Biodiversity Hotspots - Evolution and Conservation

26-28 March 2009, at the National Museum of Natural History

(Luxembourg)Conservation of hotspots (centres of high numbers of ecosystems, species and/or genes) biodiversity is one of the key objectives of nature protection in our days. The Biodiversity Hotspots - Evolution and Conservation meeting focuses on the development and status of areas with particularly high diversity which are in most cases not adequately protected. This situation is even more aggravated as a result of increasing human land use and climate changes. By this way, this meeting proves an excellent opportunity for scientists and stakeholders to discuss the development of biodiversity hotspots and strategies to protect these areas.

For further information visit the website:
http://www.symposium.lu/hotspots/default.aspx

International Conference on Polyploidy, Hybridization and Biodiversity

17-20 May 2009, Palais du Grand Large, Saint Malo, FRANCE

The International Conference on Polyploidy, Hybridization and Biodiversity aims at promoting knowledge exchanges and discussions on the latest developments concerning these major drivers of genome shaping and speciation. A wide range of topics such as consequences of polyploidy on biodiversity, hybrid and polyploid speciation, meiosis and fertility in polyploid species, genome evolution and structure, transposable elements and DNA methylation, epigenetics and gene regulation, heterosis, phenotypic variation... will be covered, providing insights on the mechanistic and evolution of many fundamental phenomena in biology. This understanding is critical for management and conservation of Biodiversity as well as for breeding programs as most important crop species are relatively recent polyploids.

For further information visit the website:
http://www.icphb2009.univ-rennes1.fr/index.php

VI Meeting of the group Ecology and Floral Evolution (ECOFLOR) in Santiago de Compostela

Official language: Spanish
VI reunión del grupo de trabajo ECOFLOR en Santiago de Compostela

La VI reunión del grupo de Ecología y Evolución Floral (ECOFLOR) se celebrará en Santiago de Compostela durante los días 5 y 6 de Febrero de 2009. Posiblemente, el 4 de Febrero se organizará un Taller sobre una técnica de interés en el ámbito de la Ecología y Evolución Floral, que aún está por definir. Para inscripción, propuestas de temas para talleres y charlas contactar Dr. Luis Navarro (lnavarro@uvigo.es).
El lugar de celebración será el Centro de Estudios Avanzados de la Universidad de Santiago, Galicia (Espanha).

Para más información acerca de las reuniones anteriores visite el website:
http://webs.uvigo.es/webecoflor/

Darwin in Seville 2009

Celebrating the bicentenary of Charles Darwin birthdate and the 150 anniversary of the "Origin"

Seville, 25-27 February 2009

This meeting intends to offers to the general public a series of seminars organized in several thematic sessions on evolutionary biology. Providing a high level of scientific knowledge, the organization aims to offer a wide and straightforward perspective on several themes, supplying the most recent advances and opinions on the coming pathways for widening the frontiers of evolutionary knowledge. Special attention will be payed to aspects such as the conservation of biodiversity or the evolutionary response to global change, for which the general public is more sensitive. This will be organized in a scientific and informal environment, to generate constructive discussions where the public can freely participate.

See the program here

2nd European Congress of Conservation Biology

Conservation biology and beyond: from science to practice
Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague
September 01–05, 2009 (webpage)

12th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology

The 12th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology will be held in Torino, Italy, August 24 – 29, 2009.

For further details visit the website at www.eseb2009.it!

Data analysis tools in Ecology

The course held be held in Coimbra, Portugal, at 16 to 27 February 2009
Coordinators: José Paulo Sousa and Rui Ribeiro

Aiming to provide updated statistical tools for data analysis in Ecology and Ecotoxicology, the course is composed by two independent modules targeted not only for scientists and research students (Ph.D and M.Sc), but also for persons involved in data management.

Module 1: The use of Generalized Linear Models (GLM) and Generalized Additive Models (GAM) in Ecology (16-20 February 2009)
Module 2: Multivariate statistical tools in Ecology and Ecotoxicology (23-27 February 2009)

For further details visit the website at http://www1.ci.uc.pt/imar/mvs_09/.

