WEES

Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminars

[weeswageningen]

We would like to invite you to attend March’s Wageningen Evolution & Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop!

The seminar will take place on Thursday, 12 March 2026, 16:00–17:00 in Orion, C1040. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign up with Beatriz Taboada - [email protected]).

The associated workshop will be from 14.00-15.30 in B8045, Orion. The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the seminar’s speaker and have a discussion about a hot topic in science. Furthermore, BSc and MSc students can get 1 ECTS for attending 2 workshops. Registration is required for this workshop and you can sign up by emailing Beatriz Taboada ([email protected]).

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar:Molecular evolution in a defensive symbiosis

(12 March 2026, 16:00–17:00, Orion C1040)

Dr. Aileen Berasategui

Group Leader, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK

Many insects rely on microbial protection early in development, yet the role of microbes in safeguarding pupae remains understudied. Here, we describe a mutualistic relationship between the fungus Fusarium oxysporum and the leaf beetle Chelymorpha alternans. The symbiont rapidly proliferates during pupation, forming a conspicuous coating that protects the beetle against predation. Eliminating the fungus reduces pupal survival, highlighting its defensive role. In return, emerging beetles disperse Fusarium to host plants, where it retains its phytopathogenic traits, causing wilt disease. Despite harboring a reduced genome, Fusarium maintains key metabolic pathways for both plant colonization and insect defense, including virulence factors and mycotoxins. Comparative genomics of nine symbiont strains from Cassidinae beetles revealed high functional conservation relative to non-insect-associated Fusarium lineages. Defensive symbionts evolved smaller genomes with fewer protein-coding and tRNA genes, as well as fewer repeats, underscoring the link between genome reduction and symbiosis. Our findings shed light on a mutualism predicated on pupal protection of an herbivorous beetle in exchange for symbiont dissemination.

Workshop:

Cross-kingdom symbionts

(12 March 2026, 14:00–15:30, Orion B8045)

In this interactive masterclass, Dr. Berasategui will briefly share her scientific journey, how she arrived at her research questions, how they have evolved over time, and how unexpected results, conceptual challenges, and practical constraints have shaped the direction of her work. She will also share what questions now drive her research. The session will not be a formal lecture, but a discussion. Using a few open and unresolved questions in the field as starting points, we will explore broader conceptual and methodological challenges together. Participants are encouraged to actively engage, question assumptions, and connect the themes to their own research interests. Registration is required for the Masterclass as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED, and you can sign up by emailing Beatriz Taboada ([email protected]).

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, VLAG and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range of topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information, please visit www.tumblr.com/weeswageningen  and follow us on X @weeswageningen linkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen

[weeswageningen]

WEES June 2026 Anna Muszewska on Fungal Evolution

[weeswageningen]

WEES May 2026 Tamara Pokorny Insect Chemical Communication

We would like to invite you to attend May's Wageningen Evolution & Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop!

The seminar will take place on Wednesday 20th of May 2026, 16:00–17:00 in Orion B1032, . This will be followed by free drinks at The Spot to speak further with the speaker.

The associated workshop will be at 14.00 in B1032, Orion. The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the seminar’s speaker and have a discussion about a hot topic in science. Furthermore, BSc and MSc students can get 1 ECTS for attending 2 workshops. Registration is required for this workshop and you can sign up by emailing Kelley Leung ([email protected])

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar:

Chemical ecology of mate recognition: Signal distinction and variation

(Wednesday 20th May 2026, 16:00–17:00, Orion B1032)

Dr. Tamara Pokorny, Institute for Zoology, Regensburg University, Germany

Finding and acquiring a mate may be one of the most vital communicative functions. Many insects rely on chemical signals and cues in this context. Signal distinction is usually based on the composition of compounds and/or their ratios, which differ between species, and can furthermore be enhanced by temporal or spatial separation. The talk will explore some examples of the chemical sexual communication in insects, and the impact of intraspecific (within-species) variability in such signals.

Workshop:

Practical introduction to insect chemical ecology

(20 Wednesday May 2026, 14:00–15:00, Orion B1032)

In this workshop, I will give an introduction into chemical ecology methods. Participants will learn the principles of chemical analysis, and how to identify some exemplary compounds. This includes using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) to infer major communication signals from insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs), the basis of many insect interactions.

Registration is required for the Workshop, and you can sign up by emailing Kelley Leung ([email protected]).

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, VLAG and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range of topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information, please visit www.tumblr.com/weeswageningen  and follow us on X @weeswageningen linkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen

[weeswageningen]

WEES Seminar April 2026

We would like to invite you to attend April’s Wageningen Evolution & Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop!

The seminar will take place on Tuesday, 14th of April 2026, 16:00–17:00 in Orion, C2030. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign up with Niek Palmen- [email protected]).

The associated workshop will be at 14.00 in B4015, Orion. The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the seminar’s speaker and have a discussion about a hot topic in science. Furthermore, BSc and MSc students can get 1 ECTS for attending 2 workshops. Registration is required for this workshop and you can sign up by emailing Niek Palmen ([email protected]).

