List of Symposia
Organizers
Dr. Sofia van Moorsel, University of Zurich, Department of Geography
Dr. Domitille Coq—Etchegaray, University of Zurich, Department of Geography
Prof. Meredith Schuman, University of Zurich, Department of Geography
Dr. Benjamin Brachi, UMR BIOGECO, Université de Bordeaux, INRAE
Invited Speakers
Katalin Csilléry, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Desanka Lazic, Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics, Grosshansdorf, Germany
Abstract
Biodiverse forests are critical for ecosystem services, yet many broadleaved tree species face increasing vulnerability due to climate change. Prolonged droughts and rising temperatures in Europe, such as the extreme 2018 drought, have already caused significant dieback. Models predict further declines in population growth rates over the coming decades. However, some individuals and populations exhibit greater drought resistance, suggesting the presence of evolutionary potential of trees to adapt to changing environments.
This symposium will explore how genomic variation underpins drought resistance and supports adaptive resilience in trees. We aim to unite researchers working on tree genomics, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in natural and experimental populations, experimental approaches investigating drought responses, and strategies for monitoring forest genetic diversity. A key focus will be the genetic basis of complex traits like drought resistance, which are context-dependent and not controlled by single genes. Evolutionary concepts such as local adaptation, selection pressures, and the role of gene flow will frame these discussions.
By synthesizing data, methods, and challenges, the symposium will highlight how genomic tools can improve our understanding of trees’ evolutionary responses to climate change. The outcomes will contribute to the development of conservation strategies, such as assisted gene flow, and foster collaboration among scientists addressing similar goals. Ultimately, this symposium seeks to connect evolutionary biology with applied efforts to sustain biodiverse forests, ensuring their ecological and evolutionary integrity in a rapidly changing world.
Biodiverse forests are critical for ecosystem services, yet many broadleaved tree species face increasing vulnerability due to climate change. Prolonged droughts and rising temperatures in Europe, such as the extreme 2018 drought, have already caused significant dieback. Models predict further declines in population growth rates over the coming decades. However, some individuals and populations exhibit greater drought resistance, suggesting the presence of evolutionary potential of trees to adapt to changing environments.
This symposium will explore how genomic variation underpins drought resistance and supports adaptive resilience in trees. We aim to unite researchers working on tree genomics, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in natural and experimental populations, experimental approaches investigating drought responses, and strategies for monitoring forest genetic diversity. A key focus will be the genetic basis of complex traits like drought resistance, which are context-dependent and not controlled by single genes. Evolutionary concepts such as local adaptation, selection pressures, and the role of gene flow will frame these discussions.
By synthesizing data, methods, and challenges, the symposium will highlight how genomic tools can improve our understanding of trees’ evolutionary responses to climate change. The outcomes will contribute to the development of conservation strategies, such as assisted gene flow, and foster collaboration among scientists addressing similar goals. Ultimately, this symposium seeks to connect evolutionary biology with applied efforts to sustain biodiverse forests, ensuring their ecological and evolutionary integrity in a rapidly changing world.
Organizers
Prof. Paolo Momigliano, Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
Dr. Francesca Raffini, Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
Dr. Paolo Franchini (Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University)
Invited Speakers
Prof. Aaron Peace Ragsdale, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Prof. Claudia Bank, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Abstract
Many evolutionary processes, such as admixture, selection, drift, structural rearrangements and genetic incompatibilities, can result in non-random associations between loci (linkage disequilibrium), even in the absence of physical linkage. The availability of extensive genomic data for both model and non-model species has fuelled the development of novel and powerful methods to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology using two-locus statistics, such as correlations in allele frequencies and variance in heterozygosity. These approaches have revolutionized our ability to infer demographic history across various organisms, including humans, expanded our ability to identify genetic incompatibilities underpinning speciation events, enhanced the power of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, and opened new avenues for investigating parallel evolution in non-model taxa, even when the traits under selection are unknown. In this symposium, we aim to showcase how the analyses of genome-wide patterns of linkage disequilibrium allow evolutionary biologists to answer exciting long-standing and new questions.
Many evolutionary processes, such as admixture, selection, drift, structural rearrangements and genetic incompatibilities, can result in non-random associations between loci (linkage disequilibrium), even in the absence of physical linkage. The availability of extensive genomic data for both model and non-model species has fuelled the development of novel and powerful methods to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology using two-locus statistics, such as correlations in allele frequencies and variance in heterozygosity. These approaches have revolutionized our ability to infer demographic history across various organisms, including humans, expanded our ability to identify genetic incompatibilities underpinning speciation events, enhanced the power of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, and opened new avenues for investigating parallel evolution in non-model taxa, even when the traits under selection are unknown. In this symposium, we aim to showcase how the analyses of genome-wide patterns of linkage disequilibrium allow evolutionary biologists to answer exciting long-standing and new questions.
Organizers
Dr. Juliano Morimoto, University of Aberdeen
Prof. Andy Gardner, University of St Andrews
Invited Speakers
Hanna Kokko, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
Jennifer Cuthill, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom
Abstract
Recent advances in technology, mathematical, and statistical models provided a step-change in how we uncover insights into evolution and ecology in our changing world. Unmatched computational power enabled by machine learning and big data enabled evolutionary ecologists to simulate, analyze, and predict eco-evolutionary processes at local to global scales. We now have tools such as generative AI to understand complex ecological and evolutionary dynamics. These developments are driving a paradigm shift in how we approach evolutionary ecology research, with significant implications for conservation, climate change, and ecosystem management.
We now need to consolidate the efforts and facilitate knowledge exchange for rapid advancement. In this context, a symposium on this topic will bring together the world’s leading researchers to share cutting-edge insights, foster collaborations, and address critical questions facing the field. It will serve as a unique platform to integrate evolutionary ecology with methods and tools available in computational biology, mathematics, and statistics, enabling breakthroughs in our understanding of biological complexity.
We assembled an award-winning line-up of invited talks: we will bring Prof Hanna Kokko, an established theoretical ecologist, and Dr Jennifer Cuthill, an emerging leader, to discuss how a wide range of modelling approaches and artificial intelligence can transform the way in which understand, model, and gain insights into evolutionary ecology processes. There is a critical window of opportunity to foster collaborative efforts which integrate technological and modelling advances into evolutionary ecology, and ESEB2025 is the ideal platform to attract the world’s greatest researchers to spearhead this endeavor.
Organizers
Dr. Margaux Bieuville, iomE, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, IQCB, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Dr. Yagmur Erten, University of Groningen
Invited Speakers
Thorsten B. H. Reusch, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung. Kiel. Germany
Robert Laird, University of Lethbridge. Alberta. Canada
Abstract
Evolutionary biologists have long been puzzled by the apparent inevitability of senescence, the increase in mortality with age, stimulating a large body of theoretical work to explain this pattern. Yet, this observation mainly comes from a restricted number of taxa, namely mammals, birds and model organisms. Increasing demographic data across the tree of life have demonstrated the diversity of ageing trajectories, including negligible and negative senescence. This highlights that a taxonomic bias narrows our understanding of the evolution of senescence. Overall, there remains a lot of unknowns in both mechanistic and evolutionary causes of ageing. In that context, non-model and unusual species — such as those that question our definition of what an organism is — can shed light on senescence patterns. Here we ask what we can learn about ageing by looking beyond sexually reproducing unitary organisms, with the goal of bringing together researchers who work on systems such as colonial organisms, modular plants, unicellular organisms, eusocial insect colonies or regenerative organisms. Our goal is to promote discussion of the mechanistic, evolutionary, ecological and demographic determinants of ageing. Such a discussion is crucial as we progress towards a comprehensive theory of ageing that accounts for the diversity in life-histories.
Diversity statement (if relevant): We commit to the same diversity objective as ESEB and, if the relevant information is available, will select contributions to ensure a balanced representation of researchers from diverse backgrounds.
Organizers
Dr. Oriol Lapiedra, Creaf
Prof. Anna Traveset, IMEDEA-CSIC
Invited Speakers
Dr. Frédérique Viard, Directrice de Recherche CNRS Institut des Sciences de l’Évolution de Montpellier, Université de Montpellier
Dr. Ana Novoa, EEZA-CSIC (Spain), IBOT-CAS (Czech Republic)
Abstract
Understanding how animals respond to new ecological conditions is a cornerstone of evolutionary biology. We live in a Planet where novel selective pressures increasingly challenge the persistence of a myriad of species. A major source of new selective pressures are biological invasions, one of the main driver of species extinctions worldwide. In this scenario, a major challenge for evolutionary biologists is to shed light on whether and how native species can rapidly adapt to these new selective forces (for instance, the arrival of new predators, competitors, or parasites). To fully grasp the impact of biological invasions, however, it is also necessary to unravel their downstream cascading effects, which can shape how entire biological communities function. For instance, key ecological interactions such as mutualisms can be lost or newly established thereby altering the resilience of native communities. Biological invasions, therefore, offer the opportunity to link gene-level modifications shaping ecologically-relevant phenotypic variation to their downstream cascading effects on how entire biological communities function. For instance, thanks to recent technology developments we can now couple large-scale field and laboratory experiments with recently developed genomic tools to shed light on contemporary evolutionary ecology. Never before has evolutionary biology been in such a good position to decipher human-induced rapid evolution. Taking advantage of this momentum is also crucial to minimize the cascading impact of biological invasions for ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services. This symposium will present studies exemplifying how researchers are advancing the state-of-the-art of evolutionary ecology by clarifying the first stages of evolutionary adaptation to invasion-driven new selective pressures.