Estimating Species Trees: a Phylogenetic Paradigm for the 21st Century

Workshop at the University of Michigan, Jan 10-11, 2009
Co-organizers: L. Lacey Knowles, University of Michigan, and Laura S. Kubatko, Ohio State University

For more information visit the website http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/sptree.html or contact Dr. L. Lacey Knowles, knowlesl@umich.edu

Research Interests

Conservation of endemic and endangered plants
Plant reproductive biology
Plant-animal interactions (pollination and seed dispersal)
Evolutionary dynamics of diploid-polyploid plant groups

Education

Post-Doc research (2008- ), Project: "Evolutionary ecology of polyploids: understanding species coexistence at the contact zones"
Supervisor: Zuzana Münzbergová
Department of Botany, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic
Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

PhD thesis (2003-2007): "Reproductive biology and conservation of the endemic Polygala vayredae"
Supervisors: Luis Navarro and Paulo Silveira
Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Department of Plant Biology and Soil Science, University of Vigo, Spain

Graduation on Biology (1997-2002), Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Portugal

Publications

Peer reviewed journals

S. Castro, V. Ferrero, J. Loureiro, X. Espadaler, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2009. Dispersal mechanisms of the narrow endemic Polygala vayredae: dispersal syndromes and spatio-temporal variations in ant dispersal assemblages. Plant Ecology DOI 10.1007/s11258-009-9679-z.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro, J. Paiva, L. Navarro. 2009. Pollen morphology of Chamaebuxus (DC.) Schb., Chodatia Paiva and Rhinotropis (Blake) Paiva (Polygala L., Polygalaceae). Grana 48:179-192.

S. Castro, S. Silva, I. Stanescu, P. Silveira, L. Navarro, C. Santos. 2009. Pistil anatomy and pollen tube development in Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae). Plant Biology 11:405-416.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2009. Floral traits variation, legitimate pollination, and nectar robbing in Polygala vayredae (Polygalaceae). Ecological Research 24:47-55.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2008. Effect of pollination on floral longevity and costs of delaying fertilization in the out-crossing Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae). Annals of Botany 102:1043-1048.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2008. Consequences of nectar robbing in the fitness of a threatened plant species. Plant Ecology 199:201-208.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2008. How does secondary pollen presentation affect the fitness of Polygala vayredae (Polygalaceae)? American Journal of Botany 95: 706–712.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2008. How flower biology and breeding system affect the reproductive success of the narrow endemic Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157: 67–81.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, A. P. Coutinho, J. Paiva. 2007. Heterosamara sect. Villososperma comb. nov. (Polygalaceae) from eastern Asia. Nordic Journal of Botany. 25: 286-293.

S. Castro, J. Loureiro, E. Rodriguez, P. Silveira, L. Navarro, C. Santos. 2007. Evaluation of polysomaty and estimation of genome size in Polygala vayredae and P. calcarea using flow cytometry. Plant Science 172: 1131-1137.

J. Loureiro, D. Kopecký, S. Castro, C. Santos, P. Silveira. 2007. Flow cytometric and cytogenetic analysis of Iberian Peninsula fescues. Plant Systematics and Evolution 269: 89-105.

S. Castro, J. Loureiro, C. Santos, M. Ater, G. Ayeñsa L. Navarro. 2007. Distribution of flower morphs, ploidy level and sexual reproduction of invasive weed Oxalis pes-caprae in the western area of the Mediterranean Region. Annals of Botany 99: 507-517.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, A. P. Coutinho, E. Figueiredo. 2005. Systematic studies in Tylosema (Schweinf.) Torre & Hillc. (Leguminosae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 147: 99-116.

G. Pinto, H. Valentim, A. Costa, S. Castro, C. Santos. 2002. Somatic embryogenesis in leaf callus from a mature Quercus suber L. tree. In Vitro Cellular & Development Biology-Plant 38: 569-572.

Non-indexed journalss

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2008. Biologia de Polygala vayredae Costa. Lithodora - Novetats botàniques de la Garrotxa. Institució Catalana D’Història Natural 1:11

S. Castro, X. Oliver, L. Navarro. 2008. Coneguem el patrimoni: Polygala vayredae Costa. Butlletí de la Alta Garrotxa 9:9-11.

S. Castro. 2009. Biología reproductiva y conservación del endemismo Polygala vayredae. Ecossistemas 18(1).

Plant species

Under construction.


Endemic and endangered species:
Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae)
Dracocephalum austriacum L. (Lamiaceae)

Diploid-Polyploid complexes:
Aster amellus aggr. (Asteraceae)
Gymnadenia conopsea complex (Orchidaceae)

Invasive species:
Oxalis pes-caprae L. (Oxalidaceae)

Communications

Oral communications

S. Castro, Z. Münzbergová, L. Navarro, P. Trávnícek, J. Suda, J. Loureiro. 2009. Applications of flow cytometry in plant population biology and ecology. 19th Annual Conference of the German Society of Cytometry, Leipzig, Alemanha, 14-16 Outubro.