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar:

Coexistence or displacement? Competition between two co-occurring parasitoid wasps

(14 April 2026, 16:00–17:00, Orion C2030)

Prof. Paul Ode

Professor of Plant-Insect Ecology, Colorado State University, USA

Even within ‘simple’ trophic systems, interactions among species in novel habitats can differ substantially from native ones. This talk explores the consequences of interspecific competition between two species of Cotesia parasitoids that largely use the same host species (Pieris rapae) in North America (where this system has been introduced) unlike their native Europe. I explore the behavioral, ecological, and physiological factors that determine how these two competing parasitoid species competitively exclude one another in some locations or coexist in others. 

Workshop:

Navigating the peer-review process

(14 April 2026, 14:00, Orion B4015)

In this workshop, participants will be introduced to how to navigate the peer-review process, both as an author and as a reviewer. I will also share resources from several peer-review resources from journals and publishers. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a manuscript can help early career scientists (students, postdocs) improve their own writing. 

Registration is required for the Workshop as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED, and you can sign up by emailing Niek Palmen ([email protected]).

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, VLAG and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range of topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information, please visit www.tumblr.com/weeswageningen  and follow us on X @weeswageningen linkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen

Kind Regards,

Niek Palmen

On behalf of the WEES Committee

Website: weeswageningen.nl

X / BlueSky: @weeswageningen

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen/

[weeswageningen]

We would like to invite you to attend March’s Wageningen Evolution & Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop!

The seminar will take place on Thursday, 12 March 2026, 16:00–17:00 in Orion, C1040. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign up with Beatriz Taboada - [email protected]).

The associated workshop will be from 14.00-15.30 in B8045, Orion. The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the seminar’s speaker and have a discussion about a hot topic in science. Furthermore, BSc and MSc students can get 1 ECTS for attending 2 workshops. Registration is required for this workshop and you can sign up by emailing Beatriz Taboada ([email protected]).

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar:Molecular evolution in a defensive symbiosis

(12 March 2026, 16:00–17:00, Orion C1040)

Dr. Aileen Berasategui

Group Leader, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Norwich, UK

Many insects rely on microbial protection early in development, yet the role of microbes in safeguarding pupae remains understudied. Here, we describe a mutualistic relationship between the fungus Fusarium oxysporum and the leaf beetle Chelymorpha alternans. The symbiont rapidly proliferates during pupation, forming a conspicuous coating that protects the beetle against predation. Eliminating the fungus reduces pupal survival, highlighting its defensive role. In return, emerging beetles disperse Fusarium to host plants, where it retains its phytopathogenic traits, causing wilt disease. Despite harboring a reduced genome, Fusarium maintains key metabolic pathways for both plant colonization and insect defense, including virulence factors and mycotoxins. Comparative genomics of nine symbiont strains from Cassidinae beetles revealed high functional conservation relative to non-insect-associated Fusarium lineages. Defensive symbionts evolved smaller genomes with fewer protein-coding and tRNA genes, as well as fewer repeats, underscoring the link between genome reduction and symbiosis. Our findings shed light on a mutualism predicated on pupal protection of an herbivorous beetle in exchange for symbiont dissemination.

Workshop:

Cross-kingdom symbionts

(12 March 2026, 14:00–15:30, Orion B8045)

In this interactive masterclass, Dr. Berasategui will briefly share her scientific journey, how she arrived at her research questions, how they have evolved over time, and how unexpected results, conceptual challenges, and practical constraints have shaped the direction of her work. She will also share what questions now drive her research. The session will not be a formal lecture, but a discussion. Using a few open and unresolved questions in the field as starting points, we will explore broader conceptual and methodological challenges together. Participants are encouraged to actively engage, question assumptions, and connect the themes to their own research interests. Registration is required for the Masterclass as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED, and you can sign up by emailing Beatriz Taboada ([email protected]).

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, VLAG and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range of topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information, please visit www.tumblr.com/weeswageningen  and follow us on X @weeswageningen linkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen

[weeswageningen]

A reminder of today's workshop and seminar!

[weeswageningen]

WEES seminar: Enikő Csata

Dear All,

We would like to invite you to attend an upcoming Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES)seminar and workshop, held in person. 

The seminar will take place on Thursday, 19 February 2026, 16:00–17:00 in Orion, C2050. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign up with Jimmie - [email protected]).

Earlier that afternoon, Dr. Csata will also give a workshop from 14:00–15:30 in Orion, C2035.

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar: Social Cohesion Under Challenge: Ant Responses to Parasitic Fungi

(19 February 2026, 16:00–17:00, Orion C2050)

Dr. Enikő Csata

Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse III), France

Pathogens and parasites are powerful models for studying coevolution, as their evolutionary trajectories are tightly linked yet shaped by conflicting selective pressures. In social species such as ants, parasitic exploitation becomes particularly complex: parasites effectively face two hosts—the infected individual and its colony—creating selective pressures that operate at both individual and collective levels. Ants host a remarkable diversity of parasites, some of which alter host life history, physiology, and behaviour with consequences that scale from individuals to entire colonies. While a few ant parasites have become iconic for their striking ability to manipulate hosts, the ecology and evolutionary significance of less conspicuous pathogens—particularly microscopic fungi—remain understudied despite their ubiquity. 