Organizers
Prof. Beata Ujvari, Deakin University
Prof Aurora Nedelcu, University of New Brunswick
Dr. Andriy Marusyk, Moffitt Cancer Centre
Invited Speakers
Prof. Robert Gatenby, Moffitt Cancer Centre, Tampa, Florida, USA
Dr. Lucie Laplane, Université Paris I-Panthéon-Sorbonne & UMR1170, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy
Abstract
Cancer can be viewed as a breakdown of the cooperative interactions established during the evolution of multicellular organisms, when single cells lost their evolutionary individuality and specialised in tasks that contribute to the higher-level whole. Cells that cheat and attempt increased cell-level fitness at the expense of the organism can become malignant and threaten the survival of individuals and species. Based on their life-history, multicellular lineages have evolved various strategies to moderate the fitness-limiting impact of cancer in the context of external conditions that influence their mortality. At the individual level, cancer itself is an evolutionary process driven by somatic mutations and selection. External factors as well as ageing can alter both the mutational landscape (including epigenetic changes) as well as tissue microenvironments and engender selection of new adaptive phenotypes, some of which can contribute to cancer development, progression, and ultimately death. Consequently, evolutionary theory and principles are currently used to develop effective therapies for many clinical cancers. Considering cancer in an evolutionary framework has seen a renaissance since the early work of Nowak in 1970s, and this symposium will bring together the latest developments in applying evolutionary theory to cancer, from the perspective of individuals and species as well as therapies. We expect that the symposium will attract scientists from the fields of life history strategies, ageing, evolution, and cancer biology.
Organizers
Dr. Melissah Rowe, Netherlands Institute of Ecology
Dr. Florent Mazel
Dr. Klara Wanelik
Invited Speakers
Dr. Hassan Salem, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen
Dr. Dr. Carola Petersen, Evolutionary Ecology and Genetics, Zoological Institute of Kiel University
Abstract
All organisms host microbial communities in and on their bodies. Over the last 20 years, there has been an explosion in studies characterising the microbial communities associated with a diversity of host sites (e.g. gut, skin, rhizosphere) in a wide range of taxa across the animal and plant kingdoms. Recent studies have shown that these microbiomes can have major impacts on host biology, including effects on digestion, development, immunity, and behaviour. Indeed, it is now widely recognized that microbiomes can play a fundamental role in host ecology and evolution.
However, our understanding of the specific role of microbiomes in the evolutionary process by which a host becomes better suited to its environment (i.e. host adaptation) remains relatively limited. Key examples of microbiome-mediated host adaptation are emerging , but the critical next step is to broaden our understanding of the contribution of microbiomes to host adaptation and the role of microbiome-mediated plasticity in this process.
Our proposed symposium will bring together a diverse group of researchers working in this rapidly growing and important field. We will showcase work spanning a wide range of host study systems and including a variety of theoretical, experimental, and field approaches.
Organizers
Dr. Steven A. Ramm, Université De Rennes
Dr. Joris M. Koene, VU Amsterdam
Dr. Mariana F. Wolfner, Cornell University
Invited Speakers
Dr. Jen Perry, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Canada
Dr. Aileen Berasategui, VU Amsterdam, Netherlands
Abstract
Many organisms have evolved to transfer materials to conspecifics which go beyond simple gametes or nutrients. These are defined as socially transferred materials and include components that have been metabolized by the donor and induce a direct physiological response in the receiver, bypassing sensory organs. Examples include components of milk, seminal fluids, skin secretions and regurgitate and may even extend to the transfer of symbiotic microbes, with the method of transfer itself ranging from active uptake by recipients (e.g. consumption of externally deposited spermatophores), passive transfer (e.g. in ejaculates or milk) or even forced transfer (as in various forms of hypodermic injection). Although these transfers benefit the donor, they can influence the fitness of the recipient in different ways, either positively or negatively. Hence, whilst many social transfers may originate in cooperation, they also provide significant scope for conflict when the evolutionary interests of donors and recipients diverge.
This broad and emerging field of integrative biology contains many parallels and research opportunities in dramatically different transfer systems that have to date been studied in isolation, within their own scientific fields (ranging from evolutionary ecology, via dairy production to medicine). An important early goal of the nascent STM community is thus to connect researchers focusing on different transfers to foster cross-fertilization, and to collectively identify unifying concepts and experimental priorities for understanding their role in evolution. In this symposium, we therefore aim to showcase the wide diversity of biological phenomena that can usefully be captured by the framework of socially transferred materials, and to identify the commonalities and key differences in their origins, properties and evolutionary fates.
The symposium is organized by the ESEB STN Socially Transferred Materials.
Organizers
Dr. Olivia Plateau, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
Dr. Kévin Le Verger, Department of Paleontology, University of Zurich
Invited Speakers
Nathalie Feiner, Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck institute
Anne-Claire Fabre, Institute of Ecology & Evolution, Bern University
Abstract
In vertebrates, the cranium is crucial as it is protecting and hosting the brain and sensory organs (sight, taste….). Its complex anatomical structure consists of multiple bones, grouped differently based on different developmental, evolutionary or functional criteria. This complexity arises from numerous developmental and evolutionary processes, making the unravelling of craniofacial evolution a challenging task.
Over the past decades, methodological advances, such as the emergence of molecular approaches and the progress in CT data technology, have provided new insights into craniofacial morphogenesis and evolution at both micro- and macroevolutionary levels. However, the tempo and mode of developmental repatterning in generating adult morphological diversity in the skull is still poorly understood – such as the impact of early ossification of facial bones on the overall cranial growth. Understanding diverse processes of developmental evolution is key to understand the anatomy and function of the skull in its micro and macroevolutionary transformations.
We propose the symposium “Craniofacial Evolution in Vertebrates” for the European Society of Evolutionary Biology (2025). We aim at bringing together workers on morphological, developmental, functional and molecular aspects of both microevolutionary and macroevolutionary patterns and processes of evolution, covering a wide range of disciplines such as palaeontology, genetics, developmental biology or biomechanics, and a variety of different approaches to study craniofacial development and evolution. This symposium aims foster synergies between different fields in different vertebrate clades. We hope to promote new discussions and generate new collaborative networks between research institutes involved in the study of vertebrate evolution.
Confirmed invited speakers include Nathalie Feiner (Max Planck Institute), studying notably craniofacial embryology in lizards, and Anne-Claire Fabre (Natural History Museum of Bern), focusing on lissamphibian craniofacial evolution. We believe that this vast topic will motivate many researchers to attend this Symposium and stimulate exciting and enriching scientific discussions at the ESEB2025.
Organizers
Dr. Maliheh Mehrshad, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Dr. Taylor Priest, NOMIS-ETH Fellow, Institute of Microbiology and Centre of Origin and Prevalence of Life, ETH Zurich
Invited Speakers
Johann Peter Gogarten, University of Connecticut, USA
Adriana Lucia-Sanz, Institute of Biomedicine of Valencia (IBV-CSIC), Spain
Abstract
As the major conduits of horizontal gene transfer, mobile genetic elements promote genetic diversity, facilitate adaptation and catalyze the emergence of new life forms. Through these processes, they have played an unequivocally important role in shaping the eco-evolutionary dynamics of all organisms and thus the extant biodiversity we see today. Therefore, we believe that a symposium focusing on the eco-evolutionary consequences of mobile genetic elements would be of considerable interest to attendees of the ESEB25 conference. In particular, the proposed symposium would be centered on the impact that mobile genetic elements have on microbes across diverse environments. By focusing on the microbial majority, the symposium will accommodate and attract a diverse and rich body of research stemming across multiple fields to the ESEB25 conference. Indeed, our proposed symposium would aim to represent research spanning different methodological approaches (e.g. experimental and computational) and that provides insights from both environmental observations and a mechanistic, process-driven perspective.
Organizers
Dr. Edward Ivimey-Cook, University Of Glasgow
Ms. Marija Purgar, Ruđer Bošković Institute
Invited Speakers
Malgorzata (Losia) Lagisz, University of Alberta
Joel Pick, University of Edinburgh
Abstract
Open, reliable, and transparent (ORT) practices are essential for both research and organisations within evolutionary biology as they form the basis of scientific integrity and accountability. As this field becomes increasingly dependent on interdisciplinary collaboration, the adoption of ORT principles is crucial – not only for enhancing scientific rigour and reliability, but also for fostering inclusivity and building trust across diverse communities.
The symposium will bring together leading researchers to deliver talks that highlight evidence, strategies, and practices aimed at strengthening diversity, transparency, and accountability within the field of evolutionary biology. We will hear from two plenary presenters from the Society for Open, Reliable, Transparent Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (SORTEE), who will share evidence and insights into ORT methods and practices, including the role of journals in promoting open research and how to ensure more diverse communities across evolutionary biology.
