The Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change

is a research museum of the Leibniz Association

Discovering and Describing Diversity — From Deep-Sea to the Shore

Date: 
Mon, 12/07/2020 - 5:00pm
Meeting point: 
Lectures by Zoom Meetings. Links will be provided before talks
Event type: 
Lecture
Event series: 
Colloquium on evolution and biodiversity
Target group: 
Studierende
Lecturer: 
Ekin Tilic

Exploration of our oceans continues to reveal unknown animal species. On average 2000 new marine species are described each year. The discovery of new and curious organisms inhabiting the deep-sea might seem expected; however, the vast number of undescribed species are not limited to these remote habitats. In fact, we still keep finding new species in some of the most studied coastal environments.

As we face a critical environmental crisis that threatens the biodiversity of our planet, documenting and describing species diversity, that directly affects conservation efforts and policy making is more important than ever. I will be presenting the discoveries resulting from the past 2 years of research, including two deep-sea expeditions to hydrothermal vents at the Gulf of California, and methane seeps off Costa Rica. Beginning from the serendipitous moment of discovery, I aim to describe the meticulous process of naming and describing new species, that combines; next-gen sequencing, phylogenomics and advanced morphological techniques.  Some of these discoveries include, a bizarre parasitic isopod, a new species of enigmatic Xenoturbella, tiny yet beautiful sea daisies (Xyloplax spp.), several new polychaete species and more.

Contact person

Head of Section
+49 228 9122-241
+49 228 9122-295
h.waegele [at] leibniz-zfmk.de

Colloquium on biology

Prof. Dr. A. Blanke
Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Ecology
An der Immenburg 1, 53121 Bonn

 

Prof. Dr. A. Suh
Leibniz-Institut for the Analyses of Biodiversity Change, Museum Koenig Bonn
Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn

 

Place: Large Lecture Hall, Institute of Zoology, Poppelsdorfer Schloß or online via ZOOM

Time: mondays, 5:15 pm