In this seminar, Dr. Csata will present work on the coevolutionary conflict between fungal parasites and ant colonies, examining fungal infection strategies, their effects on host behaviour, and how colonies deploy collective defences such as social immunity and self-medication to counter these threats and maintain social cohesion.

Workshop:

Beyond the Obvious: Cryptic Interactions from Mutualism to Parasitism

(19 February 2026, 14:00–15:30, Orion C2035)

In this workshop, Dr. Csata will share her experience studying cryptic fungal parasites of ants, focusing on the challenges of detecting these interactions and understanding their impacts on host behaviour and colony dynamics. The session will continue with an interactive discussion where participants can share their work on any interaction across the mutualism-parasitism spectrum. Whether you study microbiomes, mycorrhizae, endophytes, parasitoids, or pathogens in any system, we'll discuss methodological challenges, exchange approaches for studying "invisible" organisms, and explore how these cryptic players shape ecology and evolution. Registration is required for the Masterclass as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED, and you can sign up by emailing Jimmie ([email protected]).

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, WIMEK and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range of topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information, please visit www.tumblr.com/weeswageningen  and follow us on X @weeswageningen linkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen

[weeswageningen]

WEES seminar Dr. Gregory Velicer

Dear All,

We would like to invite you to attend 2026’s First seminar of Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Masterclass in-person!

The Seminar will take place on Tuesday 13th January, 16:00-17:00 in Orion, C3033. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign-up with Suraj – [email protected]).

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar: “Red in tooth and claw” writ small: Evolutionary studies of microbial predation

(13 January, 16:00-17:00 in Orion, C3033)

Dr. Gregory Velicer

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Predation originated among microbes, which have evolved a remarkable array of strategies for killing and consuming other microbes. While many new microbial predators continue to be discovered, direct experimental study of the causes and consequences of predator-prey (co)evolution remains limited. Featuring the generalist bacterial predator Myxococcus xanthus, several evolution experiments examining how this predator evolves in controlled ecological contexts will be explored.

The associated Masterclass will be from 10:30-12:30. The masterclass provides a platform for insightful discussions and knowledge sharing. Dr. Gregory Velicer will have an informal presentation, about his personal journey from PhD to team leadership and words of wisdom for students. Followed by a dynamic session where 4 PhD’s/Post-doc’s will have an opportunity to present and or have a discussion with the speaker. Registration is required for the Masterclass as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED and you can sign up by emailing Suraj ([email protected]).

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, WIMEK and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information please visit www.tumblr.com/weeswageningen  and follow us on X @weeswageningen linkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen

[weeswageningen]

WEES December seminar: Sara Mitri

Dear all, 

We would like to invite you to December series of Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminars(WEES). 

The Seminar will be presented by Dr. Sara Mitri, titled: The ecology and evolution of small bacterial communities. The seminar will take place on Thursday, 4th of December, from 16:00 - 17:00 in Orion, C2005 - C2006. This will be followed by drinks at The Bongerd. 

The associated Workshop will be held earlier in the day, from 11:30 - 12:30 in Helix 6038. The workshop is on "Following the questions: Transitioning from evolutionary robots to microbial communities."  Registration is required for this workshop, and you can sign up by emailing Bhavya Sree Vadlamudi ([email protected]).  

*Bonus: There is also a dynamic session after the workshop where 2 - 3 PhD’s/Post-doc’s will have an opportunity to present their work related to “microbial community ecology & evolution”. The presentations can be 10 minutes each, followed by a 5-minute interactive discussion involving the presenting students and the audience. This includes PI's who are interested to be part of the discussion. Registration is required for the workshop as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED and you can sign up by emailing at [email protected].

Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

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Seminar: The ecology and evolution of small bacterial communities 

Thursday, December 4th, 2025, 16:00 - 17:00, Orion C2005 - C2006

Dr. Sara Mitri

Assistant Professor in Fundamental microbiology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Understanding how microbial communities in natural ecosystems assemble and evolve is crucial, as these communities greatly affect us and our environment. But since studying eco-evolutionary dynamics in natural systems is extremely challenging, in my lab we use small bacterial communities as model systems. I will give an overview of the work in our lab. I will first talk about how four species of bacteria interact to degrade pollutants in industrial waste waters, how these interactions are shaped by and shape the environment in feedback loops over short and evolutionary timescales, and how we can use the principles of group selection to breed new communities from scratch for more efficient bioremediation. I will then present more recent work that generalises on these findings to see whether we can predict and control ecological and evolutionary dynamics in other contexts as well.

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Workshop: Following the questions: How curiosity led me from evolutionary robots to microbial communities

Thursday, December 4th, 2025, 11:30 - 12:30, Helix 6038

Changing research domains can feel uncertain and technically challenging, yet it can also open new conceptual frameworks and research opportunities. In this workshop, Dr. Sara Mitri discusses her transition from evolutionary robotics to microbial community evolution, reflecting on how principles from artificial systems informed her understanding of biological complexity. She will share practical insights on navigating disciplinary boundaries, acquiring new methodological skill sets, reframing expertise, and integrating computational and experimental thinking. This session is intended to provide early-career researchers with a realistic and evidence-informed perspective on scientific mobility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and building a coherent research identity across fields.