This symposium will equip attendees with the insights and practical strategies needed to promote ORT practices within their own institutions, fostering a more robust, inclusive, and trustworthy evolutionary biology community.
Organizers
Prof. Sofia Consuegra, Institute of Marine Research (IIM-CSIC), Swansea University
Dr. Carlos Guerrero Bosagna, Uppsala University
Invited Speakers
Dafni Anastasiadi, Plant and Food Research, New Zealand
Conchita Alonso, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Spain
Abstract
Phenotypic plasticity mediated by epigenetic mechanisms can be key for the adaptation of species to environmental change, by transmitting to the offspring a non-genetic memory of the environmental and ecological conditions experienced by the parents. The interest in the potential of this transgenerational mechanism for adaptation has grown in the last decades in face of rapid environmental change driven by anthropogenic activities, such as increasing temperatures, invasive species or domestication, as it can act faster than natural selection on DNA mutations. Yet, not all environmentally induced epigenetic responses necessarily increase fitness, and could turn into evolutionary traps under rapid environmental change, if they had negative fitness consequences and became maladaptive. To understand the adaptive role of epigenetic-mediated plasticity, it has become evident that documenting epigenetic change is not enough, its fitness effects need to be assessed and compared to those arising from selection on DNA variation. The objective of this symposium is to contribute to the understanding of the adaptive significance of epigenetics in response rapid global change by creating a forum of discussion that attracts empirical and theoretical researchers working on transgenerational epigenetic responses to environmental change in wild and farm populations, their relationship with the underlying genetic variation and, critically, the fitness consequences of these responses. The discussion is particularly timely as epigenomic resources have become widely available for many animal and plant species and studies looking at transgenerational epigenetic responses to environmental pressures in wild and farm populations are exponentially increasing.
Organizers
Dr. Dearbhaile Casey, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
Prof. Dan Macqueen, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh
Dr. Ilia Leitch, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Invited Speakers
Dr. James Clark, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, UK
Prof. Aoife McLysaght , Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Abstract
Whole genome duplications (WGD) are drivers of genetic and functional innovation across the eukaryotic tree that may have promoted the success of major lineages. WGD’s role in somatic cell biology and genetic disease is increasingly recognised. The growing availability of chromosomal-level genomes, coupled with advances in functional genomics and bioinformatics, is providing transformative opportunities to revise paradigms on the evolutionary role of WGD with unprecedented precision and mechanistic insight. This symposium showcases major advances in this field across a breath of timescales and taxa, spanning recent polyploidy to ancient paleopolyploidy, through to somatic and cancer cell evolution. The session will explore the importance of rediploidisation processes that follow all WGDs, and how they may play out in diverse ways during evolution. We invite contributions on newly-discovered WGDs in understudied eukaryotic groups, and advances in using AI, model organisms and cell lines to investigate WGDs. The session will highlight recent attempts to reconstruct changes in gene expression and regulation following WGD events. It will also showcase efforts to causally link WGD to macroevolutionary outcomes, including species and trait diversity, and adaptive responses to extinction events relevant to the current biodiversity crisis. Overall, this symposium brings together a global community interested in WGD and its outcomes, with an inclusive representation of perspectives.
Organizers
Dr. Shengman Lyu, University of Lausanne
Prof. John Pannell, University of Lausanne
Prof. Sophie Karrenberg, Uppsala University
Invited Speakers
Anna Hargreaves, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Lesley Lancaster, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
Abstract
Almost all organisms have geographical distributions that are limited by range margins. But why? What prevents the evolution of local adaptation in populations at a range margin from allowing the species to expand its range into new territory? One idea is that marginal populations are small and genetically depauperate, with limited potential for local adaptation. Gene flow into such populations would then increase their potential for expansion. Another idea is that migration into range margins brings alleles from elsewhere that are not locally adapted, compromising population fitness and the species’ potential for expansion. Further: how do margins at high latitudes differ or resemble those at high elevations? Are southern and northern margins regulated differently? And, not least, how should we expect marginal populations to respond to changing environments or climates compared to more central populations? While these are old questions, we remain surprisingly ignorant of their answers. This symposium will feature recent theories on species range margins and expansions and empirical work aimed to test established and new theories. It especially aims to gather new insights from work on different organisms (animals, plants and microbes) studied in different types of marginal habitats (latitudinal, elevational, precipitation-dependent, edaphic) with different biological foci (ecological, population genetic). Overall, the symposium seeks an updated view on why species have range margins and how marginal populations should evolve differently from others.
Organizers
Dr. Kora Klein, School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, The University of Edinburgh
Dr. Thomas Hitchcock, RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences Program (iTHEMS)
Dr. Martijn A. Schenkel, Groningen Institute of
Invited Speakers
Laura Ross, University of Edinburgh
Hugo Darras, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Abstract
Genetic systems operate as social systems. Genes interact within organisms, modulated by processes such as recombination, epigenetics, ploidy, and sex. The way genes come together or apart through reproduction varies extensively across the tree of life – from haploid prokaryotes to diploid plants, or clonal to aggregative multicellular organisms. Even within a single organism, different elements follow different patterns of transmission to future offspring, as with autosomes, sex chromosomes, and cytoplasmic material, and may even vary across cells, as is seen in e.g. germline-restricted chromosomes and paternal genome elimination. This variation can profoundly shape the dynamics and scope of adaptive evolution and can push genes towards cooperation or conflict. Thus, different genetic systems provide different opportunities for selfish genetic elements, which may undermine the adaptive integrity of organisms.
Recent work has yielded novel insights about the details underlying this variation and unveiled previously-unknown deviations from the norm. These findings allow us to test previous theory, but also motivate new theory as new knowledge gaps are identified. Why are there such different genetic systems, and how do they come into existence? Do some systems provide different opportunities for adaptive evolution? Or do they arise not because of benefits to the organism, but through entities like selfish genetic elements? Our symposium aims for a synthesis of empirical knowledge across the tree of life and theoretical approaches on the origins and consequences of these systems.
Organizers
Dr. Maëva Gabrielli, Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement (CRBE)
Bárbara Freitas, Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité et l’Environnement (CRBE), Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
Dr José Cerca, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo
Invited Speakers
Eva Ringler, University of Bern
Hernán Moralez, University of Copenhagen
Abstract
As human activities increasingly impact our planet, natural habitats are being reduced, leading to the decline in the population sizes of numerous species. Understanding the evolutionary dynamics in small populations, such as those in insular, fragmented, or isolated environments (e.g. sky-islands and lake populations), is therefore critical, not only for conservation biology but also for advancing fundamental evolutionary theory.
Currently, a synthesis integrating both genomic and phenotypic data in small populations is lacking. To fill this gap, we propose a symposium that focuses on the evolutionary processes in small populations from an integrative point of view. It will cover key areas of molecular evolution, evolutionary and population genomics, including genetic load and demographic history, as well as micro- and macro-evolution studies and evolutionary ecology with an emphasis on understanding how phenotypes and behaviours are modified in small populations’ traits.
To enrich discussions and develop a cohesive understanding of the evolution in small populations, we will welcome contributions from diverse study systems, as well as multidisciplinary approaches including various sources of data (genetics, morphology, ecology, physiology). Together with the symposium participants, we will collaborate to develop and submit a manuscript on this topic to the Journal of Evolutionary Biology (JEB).
Organizers
Dr. Stephen Montgomery, University of Bristol
Dr. Alexandra de Sousa, Auburn University
Dr. Katja Heuer, Institut Pasteur
Invited Speakers
Isabela Almudi Cabrero, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona
Ornella Bertrand, Catalan Institute of Palaeontology Miquel Crusafont
Abstract
Behaviour is a major axis of animal diversity that connects core themes of evolutionary biology – including ecology, development and genomics. Increasingly, new technologies and approaches are enabling traditional eco-evolutionary study systems of behaviour to be approached from a neurobiological perspective, giving new insights into where behavioural variation originates, and how behavioural innovations evolve. This symposium aims to bring together experts from different fields with distinct conceptual and technical approaches (e.g. evolutionary biology, paleoneurology, behavioural ecology, neurobiology), and at different career stages to support discussions around areas of focus, and community development, at the start of a new era for evolutionary behavioural sciences. This symposium will be facilitated by organisers of an ESEB Special Topic Network, The Integrative Biology of Brain Evolution (https://tibbe-network.github.io), which will provide a platform to take discussions forward to help grow a collaborative research community. We are convinced that this symposium will attract a broad ESEB audience and facilitate collaborations for future research to understand the evolution of behavioural diversity.
