Biological Invasions: Challenges for Science and Society

14-15 September 2017

Sven Bacher, University of Fribourg (CH)

Louis-Félix Bersier, University of Fribourg (CH)

Heinz Müller-Schärer, University of Fribourg (CH)

Rudolf Rohr, University of Fribourg (CH)

Franz Essl, University of Vienna (AT)

Jonathan Jeschke, Humboldt University of Berlin (DE)

Christoph Kueffer, HSR Rapperswil (CH)

Ingolf Kühn, University of Halle & Environmental Research Centre UFZ (DE)

Sabrina Kumschick, Center of Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University (ZA)

Jonathan Levine, ETH Zurich (CH)

Dov Sax, Brown University, Providence (US)

Workshop Description

Biological invasions are considered as one of the major threats to biodiversity and are also causing large socio-economic effects. The exchange of organisms is increasing exponentially and society is faced with the task of stemming the tide to mitigate the harmful effects of invasive species. Research on biological invasions is increasing exponentially and it is time to make an audit of the state of the discipline: do we have achieved what we intended and are we going in the right direction? This workshop will review how well we understand and manage current invasions, how well we can forecast new and harmful alien species and pathways and prevent newly emerging problematic alien species.

We will tackle important questions such as:

• Is there a fundamental difference between native and alien species?
• What is the contribution of invasion biology to science?
• How can we integrate environmental and socio economic impacts of alien species?
• What do we need to know to reach Aichi target 9 (prioritization of alien species and pathways)?
• How effective is the new EU Regulation on alien species?

This 3rd cycle seminar brings together renowned international researchers in invasion ecology. Experts will present state-of-the-art knowledge on this topic, from both conceptual and empiric angles. The course is aimed at students with a general interest in population, community, and conservation ecology, as well as at students working on the interface of science and society. PhD students and postdocs will also have the opportunity to present their work as poster.

Speakers Presentations

Franz Essl: The macroecology of biological invasions: What global databases tell us (and what not)

Jonathan Jeschke: Invasion hypotheses: theory and evidence

Christoph Küffer: Plant invasions: new solutions for the Anthropocene

Ingolf Kühn: Are there fundamental differences between native and alien species?

Sabrina Kumschick: Impact scoring methods, missing data, and how to collect impact data

Jonathan Levine: Ecological theory predicts the invasibility of communities and speed of invasion

Petr Pysek: Our frameworks are only as good as our data: is invasion biology after the right things?

Dov Sax: The conservation benefits of non-native populations

University of Fribourg

1 - 1.5

1 ECTS: Full attendance and active participation

1.5 ECTS: Full attendance, active participation and presentation of your research.

When?

14-15 September 2017

Where?

University of Fribourg (CH)

Questions?

Caroline Betto-Colliard

@: ecologie-evolution(at)cuso(dot)ch

Phone: +41 (0)21 692 42 44

Fees:

Conference attendance:

- Registration if free for PhD students of the DPEE and of the Doctoral program in Organismal biology

- 30 CHF for all others (coffee breaks, material, ...)

Thursday Evening Dinner:

- 25 CHF for PhD students of the DPEE

- 50 CHF for all others

Reimbursement:

PhD students of the DPEE are eligible for reimbursement of incurred travel expenses by train (half-fare card, and 2nd class). Please send the original tickets (no copies, except for the general abonnement) with the reimbursement form to:

Caroline Betto-Colliard

Doctoral Program in Ecology and Evolution  

DEE- Biophore Building  

University of Lausanne  

CH-1015 Lausanne

Concerning reimbursement of accommodation, please contact Caroline Betto-Colliard (ecologie-evolution(at)cuso.ch) BEFORE the beginning of the course.

For all other PhD students, please check reimbursement conditions on the website of your doctoral program

CUSO PhD students: through your MyCUSO account. 

External participants (non-CUSO PhD students, post-docs, etc...): use the icon "registration" at top of page and the last gray box "non-CUSO student" ("personne hors myCUSO").

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