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About WEES

WEES is an initiative from PhD students & postdocs at Wageningen University & Research. 

We organise a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by the graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, and WIAS.

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings.

For more information please visit www.weeswageningen.nl and follow us on X @weeswageningen. 

[weeswageningen]

WEES October 2025 - Prof. Cynthia Downs

Dear All,

With this email, we'd like to invite you to October’s Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) event! 

The Seminar will be presented by Professor Cynthia Downs, titled: Immunology through a comparative lens: exploring interspecific variation. The seminar will take place on Thursday, 30th of October, from 16:00 - 17:00 in Orion, C1005. This will be followed by drinks at De Bongerd and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign up with Andries  – [email protected]).

The associated Workshop will be held earlier in the day, from 14:00 -  15:00 in Orion B3016. The workshop by Prof. Downs is titled: Building collaborations and managing collaborative datasets.  Registration is required for this workshop, and you can sign up by emailing Andries ([email protected]).

Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

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Seminar: Immunology through a comparative lens: exploring interspecific variation

Thursday, October 30th, 2025, 16:00 - 17:00, Orion C1005

Prof. Cynthia Downs

Associate Professor of Animal Physiology,

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Species variation in host competence—the ability of a host to encounter and transmit a disease agent to another host or a vector—is a key factor influencing disease dynamics within host communities. The immune system, in particular, plays a critical role in determining host competence, as it contributes to defenses and determines a host’s susceptibility and suitability to a pathogen. Allometries—how a trait changes in relation to body size—provide a promising framework for making interspecific predictions about immune defenses and disease dynamics. The Safety Factor Hypothesis posits that large animals should have disproportionately stronger immune defenses due to their disproportionately greater risk of exposure to infectious organisms and disproportionately slower ability to keep pace with pathogen replication. Data on granulocyte concentrations in hundreds of bird and mammal species demonstrate hypermetric scaling, supporting the safety factor hypothesis. In contrast, data on the functional antibacterial capacity of complement in scores of bird and mammal species indicate that large and small hosts have proportional protection. Additionally, data on the regulatory architecture of innate immune responses in blood to simulated bacterial infections from nine species of primates revealed that the transcriptional response to infection was more dramatic in large species, with large primates disproportionately prioritizing innate immune gene expression over non-immune genes during infection compared to small primates. After an LPS challenge, large species exhibited disproportionately upregulated gene expression of genes with constitutive expression that were disproportionately lower, indicating compensatory changes and supporting the Safety Factor Hypothesis. Overall, results indicate that body size impacts the regulation of immune responses to bacterial infections. By extension, body size has consequences on host competence and disease dynamics, and integrating allometries of immune defenses into allometric models of competence and epidemiological models will enhance the prediction of subsequent implications for disease dynamics.

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Workshop: Building collaborations and managing collaborative datasets.

Thursday, October 30th, 2025, 14:00 - 15:00, Orion B3016

Much of ecological research is conducted by large collaborative teams comprising scientists with diverse fields of expertise. Similarly, much of the most exciting science occurs when researchers collaborate across disciplinary boundaries to merge insights from multiple disciplines. But how do you develop these relationships? And how do you manage the large, shared data set arising from these collaborations? In this workshop, we will discuss strategies for building and maintaining collaborative relationships, as well as managing large datasets. Although these topics may seem unrelated, effective data management facilitates productive, successful, and harmonious collaborations. The workshop will include some informal presentations using examples from my research to spark discussion. To help facilitate discussion, I will also provide two short readings in advance.

——————————————————————————

About WEES

WEES is an initiative from PhD students & postdocs at Wageningen University & Research. 

We organise a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by the graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, and WIAS.

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings.

For more information, please visit www.weeswageningen.nl and follow us on X @weeswageningen

[weeswageningen]

Dear All,

We would like to invite you to attend September’s Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Masterclass in-person!

The Seminar will take place on Thursday 11th September, 16:00-17:00 in Orion, C2035. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign-up with Suraj – [email protected]).

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar: “Red in tooth and claw” writ small: Evolutionary studies of microbial predation

(11 September, 16:00-17:00 in Orion, C2035)

Dr. Gregory Velicer

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Predation originated among microbes, which have evolved a remarkable array of strategies for killing and consuming other microbes. While many new microbial predators continue to be discovered, direct experimental study of the causes and consequences of predator-prey (co)evolution remains limited. Featuring the generalist bacterial predator Myxococcus xanthus, several evolution experiments examining how this predator evolves in controlled ecological contexts will be explored.

The associated Masterclass will be from 10:30-12:30. The masterclass provides a platform for insightful discussions and knowledge sharing. Dr. Gregory Velicer will have an informal presentation, about his personal journey from PhD to team leadership and words of wisdom for PhD’s. Followed by a dynamic session where 4-5 PhD’s/Post-doc’s will have an opportunity to present and or have a discussion with the speaker. Registration is required for the Masterclass as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED and you can sign up by emailing Suraj ([email protected]).