Organizers
Prof. Lena Wilfert, University of Ulm
Dr. Peter Czuppon, University of Münster
Invited Speakers
Prof. Stineke van Houte, University of Exeter.Penryn.UK
Prof. Jordi Bascompte, University of Zurich.Zurich.Switzerland
Abstract
Biotic interactions are a core component of evolutionary ecology. Understanding their evolution is key to predicting how global change will impact on ecosystems. Their nature is mediated by the costs and benefits experienced by the interacting partners. Increasingly, it is becoming clear that biotic interactions do not fall into fixed categories, but rather form a continuum from antagonism to mutualism. Moreover, the nature of any given interaction can depend on the ecological conditions currently experienced, with otherwise virulent pathogens potentially conveying stress resistance, or former mutualists starting to cheat. While the concept of a dynamic mutualism-antagonism continuum has been embraced in some fields, in others these categories remain rigid. This hinders our understanding of the evolution and the potential for plasticity of biotic interactions in rapidly changing ecosystems. Here, we want to bring together researchers across different fields and scales, i.e. from host-pathogen interactions to classical mutualisms, and from sub-cellular interactions such as transposable elements to the interactions of multi-cellular organisms such as plants and pollinators. The ultimate aim of the symposium is to work towards a common theoretical and experimental framework for studying the dynamic evolutionary ecology of biotic interactions under conditions of rapid global change.
Organizers
Prof. Alexandra Worden, Marine Biological Laboratory
Prof. Anna Karnkowska
Invited Speakers
Courtney Stairs, Lund University
Benjamin Jenkins, Cambridge University
Abstract
Symbiotic interactions in microbial eukaryotes are fundamental drivers of evolutionary innovation, exemplified by the endosymbiotic events that gave rise to mitochondria and plastids leading to the vast diversification of eukaryotes. Since these early, and in some cases endosymbiosis events, many other close relationships have developed. These interactions not only shape evolutionary history, but also support the functioning of different ecosystems by enabling rapid adaptation to environmental changes.
Microbial eukaryotes, with their remarkable diversity, offer a unique opportunity to study the evolution of symbioses. Advances in sequencing and state-of-the-art microscopy of both cultured and uncultured unicellular eukaryotes now offer unprecedented opportunities to study cell-to-cell interactions. By uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying symbioses, we are gaining insights into both the ancient evolutionary history of eukaryotes, such as the origin of organelles, and the existing symbiotic interactions and their dynamics.
This symposium will highlight groundbreaking research that is unravelling the evolutionary and ecological roles of microbial eukaryotes’ symbioses. We will explore topics of establishment and fate of symbiotic interactions in microbial eukaryotes, from the origin and diversification of eukaryotes to the diverse symbioses seen today and how they might shift in the future.
A note to the meeting organizers: This is a fast moving field with many innovative new studies coming out – in 2024 there was an exciting meeting held on this topic in Costa Brava that was well attended – it will not be held again until 2026 – thus this session provides a broad community with an opportunity to present and discuss – and to gain key insights to developments across the field of evolution and visa versa. We selected emerging stars in early career stages as speakers – they are among those bringing new approaches to these topics in evolution and for broader implications in eukaryotic life.
Organizers
Dr. Nicolas Rode, INRAE
Dr. Florence Débarre, CNRS
Invited Speakers
Alice Namias, IDEEV, CNRS, Université Paris Saclay
Philipp Messer, Cornell University
Abstract
Genetic control methods are characterized by the release of organisms that are genetically altered to disrupt the reproduction of target pest populations. For example, these methods could be used to either suppress mosquito populations or to reduce their vectorial capacity. Genetic control is deeply embedded in evolutionary theory, involving concepts like the fitness effect of mutations, genetic incompatibilities, population dynamics of selfish genetic elements, etc. The success of these strategies crucially depends on our ability to assess the fitness of released individuals and their impact on the dynamics of target populations.
This symposium aims to bring together empiricists and theoreticians working in evolutionary ecology and in genetic control in order to synthetize recent advances in the field. We expect this diversity of backgrounds to foster fruitful discussions that will lead to new research avenues regarding the future of genetic control and will improve our ability to predict the immediate efficacy and long-term sustainability of control strategies.
Organizers
Dr. Miguel Angel Naranjo-Ortiz, University of Oslo
Dr. Dabao Sun Lü, University of Oslo
Invited Speakers
Hannah Johanneson, University of Stockholm
Marko Kaksonen, University of Geneva
Abstract
Multicellularity involves coordination of many different cells that then develop specialized functions, including offspring production. In most cases, these cells have genetically identical nuclei, thus preventing conflict among their different genetic components. When this is not true, organisms must face various threats, such as preventing cheating phenotypes and other internal genetic conflicts. Multicellular organizations involving genetically distinct components are not rare in nature. On the contrary, they are an integral part of the normal life cycle of various eukaryotic lineages and can also spontaneously emerge in various groups due to somatic mutations and diverse developmental processes. Although the topic was rather popular among evolutionary theorists during the XXth century, it is only recently that we have begun to explore it using genomic tools. How do these composite genetic organizations emerge and how are they maintained over time? What are the long-term evolutionary implications? What factors promote or prevent their emergence?
Organizers
Dr. Anne Duplouy, University of Helsinki
Prof. Wolfgang Miller, Medical University of Vienna
Invited Speakers
Dr. Lee Henry, Queen Marie Unviversity of London, UK
Dr. Marjolein BRUIJNING, University of Amsterdam
Abstract
Microbial symbiosis plays a pivotal role in shaping the ecological and evolutionary trajectories of both host and microbial species. Symbiotic microbes can confer novel metabolic capabilities, enhance nutrient acquisition, and alter host phenotypes, facilitating resilience and adaptive potential in the face of environmental pressures. In return, hosts can drive the reciprocal adaptation and diversification of microbes within these relationships, by actively selecting and shaping their microbial partners.
This symposium aims to bring together researchers questioning the importance of microbial symbiosis in promoting or challenging key evolutionary processes, such as adaptation, speciation, and ecological specialization in both hosts and microbes. By showcasing cutting-edge studies across diverse systems, we will re-examine the proposed roles of host-microbe interactions as drivers of rapid evolutionary change and/or as stabilizing forces in ecological interactions.
We invite contributions that explore the theoretical, molecular, ecological, and evolutionary mechanisms underpinning microbial symbiosis, to renew the dialogue around its implications for the development and diversification of life on Earth.
Organizers
Prof. Maren Wellenreuther, University of Auckland
Prof. Luciano Beheregaray, Flinders University
Associate Prof. Zachary Gompert, Utah State University
Prof. Yanhua Qu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology
Assistant Prof. Samridhi Chaturvedi, Tulane University, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Prof. Mitch Cruzan, Portland State University, Department of Biology
Principal Scientific Officer Clement Tsui, Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, National Centre for Infectious Disease
Adjunct Prof. Alison Goncalves Nazareno, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Department of Genetics, Ecology, and Evolution
Invited Speakers
Prof. Cameron Ghalambor, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
Dr. Santiago C. González Martínez, INRAE, Bordeaux, France
Abstract
This symposium, jointly organized by Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Applications, will showcase cutting-edge contributions of evolutionary genomics aimed at understanding, adapting to, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
By highlighting new research on the adaptive potential of populations in response to environmental challenges, the symposium seeks to address major gaps in our fundamental knowledge and the application of ‘omics’ tools to real-world conservation and management. Key themes include the interplay between genomic variation and environmental pressures, and then impacts of temperature extremes, resource shifts, habitat loss, and human-induced changes in the genomic diversity of populations. Additionally, the symposium welcomes contributions that investigate the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlying adaptation, including gene expression changes, mutations, microbiome changes and structural variants, and their relationship to population resilience and diversity. These studies are vital for understanding how genomic diversity buffers and enhances resilience of populations against environmental changes.
We are committed to fostering diversity by encouraging contributions from researchers across the globe, representing all career stages, and working in academia, applied research institutions, and industry. Accepted contributions will have the opportunity to be included in a joint Special Issue in Molecular Ecology and Evolutionary Applications.
Organizers
Dr. Simon Evans, University of Exeter
Dr. Erik Postma, University of Exeter
Invited Speakers
Patrik Nosil, Theoretical and Experimental Ecology (SETE), CNRS. Moulis. France
Colin Garroway, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba. Manitoba. Canada
Abstract
The continuing success of selective breeding in agriculture attests to our ability to confidently forecast evolutionary trajectories for traits of economic interest and in situations where we have close control of their environment. Yet when applied to wild or semi-wild populations, the potency of this predictive framework is often greatly reduced, as manifests in the so-called ‘paradox of stasis’. Amidst unprecedented environmental change and acceleration of the extinction crisis, it is more important than ever to have a reliable forecasting framework that anticipates the evolutionary trajectories of wild populations, which likely requires an ability to foresee both adaptive and non-adaptive evolutionary processes.
In this symposium, we will compile both empirical and theoretical insights to gauge our ability to forecast evolutionary biology’s defining processes. Looking beyond retrospective analysis of evolutionary parallelism, we will critically assess our ability to generate reliable – perhaps even actionable – forecasts of future evolutionary change in free-living populations. Beyond reporting the application of cutting-edge evolutionary forecasts, we will, for example, address the upper limits for forecasting accuracy, consider how environmental change scenarios can be accommodated, and identify which components of our predictive framework are most in need of improvement.