J. Loureiro, S. Castro, J. Doležel, E. Rodriguez, C. Santos, J. Suda. 2009. Web based platforms for the flow cytometry community. 19th Annual Conference of the German Society of Cytometry, Leipzig, Alemanha, 14-16 Outubro.

P. Trávnícek, J. Suda, B. Kubátová, J. Rauchová, S. Castro, J. Jersáková, J. Loureiro, V. Curn. 2009. Cytometry of Gymnadenia conopsea agg. (Orchidaceae): mysterious outputs and their benefits for tracing of microevolutionary processes. Česká společnost pro analytickou cytologii (CSAC – Analytická cytometrie V), Olomouc, República Checa, 5 a 8 de Setembro.

Z. Münzbergová, S. Castro, J. Raabová, J. Loureiro. 2009. Polyploid coexistence at the contact zone – Can we explain the absence of an intermediate cytotype? Polyploidization, plant fitness and trophic interactions, Friburgo, Suiça, 7 e 8 de Setembro.

S. Castro, S. van der Meer, T. Dostálek, G. Oostermeijer, Z. Münzbergová. 2009. Pollination ecology of the endangered Dracocephalum austriacum L. Conservation biology and beyond: from science to practice, Praga, Républica Checa, 1-5 Setembro.

S. Nora, E. Rodriguez, S. Castro, J. Loureiro, C. Santos, P. Silveira. 2009. Cariosistemática do género Calendula L. (Asteraceae) na Península Ibérica. VIII Simpósio de Pós-Graduação do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal, 28 e 29 de Abril.

S. Castro, P. Trávnícek, J. Loureiro, J. Suda, J. Jersaková. 2009. What maintains the cytotype coexistence in Gymnadenia conopsea? Insights on breeding barriers. Reunião do grupo de trabalho ECOFLOR, pertencente à Associação de Ecologia Terrestre (AEET) de Espanha. Santiago de Compostela, 5 e 6 de Fevereiro.

S. Castro, J. Loureiro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2008. Pollination ecology of the narrow endemic Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae). Plant Population Biology for the coming decade, 1-3 May, Luxemborg.

L. Navarro, S. Castro, V. Ferrero, J.M. Sánchez, G. Ayensa. 2007. Aportaciones de la biología reproductiva al manejo de especies amenazadas. III Congreso de Biología de la Conservación de Plantas, Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain, 25-28 September.

J. Loureiro, E. Rodriguez, S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro, C. Santos. 2007. Application of flow cytometry to ecology and biosystematics. Meeting of ECOFLOR, group integrated in the Association of Terrestrial Ecology of Spain (AEET). Spain, Granada, 1-2 February.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2007. Polygala vayredae, planta endémica de la Garrotxa. Instituició Catalana d’Història Natural – Delegaciò de la Garrotxa. Spain, Olot, 4 May.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro. 2007. Interacções planta-animal: ecologia da polinização. Workshop do XI Encontro Nacional de Estudantes de Biologia, Aveiro, 30 Mars to 2 April.

S. Castro, L. Loureiro, C. Santos, M. Ater, G. Ayensa, L. Navarro. 2006. Sexual reproduction studies in the invasive weed Oxalis pes-caprae in the western area of the Mediterranean Region. Symposium “An Evolutionary Perspective of Biological Invasions” of the Fribourg Ecology and Evolution Days 2006. Fribourg, 2-3 October.

S. Castro, L. Navarro. 2005. Presentación secundaria de polen: que ventajes tiene? Ejemplo de estudio en Polygala vayredae. III Meeting of ECOFLOR, group integrated in the Association of Terrestrial Ecology of Spain (AEET). Spain, Madrid, 8-9 February.


Poster communications

S. Castro, J. Loureiro, A. J. Sousa, E. Rodriguez, C. Santos, G. Ayensa, L. Navarro. Sexual reproduction of the invasive polyploid Oxalis pes-caprae in the Mediterranean region. International Conference on Polyploidy, Hybridization and Biodiversity, Saint-Malo, França, 17-20 Maio.

S. Castro, J. Raabová, J. Loureiro, J. Fehrer, Z. Munzbergová. 2009. Origin, distribution and co-existence of cytotypes in the polyploid Aster amellus complex. International Conference on Polyploidy, Hybridization and Biodiversity, Saint-Malo, França, 17-20 Maio.

S. Castro, P. Trávnicek, J. Rauchová, J. Loureiro, B. Kubátová, V. Curn, J. Suda, J. Jersáková. 2009. What maintains the cytotype coexistence in Gymnadenia conopsea? Insights on breeding barriers. International Conference on Polyploidy, Hybridization and Biodiversity, Saint-Malo, França, 17-20 Maio.