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, WIMEK and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information please visit www.tumblr.com/weeswageningen  and follow us on X @weeswageningen linkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/wees-wageningen

[weeswageningen]

Dear all,

We would like to invite you to attend June’s Wageningen Evolution & Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop!

The seminar will take place on Friday 20th June, 16.00-17.00 in C1005, Orion. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and the opportunity to have dinner (at your own expense) with the speaker. Sign up for dinner with Ruth Fawthrop ([email protected]).

The associated workshop will be from 14.00-15.30 in C1040, Orion. The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the seminar’s speaker and have a discussion about a hot topic in science. Furthermore, BSc and MSc students can get 1 ECTS for attending 2 workshops. Registration is required for this workshop and you can sign up by emailing Ruth Fawthrop ([email protected]).

This will be a great event so please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

___________________________________________________________________________

Seminar: From wolves to dogs: tracking molecular and phenotypic change in the Anthropocene (16.00h in C1005, Orion)

Dr. Lauren Hennelly

Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Research Associate, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, USA

Advances in genomic technologies are revolutionizing our ability to study how genetic and phenotypic variation arises and is influenced by human-altered environments. In this seminar, I will share my research on how evolutionary processes shape genetic variation at different scales, from species to specific genes, using gray wolves and domestic dogs as a model system. First, I trace the history of divergence and hybridization in wolf populations across Eurasia, revealing how a widespread species is shaped by past and anthropogenic changes. Second, using my work on Indian wolves, I illustrate how genomic data informs the conservation of this endangered lineage. Lastly, I explore how complex phenotypes can change in response to human-induced selection using domestic species as a model. I focus on the genetic basis of a striking phenotypic difference between dogs and wolves: the loss of reproductive seasonality in dogs. Using a pangenome approach and over 3,000 canid genomes, I show nearly all dogs possess a structural variant within a key gene related to reproductive seasonality. Ancient genomes demonstrate this change occurred early in dog domestication and likely originated in wolves from western Eurasia. I will discuss future work to explore how genetic and phenotypic variation is shaped by our changing world using a multidisciplinary approach. 

Workshop: Genomics and conservation: translating findings to inform conservation (14.00h in C1040, Orion)

In this workshop, we will discuss ways, challenges, and ideas on how our research can better translate to conservation efforts. We will discuss two perspective pieces that highlight the possibilities and limitations of how genomic information can inform conservation status and extinction risks (Kardos et al. 2021, Teixeira and Huber 2021). We will also discuss the implementation gap of generating genomic resources and applying it to biodiversity conservation, as highlighted in Hogg et al. 2024. The workshop can include discussing how our own projects can align with conservation efforts and public outreach. I will share my experiences working on international genomic projects in India and Pakistan, and perspective from conducting IUCN Red List assessments and taxonomic revisions. 

Hogg CJ. 2024. Translating genomic advances into biodiversity conservation. Nature Review Genetics 

Kardos M, Armstrong EE, Fitzpatrick SW, Hauser S, Hedrick PW, Miller JM, Tallmon DA, Funk C. 2021. The crucial role of genome-wide genetic variation in conservation. PNAS 118(48): e2104642118. 

Teixeira JC, Huber CD. 2021. The inflated significance of neutral genetic diversity in conservation genetics. PNAS. 118(10): e2015096118. 

Additional reading: 

vonHoldt BM, Brzeski KE, Wlicove DS, Rutledge LY. 2018. Redefining the role of admixture and genomics in species conservation. Conservation Letters 11(2): 1-6.

Jeon JY, Black AN, Heenkenda EJ, Mularo AJ, Lamka G, Janjua S, Bruniche-Olsen A, Bickham JW, Willoughby JR, DeWoody JA. 2024. Genomic diversity as a key conservation criterion: proof-of-concept from mammalian whole-genome resequencing data. Evolutionary Applications 17:e70000.

IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee. 2024. Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 16. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. Downloadable from https://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf.

___________________________________________________________________________

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organise a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information please visit www.weeswageningen.nl and follow us on X @weeswageningen

[weeswageningen]

WEES SEMINAR: RICHARD LENSKI Time Travel in Experimental Evolution with Bacteria. Dear all,

We would like to invite you to attend May’s Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Masterclass in-person!

The Seminar will take place on Friday 30th May, 16:00-17:00 in Orion, C2030. This will be followed by drinks and an opportunity to meet with the Speaker (sign-up for the drinks by e-mailing [email protected]).

The associated Masterclass will be from 14:00-15:30. The masterclass provides a platform for insightful discussions and knowledge sharing. A dynamic session will take place where 4-5 PhDs/post-docs will have an opportunity to present their work related to “Evolution in laboratory scale” for 10 minutes each, followed by a 5-minute interactive discussion involving the presenting students and the audience, which can also include PIs who are interested in being part of the discussion. If you are interested in presenting or attending, registration is required for the masterclass as the SPOTS ARE LIMITED, and you can sign up by emailing at [email protected].

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

Seminar: Time Travel in Experimental Evolution with Bacteria.