Organizers
Prof. David Liberles, Temple University
Prof. Raquel Assis, Florida Atlantic University
Invited Speakers
Ingo Ebersberger, Goethe University Frankfurt. Frankfurt. Germany
Anne-Ruxandra Carvunis, University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh. United States
Abstract
While individual genes can vary in sequence, splice pattern, expression, and function across species, the core genotypic blueprint for a species lies in the set of genes encoded in its genome. The sets of genes in a genome evolve through processes like sequence and regulatory evolution, gene duplication, gene loss, de novo gene origination, and lateral gene transfer. All of these processes can be modeled in a phylogenetic perspective and fit to genomic data. This symposium will include presentations on comparative genomics, on genomes with unusual sets of genes, and on mathematical/computational models to describe the evolution of genomes, where models meet data.
Organizers
Dr. Ophélie Ronce, CNRS Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution
Dr. Julie Gauzere, INRAE URFM
Dr. Santiago Gonzalez-Martinez, INRAE BIOGECO
Invited Speakers
Thibaut Capblancq, University of Grenoble.Grenoble. France.
Fabienne Rossum
Abstract
Contemporary climate change is altering biodiversity and its services, and these impacts will intensify in the future. There is increasing evidence that local adaptation to climate is disrupted by climate change and concern about the slow spontaneous pace of adaptation relative to the high speed of climate change. This has led to a growing demand for implementing assisted gene flow (AGF), in order to accelerate climate change adaptation. AGF refers to the managed translocation of individuals between populations within the current range of a species, to facilitate their adaptation to a warmer/drier climate and local persistence. Increasing gene flow in present-day populations to rescue their future adaptive potential has emerged as, either an appealing, low biological risk strategy for some, or an ethically questionable sorcerer’s apprentice solution for others. Several gaps in our knowledge prevent a fully informed debate about AGF. We lack empirical evidence about the effectiveness of AGF under different ecological and management settings. We still have very few tools to predict when AGF is truly needed; and when needed, we lack information about the best sources of genetic material. AGF also challenges the conceptions of prediction and uncertainty in the design of expertise and raises questions about values of conservation when altering the evolution of species. Evolutionary biology has much to bring to these debates, where studies of gene flow and adaptive potential are central to management practices. Yet, research on AGF is just starting to emerge as a distinct field. This symposium will bring together researchers working on this topic, with different approaches (both theoretical and empirical) and organisms, allowing them to connect and identify in particular how this research unfolds at the European level.
Organizers
Dr. Cécile Courret, EGCE, CNRS Université Paris Saclay
Dr. Beatriz Navarro Domínguez, Universidad di Granada
Invited Speakers
Antoine Molaro, Genetics, Reproduction and Development Institute (iGReD), CNRS UMR 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Laura Ross, Institute of Evolutionary Biology University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Abstract
Intragenomic conflict emerges when genetic elements within the same genome have conflicting evolutionary interests, often sparked by the presence of selfish genetic elements that exploit reproductive mechanisms to bias inheritance. These elements, which can include transposable elements, meiotic drivers, B chromosomes and cytoplasmic factors, deploy diverse strategies to favor their own transmission at the expense of other genomic components. Common tactics include overreplication, killing the alternative gametes, taking advantage of the asymmetry in female meiosis, and manipulating progeny sex ratios. By manipulating reproductive processes, these elements can affect individual fertility and alter the karyotype of progeny, often spreading through populations despite having deleterious effects on host fitness. This manipulation initiates an antagonistic coevolutionary cycle—an evolutionary arms race characterized by “Red Queen” dynamics—where genomes evolve suppressors to counteract the spread of these selfish elements, which in turn evolve to evade suppression.
This symposium will explore the genomic and evolutionary consequences of such intragenomic conflicts, examining how they drive rapid adaptation and contribute to biological diversity. We will focus on topics such as the role of selfish genetic elements in shaping genome architecture, gene regulation, sex determination, and hybrid viability. Additionally, we aim to discuss the broader evolutionary impacts of genetic conflict, including genome rearrangements, skewed sex ratios, hybrid sterility, and the potential for interspecies introgression of selfish elements. Together, these sessions will offer insights into how genetic conflict influences both population structure and the fundamental processes underlying evolutionary change.
Organizers
Dr. Marcial Escudero, University of Seville
Dr. Kay Lucek, University of Neuchatel
Dr. Petr Nguyen, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Invited Speakers
Amanda Larracuente, University of Rochester
Kohta Yoshida, Niigata University
Abstract
The proposed symposium, “Genome Architecture and Their Role in Evolution” addresses one of the most transformative areas in evolutionary biology: how genomic structures shape evolution, in particular species formation and adaptation. This topic is timely and relevant, considering recent advances in genomics that reveal the significance of structural changes—such as genomic rearrangements, satellite DNA dynamics, and structure of centromeres—in driving speciation, adaptation, and sexual system evolution. Dr. Kohta Yoshida’s experimental work on genomic rearrangements in nematodes offers a novel perspective on speciation and sexual system evolution, while Dr. Amanda Larracuente’s research on satellite DNAs, meiotic drive, and Y chromosome evolution provides essential insights into the functional and evolutionary implications of genome architecture. Together, these invited speakers represent a balance of gender and bring geographic diversity (from Asia and North America into a European meeting), fostering a global dialogue. This symposium will stimulate discussion on the cellular mechanisms by which genome architecture changes influence evolutionary processes, therefore bridge between the fields of cell biology, genomics and speciation, making it a significant addition to ESEB 2025.
Organizers
Prof. Erich Bornberg-Bauer, Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck-Institute for Biology
Dr. Barbara Feldmeyer, Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung
Dr. Eckart Stolle, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB)
Invited Speakers
Robert Waterhouse, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Swiss
Ann Kathrin Huylmans, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Abstract
Comparative Evolutionary Genomics (CEG) is a powerful combination of methods which allows to investigate a multitude of data in order to reconstruct past evolutionary events such as major innovations at the level of genomes and/or associated phenotypic traits. Reconstructing the emergence of new traits from an integrated perspective allows conclusions which go far beyond the limited perspective when studying model species.
The aim of this session is to present exciting results and applications of CEG based on state-of-the-art methods (e.g. genomics, transcriptomics and epigenomics) and their possible combinations.
We will focus on the insect taxon because they are rich in genomic data, relatively easily amenable and display an unparalleled plethora of innovations such as the gain and loss of sociality or mating systems, evolution of complex systems of communication, interaction, defense and immunity; developmental and morphological innovations or phenotypic plasticity.
We will call upon researchers from across the world to present recent insights using insect CEG studying the roles of: coding vs. regulatory changes, transposable elements, epigenetic regulation, gene family evolution, copy number dynamics, and structural genomic rearrangements. We expect an exciting cross-fertilisation between molecular evolution, genetics, bioinformatics and entomology and a lively discussion about related latest developments.
Organizers
Dr. Samantha V. Beck, UHI Inverness, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dalhousie University
Dr. Ian R. Bradbury, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Invited Speakers
Matthew Fitzpatrick, University of Maryland. Maryland. United States
Shawn Narum, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Portland. United States
Abstract
Rapid environmental change is altering biodiversity and driving shifts in species’ ranges. These changes can lead to phenological mismatches, heightening population vulnerability and disrupting ecological interactions. Genomic tools provide powerful insights into the genetic architecture of adaptive traits, particularly those linked to phenology, helping to understand the vulnerability of populations to climate change and their capacity for range shifts. In this symposium, we highlight our current understanding of the genomic basis of adaptation to climate change, with focal areas of research covering genomic forecasts and traits linked to phenology. By bringing together a diversity of researchers using novel genomic tools to address fundamental conservation concerns, we hope that this symposium inspires collaboration among researchers and promotes the development of innovative methods and strategies for conservation and evolutionary rescue. Our goal is to advance the application of genomic insights to predict species’ responses to environmental changes and to inform management practices that support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in an increasingly unpredictable climate.
Organizers
Dr. Jean-Baptiste Ledoux, Ciimar-Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
Dr. Didier Aurelle, MNHM-Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle
Invited Speakers
Ophélie Ronce, Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, Montpellier, France
Mikhail Matz, University of Texas, Austin, USA
Abstract
The evolution of biodiversity in response to global change is a central concern for society and scientific community. Habitat-forming species, such as trees, corals, seaweeds or kelps, are characterized by a key ecological role. Indeed, by increasing habitat 3D structure and complexity, they support many different species and related ecosystem services in a variety of communities from terrestrial and marine forests to tropical coral reefs. Yet, these habitat-forming species are also particularly impacted by anthropogenic pressures, including anthropogenic climate change. For instance, extreme climatic events such as heatwaves are driving large scale mass mortalities both in terrestrial (e.g. tree mortalities) and marine environments (e.g. coral bleaching events). Interestingly, habitat forming species share various life-history traits which influence their response to on-going environmental change. For instance, they are all characterized by a sessile adult phase, which limit their ability to escape adverse environmental conditions suggesting the important role of plasticity. Many habitat forming species are long-lived species with late sexual maturity (long generation time). They can show complex reproductive strategies (sexual and asexual). Recently, the roles of somatic mutations in their evolution were also highlighted. These characteristics question the adaptive abilities of habitat forming species in particular in the face of rapid anthropogenic climate change. This is a concerning issue since their evolutionary potential will have deep consequences on the associated ecosystems.
