BENTACS - BENthos TAxonomy CourseS
TAXONOMY OF MOLLUSCS
Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Naples
Italy, 09-13 June 2025
The Marine Organism Taxonomy (MOTax) core facility has launched a series of International Summer Schools (BENTACS - BENthos TAxonomy CourseS) focused on the taxonomy of the main groups of zoo-benthos from hard and soft-bottom communities in the Mediterranean Sea. The courses will target in particular researchers and technicians from scientific institutions and from national/regional environmental agencies interested in the study of benthos biodiversity and ecology. A combination of lectures and microscope sessions will provide participants with a general theoretical framework and practical experience.
The 3rd MOTax course will provide advanced training on the taxonomy and identification of molluscs. It will be held at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples on 09 – 13 June 2025. The course will be focused on selected families based on their ecological relevance, including species for which the taxonomic identification is particularly challenging.
Participants will be guided by expert taxonomists into the examination of preserved collections from different Mediterranean regions, as well as into the identification of their own samples. The course will offer an opportunity to discuss new challenges and perspectives into the fields of molluscs taxonomy and ecology.
Theoretical lessons
- ecological role of molluscs
- nomenclature, morphology, and glossary
- diagnostic characters of selected families/species living in the Mediterranean Sea
- molecular tools, species complexes, cryptic diversity, and phylogenies
- integrative taxonomy in the Mediterranean biota
Practical lessons
- microscope observation of selected families/species living in the Mediterranean Sea
Lecturers
Paolo Albano (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy)
Fabio Crocetta (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy)
Serge Gofas (University of Malaga, Spain and Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris)
Maria Vittoria Modica (Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy)
Luigi Romani (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris)
Carmen Salas (University of Malaga, Spain)
The course is open to 20 participants. Preference will be given to applicants with documented experience in taxonomy and identification of molluscs.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Applications: deadline 31 March
Participants will be notified by 15 April
Registration and payment are due by 30 April
Fee: 550 euro per person (coffee breaks, lunches, and social dinner included)
ORGANIZERS: Sarah Ciancimino, Fabio Crocetta, Paolo Fasciglione, Diana Sarno
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