Richard Lenski

Professor at the Department of Microbiology,

Genetics, and Immunology at Michigan State University

Evolution has produced the amazing diversity of life on Earth, but it is usually difficult to observe evolution while it is happening.  With their rapid generations and the ability to freeze and later revive cells, microbes allow one to observe evolution in action. In my lab, we have maintained 12 populations of E. coli in a simple environment for over 30 years and 75,000 generations. The aims of this experiment have been to characterize the tempo and mode of evolution, and to examine the repeatability and even predictability of phenotypic and genomic changes. We have quantified the dynamics of adaptation by natural selection, documented many cases of parallel evolution, observed changes in the underlying mutation rate, and seen the appearance of a new metabolic function. We have sequenced hundreds of genomes to identify the mutations in longitudinal samples from the populations. These data provide insights into the coupling of phenotypic and genotypic evolution during periods of both optimization and innovation.

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information please visit www.weeswageningen.nl and follow us on X @weeswageningen

[weeswageningen]

WEES Seminar: Prof. Christiaan Both - 9 April 2025

Dear All,

With this email, we'd like to invite you to April’s Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) event! 

The Seminar will be presented by Professor Christiaan Both titled: Explaining life-cycle adaptation of migratory birds to global climate change. The seminar will take place on Wednesday, 9th of April, from 16:00 - 17:00 in Orion, C1040. This will be followed by drinks at the Spot. 

The associated Workshop will take place earlier in the day from 14:30 -  15:30 in Orion B3042. The workshop by Prof. Both is titled: So much to be discovered! How to start your private ecological field project.  Registration is required for this workshop, and you can sign up by emailing Andries Janse van Vuuren ([email protected]).

Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who could be interested!

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Seminar: Explaining life-cycle adaptation of migratory birds to global climate change.

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025, 16:00 - 17:00, Orion C1040

Prof. Christiaan Both

Full Professor in Animal Ecology,

University of Groningen, The Netherlands

Climate change is confronting organisms with all sorts of new challenges, and one of these is the change of seasonal timing. Springs start progressively earlier, with earlier budburst of trees, earlier emergence of herbivorous insects that feed on these trees, and birds relying on these insects should also advance their breeding dates. Especially for long-distance migrating birds this is a challenge, as in their distant wintering sites, they have no information on the progress of spring at their breeding sites, and hence cannot easily adjust. Still, we see that over the last decades some of these birds have adjusted their annual cycles, and the question is how they have done so. I will show with our long-term research on pied flycatchers what mechanisms have made them to arrive earlier in spring, and with experimental work in both Africa and Europe we can now better understand the possibilities and constraints in their life-cycle adaptation to climate change.

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Workshop: So much to be discovered! How to start your private ecological field project.

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025, 14:30 - 15:30, Orion C3042

People often have the false impression that we already know an enormous amount about nature, and that contributing new ideas and data requires complicated research. I want to convince you that there is still so much to be discovered, and that anyone could contribute to valuable knowledge. As examples, I will show some of my uncomplicated and ongoing field projects, and I want to discuss with you ideas and how you may contribute yourself, and whether and how this may help to solve (a little part) of the biodiversity crisis.  

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About WEES

WEES is an initiative from PhD students & postdocs at Wageningen University & Research. 

We organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series, we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by the graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, and WIAS.

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings.

For more information please visit www.weeswageningen.nl and follow us on X @weeswageningen

Kind regards,

Andries

[weeswageningen]

Dear all,

We have the pleasure to invite you to attend March’s Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop!

The Seminar will take place on Thursday 27th of March, from 16:00-17:00 in Forum, C0221. For this seminar, we will welcome Dr. Grit Kunert from MPI for Chemical Ecology (Germany) who will present her work on plant-aphid interactions in a seminar titled “Host Specificity of the Pea-Aphid Complex: a consequence of chemical and ecological interactions”. This event will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own costs – if interested please sign up with Maxence Longuemare – [email protected]).

The associated workshop, entitled “Aphids and their endosymbionts: An overview, with special focus on the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola”, will take place in Forum B0326 from 14:00 to 15:30. During the workshop, Dr. Grit Kunert will explore the world of endosymbionts and discuss how they are transmitted to offspring, their roles in plant defence mechanisms, the challenges to study them and future outlook for the field. Please contact Maxence if you are interested in a scientific discussion with Dr. Grit Kunert and for further information about the workshop.

Please forward this invite to anyone who could be interested!

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Seminar: Host specificity of the pea-aphid complex – a consequence of chemical and ecological interactions (March 27th 2025, 16h-17h in Forum, C0221)

Dr. Grit Kunert,

Chemical Communication in Plant-Aphid Interactions

MPI for Chemical Ecology – Department of Biochemistry, Germany

The pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), native to legume plants, comprises at least 15 genetically different biotypes, each of which is adapted to only one or a few different host plants. An aphid biotype can only perform well on its respective native host plant. However, all pea aphid biotypes can develop on the universal host plant Vicia faba. This ecological specialization can be considered as one of the first steps towards sympatric speciation, as the host fidelity of pea aphid biotypes leads to assortative mating, which reduces gene flow between these biotypes. But what are the barriers that aphids face in order to feed and survive on a particular legume plant? And how do they overcome them? While we know more about the barriers – they are of chemical, physiological and ecological nature – we are only beginning to understand how certain aphid biotypes overcome them.