Here, we aim to discuss the evolution of terrestrial and marine habitat-forming species impacted by global change, including climate change. We encourage studies adopting a multidisciplinary perspective combining for instance population genetics, genomics, transcriptomics, experiments (common gardens or reciprocal transplants), long term in situ monitoring, symbiotic interactions, genomic offset and modeling. We expect to shed light on adaptive potential, whether genetic or plastic, of these ecological key species and to discuss the implications for their conservation and restoration.
Organizers
Dr. Alexander Bowles, University of Oxford
Dr. James Clark, University of Bath
Invited Speakers
Rosa Fernández, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Barcelona, Spain
Sven Gould, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
Abstract
Evolution has been characterized by a series of major morphological innovations, often associated with the gain of genomic novelty. Gene gains have played a fundamental role in the origins of animals and land plants, while genome duplication has driven the diversification of vertebrates and flowering plants. However, evolution does not always result in greater complexity. The role of loss in evolution, by contrast, remains relatively underexplored. Aided by sophisticated omics data and advanced analytical techniques, the prevalence and significance of reductive events in evolutionary history are being elucidated. Recent research has revealed that groups such as bryophytes, fungi, and tardigrades have undergone significant gene loss and genome simplification, shaping their evolutionary trajectories. In this symposium, we will explore this important but overlooked evolutionary process. Our speakers will present recent studies that shed light on the role of reductive evolution across the tree of life. This symposium also provides a timely opportunity to highlight and discuss the mechanisms of reductive evolution across diverse taxonomic groups, offering new perspectives on how simplification can be as crucial to evolution as complexity.
Organizers
Dr. Eyal Privman, University of Haifa
Dr. Jonathan Romiguier, University of Montpellier
Invited Speakers
Catherine Linnen, University of Kentuckym, Lexington, KY, USA
Konrad Lohse, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Abstract
Any species may be confronted with complex challenges that require complex adaptations, likely involving multiple genes. In these evolutionary processes linkage between genes becomes adaptive, leading to clustering of functionally related genes in certain genomic regions. Additionally, suppression of recombination may contribute to linkage. In the same manner that sex chromosomes can determine male or female phenotypes, recurrent evolution of other non-recombining genomic regions (so-called “supergenes”) can affect virtually any complex polymorphic phenotype, ranging from butterfly wing patterns, through bird reproductive behavior, to floral morphology. Such evolutionary genomic mechanisms may take place at the level of non-recombining chromosomal segments (supergenes), and even at the level of whole non-recombining genomes (supergenomes) in populations formed by hybridogenesis between divergent lineages. This symposium aspires to bring together research that leverages genomics to decipher the molecular bases of complex traits and how these drive the ecological success of organisms.
Organizers
Dr. Macarena Toll Riera, Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (CSIC-UPF)
Dr Álvaro San Millán, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC)
Dr Javier de la Fuente, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC)
Invited Speakers
Sara Mitri, University of Lausanne. Lausanne. Switzerland
Itzik Mizrahi, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Beersheba. Israel
Abstract
Microorganisms are extremely abundant and inhabit almost every single ecosystem on Earth. Microorganisms play an important role in ecosystem functioning, for human health and biotechnological applications. Importantly, the environments in which they live are constantly changing, for example, due to sudden temperature increases, scarcity of nutrients or the presence of antibiotics. How do microorganisms rapidly adapt to survive to abrupt stress? This symposium will discuss the latest research on the topic, including results from different approaches such as experimental evolution, comparative genomics and modelling. The symposium aims to reflect the vast microbial diversity, with a focus not only on model microorganisms but also on non-model microorganisms and microbial communities.
Organizers
Dr. Cheryl Andam, University At Albany, State Univ Of New York
Dr. Ben Pascoe, University of Oxford
Invited Speakers
Eduardo P. C. Rocha, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Matthias Horn, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Abstract
In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, the Red Queen explains that it takes all the running one can do just to stay in the same place. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) embodies this Red Queen race in evolution. HGT provides organisms with rapid genetic innovations—genes for antibiotic resistance, environmental resilience, or metabolic adaptation—that help them keep pace with evolutionary pressures. Yet, ecological, mechanistic, and adaptive barriers challenge the spread of these advantageous genes, creating a constant push and pull in the genetic arms race. This symposium will examine both the drivers and obstacles of HGT, spotlighting methods to detect these events and the impact on genetic diversity, species boundaries, and ecological adaptation. As in the Red Queen’s world, evolution by HGT is a relentless chase, where organisms must continuously acquire new traits just to survive and thrive in a competitive, shifting environment.
This symposium on HGT is especially timely as rapid advances in genomics and bioinformatics have opened new avenues for understanding gene flow across diverse species. HGT is pivotal in the context of antimicrobial resistance, environmental resilience, and evolutionary adaptation—issues that are increasingly urgent given the global challenges of emerging infectious diseases, climate change, and biodiversity loss. New insights into HGT mechanisms, from non-canonical pathways to mobile genetic elements, reveal its critical role in adaptive survival strategies, but also underscore barriers that influence the spread of advantageous traits. With the recent availability of large-scale genome data across species and domains, this session will enable researchers to share cutting-edge tools and techniques to detect and quantify HGT events, driving forward our understanding of genetic diversity, speciation, and ecological adaptation. Bringing together experts on HGT’s ecological and evolutionary impacts is crucial to inform public health, environmental, and evolutionary research today.
Organizers
Dr. Thibault Latrille, Université de Lausanne
Dr. Carolin Kosiol, University of St Andrews
Dr. Théo Gaboriau, Université de Lausanne
Invited Speakers
Lee Hsiang Liow, Natural History Museum. Oslo. Norway
Jonathan Rolland, CNRS. Toulouse. France
Abstract
Recent advancements in phylogenetics, phylogenetic comparative methods, and high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping tools provide unprecedented opportunities for studying evolution across different evolutionary time scales. The wealth of emerging molecular and phenotypic data and new integrative statistical tools enable us to address one of the most enduring questions in evolutionary biology: whether and how evolutionary processes observed at population levels scale up to the diversity observed at higher taxonomic levels. This symposium will bring together a variety of topics and approaches that aim at addressing the interface between microevolution and macroevolution. We aim to thrust the field forward by showcasing state-of-the-art approaches that make inferences about macroevolutionary patterns and processes from microevolutionary mechanisms, with an overarching goal to stimulate the use of these powerful approaches for wider fields of evolutionary biology. This symposium will also connect researchers exploring the same questions and raise awareness about model systems that help answer these fundamental questions.
Organizers
Prof. Carles Lalueza-Fox, Natural Sciences Museum of Barcelona, Institute of Evolutionary Biology
Invited Speakers
M. Thomas P. Gilbert, The Globe Institute, Copenhagen (Denmark)
Beth Shapiro, University of Santa Cruz, California and Colossal
Abstract
Museomics is emerging as a distinct discipline from ancient DNA research and involves natural history museums and herbaria across the world. Museomics can be defined as the application of -omics techniques (genomics, paleogenomics and even paleoproteomics) to previously intractable historical and archival specimens that allow the retrieval of genomic data from extinct or currently declining species. This information has the potential to document genetic erosion in endangered species, to obtain genomes from extinct species, to establish molecular phylogenies, to understand species invasions in the last few centuries, to resolve taxonomic doubts with holotypes, and to explore past diversity of extant species, prior to the current climate crisis. In addition, it can provide information on epigenetic modifications or even past pathogens, which can be of biomedical interest. Natural history museums and researchers alike are now ready to establish museomics protocols. Protocols should be designed to minimize destructive sampling and specific technical approaches have to be planned depending on the species and the type of material, as well as previous success rates of the experimental procedures.
Organizers
Prof. Aurora Ruiz-Herrera, Universitat Autonoma Barcelona
Dr. Thea Rogers, University of Vienna
Dr. Rui Faria, University of Porto
Invited Speakers
Claire Mérot, University of Rennes (France)
Harris Lewin, Arizona State University (USA)
Abstract
The study of genome structure and function across diverse phylogroups is key for our understanding of evolutionary dynamics and their role in speciation and the generation of biodiversity. In this context, the evolution of chromatin conformation is fundamental for deciphering the mechanisms underlying the origin and evolvability of genome architecture, opening new frontiers in comparative genomics and evolution.
This rapidly accelerating research field is fueled by significant recent progress in genomic resources, including the generation of complete genomes. Consequently, this symposium will delve into a cutting-edge area of evolutionary biology, exploring the relationships between 3D genome organization and the evolution of novel genomic, recombination and regulatory patterns. It will provide a forum to discuss topics ranging from local regulatory architecture—focusing on the intricate interactions between genes —to large-scale genomic processes that can shape the evolution of regulatory regions.
Topics will include, but are not limited to, large-scale genome rearrangements, transcriptional regulation through long-distance enhancer-promoter interactions and chromosome-scale phenomena such as meiosis and dosage compensation. The symposium will also cover functional and comparative genomics, examining the conservation and divergence of genome topology across species. This comparative approach will shed light on the distinct evolutionary trajectories of lineages and offer valuable insights into the genetic underpinnings of species’ adaptation and innovation.