S. Nora, E. Rodriguez, S. Castro, J. Loureiro, C. Santos, P. Silveira. 2009. Karyosystematics of Calendula L. (ASTERACEAE) in the Iberian Peninsula. 1st Meeting of Biosyst EU 2009, Leiden, Holanda, 10-14 Agosto.

S. Castro, J. Raabová, J. Loureiro, Z. Munzbergová. 2009. Breeding barriers between cytotypes maintain a secondary contact zone in the polyploid Aster amellus. 12th Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, Turim, Itália, 24-29 Agosto.

S. Castro, J. Loureiro, A.J. Sousa, E. Rodriguez, C. Santos, G. Ayensa, L. Navarro. 2009. Is the heterostylous Oxalis pes-caprae able to reproduce sexually in the invasive range? World conference on Biological Invasions and Ecosystem Functioning, Porto, Portugal, 27-30 Outobro.

S. Castro, Z. Münzbergová. 2008. Distribution patterns of different ploidy levels within Aster amellus agg. and their interactions at the contact zone. Plant Population Biology for the coming decade, 1-3 May 2008, Luxemborg. Awarded as best poster communication.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro, A. P. Coutinho. 2007. The contribution of pollen morphology for phylogenetic inference on three related subgenus of Polygala L. (Polygalaceae). INCOMAM 07, Coimbra 6-7 December 2007

S. Castro, P. Silveira, J. Paiva, X. Espadaler, L. Navarro. 2006. Mecanismos de dispersão de Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae): dois sindromas de dispersão numa espécie endémica de reduzida área de distribuição. II Congresso Ibérico de Ecologia. Portugal, Lisboa, 17-21 July. Awarded as best poster communication.

V. Ferrero, S. Castro, J. Arroyo, L. Navarro. 2006. Estúdios preliminares sobre la biologia de Lithodora oleifolia (Lapeyr.) Griseb. (Boraginaceae). II Congresso Ibérico de Ecologia. Portugal, Lisboa, 17-21 July.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, L. Navarro, J. Paiva. 2006. The biology of Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae): preliminary data. I Encontro Nacional de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas & V Simpósio de Pós-Graduação do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade de Aveiro. Portugal, Aveiro, 2-4 May.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, J. Paiva, L. Navarro. 2005. First approach to the biology of Polygala vayredae Costa (Polygalaceae), an endemic plant from Oriental pre-Pyrenees. XVII International Botanical Congress. Austria, Viena, 17-23 July.

S. Castro, J. Loureiro, C. Santos, G. Ayensa, L. Navarro. 2005. Different ploidy levels could explain reproductive matter of invasive Oxalis pes-caprae L. in Mediterranean Regions. International Workshop on Invasive Plants in the Mediterranean Type Regions of the World. Montpellier, France, 25-27 May.

A. P. Coutinho, S. Castro, P. Silveira, E. Figueiredo. 2003. Estudo palinológico do género Tylosema (Schweinf.) Torre & Hillc. XXXVIII Reunião Anual da Sociedade Portuguesa de Microscopia Electrónica e Biologia Celular. Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, 5-7 December.

P. Silveira, S. Castro, L. Lopes, R. Pinho. 2003. Conservação e Educação Ambiental na Serra do Açor. 8º Encontro Nacional de Ecologia. Universidade de Évora, 30 October to 1 November.

S. Castro, P. Silveira, C. Santos, S. Castoveijo. 2003. Biologia e Ecologia do Género Calendula L. - Perspectiva Evolutiva. 2º Simpósio de Pós-Graduação em Biociências. Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, 13-14 May.

R. Pinho, V. Gomes, S. Castro, J. Loureiro, G. Pinto, C. Santos, A. Costa, F. Leão. 2002. Flora Macaronésica: Estudo taxonómico de alguns endemismos e respectiva análise do grão de pólen através de SEM. XXXVII Reunião Anual da Sociedade Portuguesa de Microscopia Electrónica e Biologia Celular. Universidade da Madeira, Funchal, 13-14 December.

G. Pinto, V. Gomes, S. Castro, J. Loureiro, C. Santos, A. Costa. 2002. Estudo da morfologia de embriões somáticos de Quercus suber L. por microscopia electrónica de varrimento. XXXVII Reunião Anual da Sociedade Portuguesa de Microscopia Electrónica e Biologia Celular. Universidade da Madeira, Funchal, 13-14 December.