Workshop: Aphids and their endosymbionts: An overview, with special focus on the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola (March 27th 2025, 14h-15h30 in Forum, B0326)

Aphids, known for their complex symbiotic relationships, host both obligate and facultative endosymbionts that play several roles in aphids. This workshop will explore the world of endosymbionts with a special focus on the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola. We will discuss their location within the aphid, the role they play in aphid nutrition, and the consequences this has for aphid performance and fitness. Questions such as how endosymbionts are transferred to offspring and how aphids control endosymbionts will be discussed. In addition, we will also discuss the potential impact of endosymbionts on plant defense mechanisms. We will talk about the challenges of studying the role of endosymbionts due to their inability to be cultured in the laboratory. Finally, we will highlight the open questions that remain unanswered in this field.

——————————————————————————

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, and WIAS.

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings.

For more information, please visit www.weeswageningen.n and follow us on X @weeswageningen

[weeswageningen]

Dear all,

We would like to invite you to attend February's Wageningen Evolution & Ecology Seminar (WEES) and the related workshop. The seminar will take place on Thursday 13th February, 16:00-17:00 in Orion C1040. Dr. David Bierbach from the Humboldt University (Germany) will present his work on clonal Poecilia Formosa and Robot fish in a seminar titled 'How to use Clonal Fish and Biomimetic Robots to investigate Ecology and Evolution.' After the seminar, everyone is invited to join for free drinks at The Spot, where it will be possible to interact more directly and informally with Dr. Bierbach.

There will also be a workshop with Dr. David Bierbach prior to the seminar titled 'From the Field to the Lab and Back - Experimental Design in Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology' at 14:00 in Orion B3032. In the workshop, Dr. Bierbach will discuss both approaches of fieldwork and labwork, how both approaches can supplement each other and what the potential pitfalls, shortcomings and opportunities are. The workshop is aimed for HBO, MSc, PhD students and postdocs. Registration is required, so please email Peter Kwant ([email protected]) to register. See below for more information on the seminar and workshop.

Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested. Thank you!

Seminar (16:00-17:00 - Orion C1040)

How to use Clonal Fish and Biomimetic Robots to investigate Ecology and Evolution.

Dr. David Bierbach

Researcher, Humboldt University & Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Germany

Phenotypic variation among individuals is thought to be caused by differences in genes and/or environmental conditions. Therefore, if these sources of variation are removed, individuals are predicted to develop similar phenotypes lacking individual variation. In sharp contrast to these predictions, we find substantial individual variation in behavior among genetically identical individuals of the clonal fish, Poecilia formosa, that were isolated directly after birth into highly standardized environments. This variation does not develop over the ontogeny but is present at day 1 of the fish’s life. In contrast to the current research paradigm, which focuses on genes and/or environmental drivers, our findings suggest that individuality might be an inevitable and potentially unpredictable outcome of the very early embryonic development. In order to study both causes and consequences of these individual differences, we developed a biomimetic robot - the so-called Robofish - that is able to integrate itself interactively into groups of fish. This tool allows us to decouple behavior from morphology and test hypothesis arising from theoretical considerations on social and collective interactions. I will outline how Robofish helped us to find a link between differences in swimming speed and collective patterns in shoaling fish and how leader-follower interactions depend strongly on the anticipated reaction of the social partner.

Workshop (14:00-15:00 - Orion B3032)

From the Field to the Lab and Back - Experimental Design in Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology

To answer biological questions, scientists often perform laboratory experiments or do observations in the wild. Both approaches have their merits but I postulate that we can answer our questions better if we combine both approaches. In this workshop I will thus present own experiences about working experimentally both in the laboratory as well as in the field with fishes. We will discuss examples of laboratory and field experimental designs and how both approaches can supplement each other and what are the pitfalls, shortcomings and opportunities.   

Lunch and dinner with Dr. Bierbach

A small group will have lunch and dinner with our invited speaker (cost on the participants). If you are interested in joining for lunch and/or dinner with Dr. Bierbach, please contact Peter Kwant ([email protected]). You may of course also simply decide to join for dinner on the day of the seminar.

WEES background & call for new members WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS and WIAS.

Interested in joining the WEES committee and organizing seminars yourself? WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings.

For more information please visit: www.weeswageningen.nl or follow us on Twitter @weeswageningen

[weeswageningen]

Dear all,

We would like to invite you to attend January’s Wageningen Evolution & Ecology Seminar (WEES) and related workshop. The seminar will take place on Thursday 16th January, 16:00-17:00 in Orion C2005-2006. Dr. Lorenzo Bramanti from the Observatoire Ocanologique Banyuls sur Mer (France) will present his work on animal forests in a seminar titled ‘Marine Animal Forests: Scientific Marketing or Real Ecology?'. After the seminar, everyone is invited to join for free drinks at The Spot, where it will be possible to interact more directly and informally with Dr. Bramanti.