Organizers
Dr. Eduard Ocana-Pallares, Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Dr. Carla Gonçalves, Centro de Recursos Microbiológicos, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Dr. Michelle Leger, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University
Invited Speakers
Thomas Richards, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Emile Gluck-Thaler, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, US
Abstract
Inspired by the Darwinian metaphor of the tree of life, evolution, particularly in eukaryotes, has historically been seen as a process consisting of vertical inheritance and divergence accumulation from the parental line. Griffith experiments incorporated an additional layer of complexity by demonstrating the faculty of bacterial cells to horizontally exchange genetic material between them. Nearly a century later, horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is now recognized as a major evolutionary mechanism in prokaryotes. Recent phylogenetic studies have, however, demonstrated that HGT has been and is being an important contributor to eukaryotic evolution. Yet, the exact prevalence, the involved mechanisms, and the relative importance of HGT -and more broadly reticulate evolutionary mechanisms- in eukaryotic evolution is an important ongoing debate in the community. This symposium is a call for the community to meet, present, and discuss the most recent findings and advances in the field of reticulate evolution in eukaryotes.
Organizers
Dr. Daniel Tamarit, Utrecht University
Dr. Laura Eme, University of Rhode Island, Université Paris-Saclay
Invited Speakers
Andrew Roger, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
Anja Spang, NIOZ, Texel, the Netherlands
Abstract
The tree of life is a key unifying concept in biology: it is the framework that results from the shared evolutionary history of all known life, and it enables us to understand the relationships, origins, and diversity of life on Earth. Strong advances in phylogenomics have yielded more refined inferences of the tree of life from genome sequences, but resolving deep branches remains extremely challenging. Some of the major methodological roadblocks relate to the identification of non-vertical phylogenetic signals in sequence alignments or the development and application of realistic evolutionary models. Additionally, the advent of novel approaches such as gene-tree-species-tree reconciliation or the promise of structure-informed inferences open exciting research avenues in evolutionary bioinformatics. Recent advances on these methods are providing novel insights into the early evolution of life on Earth. This symposium will highlight cutting-edge methodological developments in phylogenomics and their application to the exploration of the most ancient and enigmatic branches of life’s history. This focus aligns with foundational questions about the roots and diversification of life and incarnates some of the major themes underlying ESEB 2025, especially Phylogenomics (6) and Origin and early evolution of life (15), but also integrate seamlessly multiple additional themes, such as Models and methods in evolution (10), and Microbial evolution (19). Our suggested invited speakers will cover some of the most promising advances in deep phylogenomics, including the generation of sophisticated evolution models (Andrew Roger, Dalhousie University) and cross-braced phylogenetic dating (Anja Spang, NIOZ), which are illuminating the roots of the three domains of life. This field is at the forefront of research in evolutionary biology, and we expect high-quality submitted abstracts on this topic. Altogether, we envision a fascinating session and a fruitful discussion on phylogenomic frontiers that will impulse the field forward.
Organizers
Dr. Anthony Redmond, School of Medicine, University College Dublin
Dr. Mattia Giacomelli, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona
Dr. Jesús Lozano-Fernández, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona
Invited Speakers
Mary J. O’Connell, University of Nottingham. Nottingham. United Kingdom
Paschalia Kapli, Natural History Museum. London. United Kingdom
Abstract
Despite many successes, it is clear that a plethora of biological and analytical factors have prevented phylogenomics from producing a resolved tree of life. Adequate and tractable solutions to these problems, as well as a better understanding of how and when they impact our analyses, are needed for the field to progress. Importantly, the burst in availability of densely-sampled and high-quality chromosome-scale genome sequences alongside new and refined methodological strategies are together providing a new hope for resolution of difficult phylogenetic problems. Researchers are now placing increased emphasis on making complex models tractable for big data, on how to best subset data to hone in on true phylogenetic signal, as well as on the problem of distinguishing gene tree errors (i.e. stochastic, modelling, and orthology) from biological phenomena (i.e. incomplete lineage sorting, hybridisation) for dataset assembly and analysis method selection. Simulation-based approaches are helping us understand which issues drive incongruence and which hypotheses our approaches bias us towards. Excitingly, alternative molecular characters, such as genome and protein structures, are now being applied to solve long-standing problems. This symposium will bring together researchers developing and applying state-of-the-art strategies and data to infer difficult phylogenies across the tree of life.
Organizers
Dr. Elizabeth Mittell, University of Edinburgh
Dr. Joel Pick, University of Edinburgh
Invited Speakers
Prof. Jill Anderson, University of Georgia, United States
Dr. Pierre de Villemereuil, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
Abstract
In a time of unprecedented global change, we need to improve our ability to understand the consequences of rapid environmental change on wild populations to prevent further biodiversity loss. There is increasing understanding that evolution can occur on ecological timescales, and that ecological and evolutionary processes can feedback upon each other in so-called eco-evolutionary dynamics. By incorporating predictions of evolutionary change, we can therefore begin to understand if populations are able to adapt to changing ecological conditions, and therefore persist through the Anthropocene. However, there is often a large disparity in our predictions of micro-evolutionary change and the observed phenotypic change. Our ability to predict short term evolutionary change in an ecologically relevant context in wild populations is highly dependent on our ability to quantify and disentangle evolutionary and ecological processes. For example, estimates of evolutionary change can be influenced by the social environment, unaccounted for life-history trade-offs, density regulation and fluctuations in the environment. Predicting the response to selection in the absence of understanding this ecological context reduces our ability to predict evolutionary change in wild populations, and so limits our understanding of whether populations can adapt. With this symposium, we aim to bring together researchers who are investigating how we can improve our estimates of both selection and inheritance, and what these improvements may be able to tell us about predicting evolutionary change over ecological timescales in wild populations.
Organizers
Dr. Pauline Scanlan, University College Cork
Prof. Ville-Petri Friman
Invited Speakers
Frédérique la Roux, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
Angus Buckling, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
Abstract
Bacteria and bacteriophages are ubiquitous in nature, and their interactions have wide-ranging effects on the ecology and evolution of microbial populations, as well as entire ecosystems. Nonetheless, much of our knowledge on bacteria-phage co-existence and co-evolution to date has been derived from simplified in vitro experiments and it is not yet clear how data from the laboratory translates to the real world where these parasites and hosts are embedded in complex communities. Accordingly, the dynamics and consequences of bacteria-phage interactions in nature remain poorly understood.
In this symposium we will address key open questions regarding the mode, tempo and consequences of bacteria-phage coevolution in complex communities. We will primarily focus on whether bacteria-phage interactions and co-evolution are affected by and shape the surrounding microbial communities (community outputs). We will also explore the emerging theme of nested co-evolution whereby bacteria-phage interactions within microbiomes can cascade through trophic networks, affecting the fitness, ecology and evolution of their associated eukaryotic hosts (e.g. plants, animals and humans). This symposium will be of broad interest and relevance to a diverse audience of evolutionary biologists including those interested in host-parasite interactions and co-evolution, within-host evolution, community ecology, microbiome research and phage therapy.
Organizers
Prof. Rhonda Snook, Stockholm University
Prof. Amanda Bretman, University of Leeds
Dr. Liam Dougherty, University of Liverpool
Dr. Claudia Fricke, University of Halle
Invited Speakers
Dr. Belinda van Heerwaarden, University of Melbourne
Dr. Sergey Rosbakh, University of Copenhagen
Abstract
How changing environmental conditions influence adaptation and population persistence is a critical question in evolutionary ecology. Many traits are subject to selection in a changing world, but one subset of traits receiving substantial recent interest is the effects of environmental abiotic stress on fertility and reproductive success. While a rich literature exists on how stress impacts reproductive fitness, relatively little work has placed this in the context of response to ongoing anthropogenic change, and subsequent implications for species management and conservation. This symposium aims to highlight recent progress and future prospects of the field, including core questions such as how environmental stress driven by climate change affects different reproductive fitness traits, how multiple stressors interact to influence reproductive success, sex-specific variation in response to such stress, plasticity versus adaptive potential in a rapidly changing world, and potential evolutionary and ecological consequences including effects on population persistence, speciation, and subsequent community-level impacts. We envision both empirical and theoretical contributions, and will particularly encourage early career researchers to participate. This symposium is organized on behalf of the ESEB-funded Special Topic Network (STN) The Evolutionary Ecology of Thermal Fertility Limits.
Organizers
Dr. Anne Kupczok, Wageningen University
Dr. Franz Baumdicker, Tübingen University
Dr. Jaime Iranzo, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Invited Speakers
Jesse Shapiro, McGill University
Anna Dewar, University of Oxford
Abstract
Pangenomes describe the set of all genes in a microbial species. For most species, pangenomes contain substantially more genes than any single genome. Because such genes can be horizontally transferred within and across populations, the pangenome represents a pool of genes of different functions that can enhance the adaptability of microbes to changing environments. Bacterial species vary in the size and shape of their pangenomes, for example by showing a range of variation in the proportion of core and accessory genes. The shape of microbial pangenomes results from a combination of selection and non-adaptive processes, such as horizontal gene transfer, gene loss, and migration. Particularly, complex selection processes, such as frequency-dependent selection and epistasis between genes, are expected to play an important role in microbial pangenomes. Vice versa, the distribution of genes in bacterial pangenomes impacts the adaptability and evolutionary plasticity of bacterial populations. The recent steep increase in bacterial genome sequencing data and advances in high-throughput laboratory methods now provide the opportunity to describe and understand the different evolutionary factors that shape these pangenomes. This symposium will bring together scientists working on experimental approaches, comparative genomics analyses, and evolutionary modelling to develop an understanding of the different evolutionary processes that shape pangenomes and the eco-evolutionary implications of pangenome variability across prokaryotes.
