lunch
14:00- 17:30 Presentation and discussion of group mini-projects
18:00 – 21:00 Social gathering to Stanley market
Nov 16
Day off
Nov 17Instructors Greg Rouse/ Alan Jamieson
9:00 -10:30
Lecture 10
Crustacea (Greg)
Overview of Crustacea
10:45 -12:15 Lecture 11 Alan Jamieson
Deep Sea Amphipods
12:15- 14:00 Lunch
14:00- 17:30 Exercises/Discussions
Nov 18
9:00 - 10:30
Lecture 12: Alan Jamieson
Benthic megafauna in the abssyal/hadal zones…
10:45 – 12:15 Lecture 13: Alan Jamieson
Biolumiscence
12:15 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 17:30 Exercises/Discussions
Nov 19
9:00 - 10:30
Lecture 14: Alan Jamieson
Technology for biological research at depth I
10:45 – 12:15 Lecture 15: Alan Jamieson
Technology for biological research at depth II
12:15 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 20:30 Second field trip with dinner gathering
Nov 20
Wrap up workshop
9:00 – 12:00 Round-table discussion on future collaboration
12:00 - 15:00 Lunch
15:00 – 17:00 Concluding workshop
18:00 – 21:00 Closing gathering
Nov 21 Departure