  There will also be a workshop with Dr. Lorenzo Bramanti on ‘Scientific Diving in the Mesophotic Zone' at 14:00 in Zodiac E1244. In the workshop, Dr. Bramanti will discuss the techniques and technologies required for divers to work in a mesophotic environment. The workshop is aimed for HBO, MSc, PhD students, and postdocs. Registration is required, so please email Davide Bottacini ([email protected]) to register. See below for more information on the seminar and workshop. 

  Please forward this information to anyone who could be interested. Thank you!  

Seminar (16:00-17:00 - Orion C2005-2006)

Marine Animal Forests: Scientific Marketing or Real Ecology?

  Dr. Lorenzo Bramanti Researcher, CNRS-LECOB Observatoire Ocanologique Banyuls sur Mer Banyuls sur Mer, France

The concept of 'marine animal forest' is now frequently used in the scientific literature and is generally associated with marine benthic organisms with three-dimensional structures. Most of the time, the term is used as a synonym for 'ecosystem engineer' and is applied in a rather broad sense. Although many scientific studies have adopted this term as a primary focus of interest, it is still largely used for awareness and communication purposes, lacking almost entirely in quantification and standardization. In this seminar, Dr. Bramanti aims to show how, in the framework of his research, he is using a scientific approach to define and standardize the term 'marine animal forest'. He will discuss what is meant by this concept and demonstrate the experimental and theoretical approaches that he is employing to define, quantify and standardize it so that it can be applied to conservation management and restoration practices. He will present the results of various expeditions and conclude by illustrating how he applies this approach to mesophotic ecosystems, providing examples of ongoing research.

Workshop (14:00-15:00 - Zodiac E1244)

Scientific Diving in the Mesophotic Zone  

The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the speaker and have an interactive discussion on their career, study systems, methodologies and recent publications. The workshops are a great opportunity to become acquainted with hot topics in science and to gain experience in discussing these topics with leading scientists in the field. Furthermore, BSc and MSc students can get 1 ECTS for attending 2 workshops. Registration is required to participate in the workshop, so please email Davide Bottacini ([email protected]) to register.   

Lunch and dinner with Dr. Bramanti

A small group will have lunch and dinner with our invited speaker (cost on the participants). If you are interested in joining for lunch and/or dinner with Dr. Bramanti, please contact Davide Bottacini ([email protected]). You may of course also simply decide to join for dinner on the day of the seminar.  

WEES background & call for new members WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS and WIAS.  

Interested in joining the WEES committee and organizing seminars yourself? WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings.

  For more information please visit: www.weeswageningen.nl or follow us on Twitter @weeswageningen

[weeswageningen]

Dear All,

We would like to invite you to attend November’s Wageningen Evolution and Ecology Seminar (WEES) and Workshop in-person!

The Seminar and workshop will take place on Tuesday 19th November, 16:00-17:00 in Orion B5015. This will be followed by drinks at The Spot and an opportunity to meet and have dinner with the Speaker (dinner is at your own cost, but sign-up with Spyros Kanellopoulos – [email protected]).

Seminar: How to maintain a healthy microbiome? (November 19th, 16:00-17:00 in Orion, B5015)

Dr. Bram van Dijk

University lecturer, Theoretical Biology Laboratory, Utrecht University, Netherlands

Microbes populate all plants and animals, helping with nutrient acquisition, detoxification, and other useful functions. However, due to rapid microbial evolution, these interactions can quickly shift from beneficial to harmful. Understanding these ally-to-pathogen transitions is important for agriculture and human health, and therefore requires unpacking of what happens at every scale (from nano, to micro, to macro). For example, while larger organisms like plants and animals are populated by microbes, the microbes are in turn populated by a “nanobiome”: the zoo of mobile and selfish genetic elements that replicate within them. During the seminar, I will discuss models that allow us to understand what makes the nanobiome tick, and then start zooming out to include what this means for larger organisms like ourselves. It will also be discussed how phylogenies may be a helpful read-out that enables us to test whether the model captures the right dynamics, and may even serve as a predictor of disease outbreaks. With these simulations the presenter hopes to discover more of these promising leads that will enable us to better understand the world around us, and even prevent future disease outbreaks.

The associated Workshop will be from 14:00-15:30 in Orion, B4015. We are pleased to invite you to an engaging workshop on microbial models, exploring the intricate dynamics between microbes and their hosts—be they plants or animals. In this session, we will delve into the selective pressures that influence microbial behavior, determining whether microbes remain beneficial to their hosts or deviate towards harmful interactions. This workshop will mainly focus on the inherent difficulties in sustaining beneficial microbes within host organisms. Through an in-depth discussion and hands on demonstration the speaker will guide the participants on how to replicate the work from the following publication https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31548380/.

About WEES

WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, and WIAS. 

Want to organise seminars yourself? Join WEES!

WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to [email protected] and join one of our meetings. 

For more information please visit www.weeswageningen.nl and follow us on X @weeswageningen

Kind Regards,

Spyros Kanellopoulos

Ph.D. Candidate