Organizers
Dr. Bruno Cuevas-Zuviría, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA/CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Ms. Evrim Fer, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dr. Katsumi Hagino, Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Arts and Science, The University of Tokyo
Invited Speakers
Ryo Mizuuchi, Department of Electrical Engineering and Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Thomas Gorochowski , -School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
Abstract
Biological life is a conundrum from its origins to its future. Origin of life studies is an interdisciplinary field of understanding how life on Earth emerged from prebiotic era. Meanwhile, synthetic biology is a powerful tool for engineering biological systems to understand how molecular mechanisms work and diversify. In this symposium, we aim to spark an interdisciplinary dialogue between researchers studying origins of life and those advancing with synthetic biology around the common ground of evolution. As an outcome of this session, we hope to generate new insights into both the deep past and the future trajectory of life as we know it. We welcome contributions from diverse range of fields including but not limited to synthetic biology, molecular paleobiology, phylogeny, complex systems, protocells, system modeling and astrobiologists. Whether you are studying origins of life or engineering biological networks or develop novel methods, we encourage everyone to share their studies and engage in the discussions that bridge past and future of biology.
Organizers
Dr. Claire Mérot, CNRS ECOBIO- Université de Rennes,
Mr. Sann Delaive, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval
Invited Speakers
Neda Barghi, Institute of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna, Austria
Krushnamegh Kunte, National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, India
Abstract
There is palpable excitement surrounding the ability of genomics to characterize various genetic architectures underpinning the fundamental processes of adaptation and speciation. Omic approaches provide unprecedented insights into the evolution of entire genomes, the characterization of structural variants, and a deeper understanding of gene regulation and interaction networks. The high-resolution capacity to screen genomes across individuals and species, combined with genotype-environment and genotype-phenotype associations, has revealed the diversity of genetic architectures underlying phenotypic traits. This ranges from similar architectures in response to comparable environmental pressures to the complexity of polygenic traits.
Beyond documenting the genetic basis of adaptation or speciation, evolutionary biology seeks to answer fundamental questions: Why does a particular genetic architecture evolve in response to specific conditions? How does the architecture itself influence the trajectory of species and their diversification? Understanding this requires broader contextual factors. Recent theoretical frameworks have expanded our ability to model and interpret the interplay between demography, selection, and genetic architecture. Conversely, empirical studies effectively combine historical, geographic, and taxonomic information to elucidate the origins and maintenance of various genomic architectures. Experimental biology remains critical in validating genotype-phenotype links and uncovering epistasis and pleiotropy.
To fully grasp the evolution of adaptive diversity—whether in populations, species, or phenotypes—our symposium aims to foster a dynamic and interactive dialogue. By bringing together researchers from genomics and other branches of evolutionary biology, this symposium will offer a comprehensive overview of how genomic architectures manifest across a variety of species, traits, and evolutionary contexts and underlie diversification.
[NB: To fully represent the diversity of ESEB members, we will not only pay attention to the scientific quality of abstracts but also aim towards balancing gender, career level and geographic origins. The invited speakers represent different nationalities while organizers cover different career levels (PhD, early-career PI) and minorities (Asian, female).]
Organizers
Dr. Hannah Augustijnen, University of Fribourg
Dr. Harshavardhan Thyagarajan, University of Fribourg
Invited Speakers
Meike Wittmann, Bielefeld University. Bielefeld. Germany
Karl Grieshop, University of East Anglia. Norwich. England
Abstract
In the face of decades of work, the maintenance of heritable variation for fitness remains an unresolved question in population genetics. Natural populations often display much more fitness variance than mutation-selection balance or single-locus heterozygote advantage alone can account for.
To explain this surplus variance, alternative processes, such as negative frequency-dependent selection, multi-locus balancing selection, spatially or temporally varying selection, antagonistic selection, or genotype-by-environment interactions, have been invoked, yet fundamental questions about the role of these mechanisms in maintaining polymorphism remain open.
Despite growing theoretical and empirical interest, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of such “non-classical” forms of balancing selection and their relative contributions to the maintenance of genetic variance. This symposium aims to spotlight emerging examples of non-classical balancing selection and to address key outstanding questions: (1) How prevalent are these processes in natural populations, and how frequently do they interact? (2) Do they produce distinct population genetic signatures? Can we disentangle such signatures in genomic data? Alternatively, can we devise experiments to identify the type of balancing selection at play?
To foster a discussion of these fundamental issues, our symposium aims to bring together theoreticians and empiricists studying a variety of processes and systems that result in balanced polymorphisms. We welcome contributions from researchers at any career stage.
Organizers
Prof. Erik Svensson, Department of Biology, Lund University
Dr. Stephen De Lisle
Prof. Lesley Lancaster
Invited Speakers
Jeremy Michael Beaulieu, Fayetteville. Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas. USA
Rosana Zenil-Ferguson, Lexington. Department of Biology. University of Kentucky. USA
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the possible role of time-dependency in evolutionary rates. Such putative time-dependency include systematic slowdowns or accelerations of phenotypic change, speciation and extinction rates estimated from phylogenies, morphological rates in the fossil record and rates of molecular evolution. The strength and generality of these associations has led some researchers argue that there are the rate of evolution appears to be slower over longer (macroevolutionary) temporal scales, or conversely, rates appears to be faster over short timescales. If rate shifts are real, systematic time-dependency of evolutionary rates will have major consequences for our understanding of the temporal scaling of evolution and for efforts to build bridges between micro- and macroevolution. However, claims for systematic time-dependency have also been criticized, and some researchers argue that such (perceived) time-dependency could result from statistical or methodological artefacts. Thus, it is unclear the degree to which rate-time scaling reflects actual time-dependence of the evolutionary process.
In this symposium, we will discuss the problem of time-dependency across temporal scales, aiming to clarify what may be artefact versus real patterns and how it will affect our understanding of evolution. We invite evolutionary ecologists, comparative biologists, developmental biologists, molecular evolutionists, paleontologists and all other researchers interested in the problem of time-dependency to this cross-disciplinary and highly integrative symposium. We will discuss the methodological and statistical challenges of studying time-dependency in evolution in both extant and extinct organisms. One of our aims with this symposium is to stimulate further discussion of time-dependency in micro- and macroevolution. We will cover methodological, empirical and statistical aspects as well as more conceptual and theoretical issues. We also aim to prepare the ground for a joint review article or theme issue in e. g. Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
Organizers
Dr. Julian Vosseberg, Wageningen University & Research
Dr. Carlos Santana Molina, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research
Invited Speakers
Joel Dacks, University of Alberta. Edmonton. Canada
Purificación López-García, Université Paris-Saclay. Gif-sur-Yvette. France
Abstract
The emergence of eukaryotes from its prokaryotic ancestors (eukaryogenesis) around 2 billion years ago represents one of the most enigmatic evolutionary events. Eukaryotic cells are much more complex than bacterial and archaeal cells, as shown by their relatively large sizes, large genomes and compartmentalized nature resulting from membrane-bound organelles. One of these eukaryotic organelles is the mitochondrion, which originated from an endosymbiosis and whose possible role in triggering eukaryogenesis is the topic of a lively debate. In phylogenies, the eukaryotic stem lineage is very long, highlighting both the magnitude of molecular evolution along the stem and the lack of extant intermediate lineages, which makes this major transition in cellular complexity an evolutionary enigma.
In the last decade, the increasing amount of (meta)genome data and computational developments in, for instance, phylogenomics have drastically changed our views on the tree of life and eukaryogenesis in particular. The expanding diversity of Asgard archaea, the closest archaeal relatives of eukaryotes, and the first glimpses of their molecular and cellular characterization by means of cultivation, imaging and biochemical analyses, have sharpened our understanding of the archaeal ancestor of eukaryotes. In addition, the bacterial ancestor of mitochondria, potential other lineages involved, the ecological context, the order in which eukaryotic features emerged and the nature of the last eukaryotic common ancestor are active areas of research.
In this symposium, we would like to congregate researchers that are working on the origin and early evolution of eukaryotes from prokaryotic and eukaryotic point of views. For that reason, we have invited as speakers Purificación López-García (prokaryotic, ecological perspective) and Joel Dacks (eukaryotic, cell biological perspective). We think that the combination of different perspectives could create a fruitful scientific environment to discuss the most recent advances as well as promote inspiring future directions in the field.
Abstract
This symposium will accommodate excellent abstracts that, due to time constraints or to thematic aspects, do not fit in the other thematic symposia. Authors are also free to submit to this symposium if they consider their topic do not fit in the other thematic symposia.