Happening @ Michigan https://events.umich.edu/group/3822/rss RSS Feed for Happening @ Michigan Events at the University of Michigan. EEB Thursday Seminar Series - Ecosystem responses to climate change depend on the hidden world beneath our feet (April 4, 2024 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/117497 117497-21839386@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 4, 2024 3:00pm
Location: Biological Sciences Building
Organized By: EEB Thursday Seminars

This event is part of our ongoing Thursday Seminar Series.
Preview: Dr. Colleen Iversen is an ecosystem ecologist who uses a variety of field and laboratory techniques to understand and predict how ecosystems are shaped by environmental change. Her work takes her from upland forests to flooded peatlands to thawing Arctic tundra, chasing a better understanding of the secret lives of roots hidden beneath the soil surface. She works at the millimeter scale to answer a global question: how will ecosystems respond to the climate of the future?

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Workshop / Seminar Fri, 08 Mar 2024 11:16:19 -0500 2024-04-04T15:00:00-04:00 2024-04-04T16:00:00-04:00 Biological Sciences Building EEB Thursday Seminars Workshop / Seminar event details image
EEB Tuesday Seminar Series - Evo-devo is a Pop-gen Problem (April 9, 2024 12:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/117498 117498-21839387@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Tuesday, April 9, 2024 12:00pm
Location: Biological Sciences Building
Organized By: EEB Thursday Seminars

This event is part of our ongoing Tuesday Seminar Series.

Preview:
The phenotype of an animal depends both on its own genotype and that of its mother, who contributes the egg, with its complex store of cytoplasmic determinants of development. Life-history evolution therefore relies jointly on heritable variation among mothers in one generation and among their offspring in the following generation. I will describe a genetic analysis of this distinctive evolutionary regime in a marine annelid, Streblospio benedicti. These animals vary heritably in their development: some females make large eggs that develop directly into benthic juveniles, and others make small eggs that develop into planktonic larvae. This dichotomy is one of the most characteristic patterns in marine macroevolution, and our studies provide the first insight into its quantitative- and population-genetic and genomic basis. Genetic and ecological models that incorporate results from our experimental work show that the evolution of early developmental processes is constrained by their unique mode of inheritance.

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Workshop / Seminar Tue, 27 Feb 2024 13:25:31 -0500 2024-04-09T12:00:00-04:00 2024-04-09T13:00:00-04:00 Biological Sciences Building EEB Thursday Seminars Workshop / Seminar Biological Sciences Building
EEB Thursday Seminar Series - Hosts on the run: disease and the evolution of dispersal (April 11, 2024 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/117500 117500-21839388@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 11, 2024 3:00pm
Location: Biological Sciences Building
Organized By: EEB Thursday Seminars

This event is part of our ongoing Thursday Seminar Series.

Abstract: Much of our empirical and theoretical understanding of host-parasite interaction begins with an assumption of engagement, in which host meets parasite and battle ensues. Hosts may, however, prevent engagement in the first place, by actively or passively avoiding parasites. As the front line of defense, avoidance may dictate patterns of disease spread, the strength and nature of parasite-mediated selection, and the potential for coevolution. My lab’s work specifically evaluates dispersal as a mechanism of parasite avoidance using the model nematode C. elegans and its natural microsporidian parasites. I’ll present theoretical and empirical results suggesting that 1) dispersal can sharply limit the spread of disease in metapopulations, and 2) parasites favors individuals that are prone to disperse. Together, our work supports avoidance strategies as architects of disease spread and defense evolution.

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Workshop / Seminar Wed, 28 Feb 2024 14:53:35 -0500 2024-04-11T15:00:00-04:00 2024-04-11T16:00:00-04:00 Biological Sciences Building EEB Thursday Seminars Workshop / Seminar event details image
EEB Thursday Seminar Series - Fish-ES Chronicles: Exploring Evolution and Systematics in the Anthropocene (April 18, 2024 3:00pm) https://events.umich.edu/event/117501 117501-21839389@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Thursday, April 18, 2024 3:00pm
Location: Biological Sciences Building
Organized By: EEB Thursday Seminars

This event is part of our ongoing Thursday Seminar Series.

Preview: Numerous factors have contributed to the global decline of many species. To safeguard these species and prevent further losses, it is imperative to deepen our comprehension of taxonomy and evolutionary relationships, thereby establishing effective conservation priorities. Over the past 15 years, I have developed a research program in Fish Evolution & Systematics (Fish-ES) aimed at unraveling the forces driving the diversification and evolution of marine fishes, with emphasis on Gadiformes (codfishes, hakes, rattails, and allies) and other economically significant species. In my presentation, I will showcase several past and ongoing projects incorporating classic and cutting-edge morphological, ecological, geochemical, and genomics techniques. These multidisciplinary approaches can enhance our understanding of the evolutionary histories of complex taxa, offering invaluable insights crucial for their conservation and management.

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Workshop / Seminar Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:23:43 -0400 2024-04-18T15:00:00-04:00 2024-04-18T16:00:00-04:00 Biological Sciences Building EEB Thursday Seminars Workshop / Seminar event details image
Fridays @ RMC Seminar Series - Diving Deep: Leveraging Museum Collections to Understand the Drivers of Fish Biodiversity in a Changing Planet (April 19, 2024 11:00am) https://events.umich.edu/event/120478 120478-21844806@events.umich.edu Event Begins: Friday, April 19, 2024 11:00am
Location: Research Museums Center
Organized By: EEB Thursday Seminars

This is part of our monthly seminar series at the RMC.

Preview: Museums play a pivotal role in scientific research by granting access to vast collections of biological specimens. A few years ago, the cost of sequencing genomes was prohibitively expensive. However, with advancements in technology and economies of scale, the prices have significantly dropped. As a result, we are now able to sequence the genomes of hundreds of species using techniques such as exon capture, genome skimming, and soon chromosome-level genomes. Our current challenge lies in bridging the gap between traditional museum collections and modern genetic research. This integration opens new avenues for scientific discovery and conservation efforts, ultimately contributing to our understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation.

In this presentation, I'll take you on a journey through my career, highlighting the pivotal role of museum personnel and museum specimens in shaping my interdisciplinary research program focused on the evolution and systematics of marine fishes, with an emphasis on gadiforms and other commercially important species. Utilizing voucher specimens and associated materials such as tissue samples and otoliths, I am investigating how evolutionary patterns and the underwater environment influence the genomic diversity and connectivity of marine fishes. These findings are communicated to management agencies and other stakeholders, providing valuable insights for monitoring and conservation projects. Additionally, I will emphasize how my research intertwines with outreach and education efforts, aiming to not only advance scientific knowledge but also foster a sense of stewardship for our oceans within and beyond the museum walls.

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Workshop / Seminar Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:28:05 -0400 2024-04-19T11:00:00-04:00 2024-04-19T12:00:00-04:00 Research Museums Center EEB Thursday Seminars Workshop / Seminar event details image