45th New Phytologist symposium

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Ecological and evolutionary consequences of plant–fungal invasions

45th New Phytologist symposium, 26-29 June 2024

UNICAMP, University of Campinas, Brazil

The 45th New Phytologist symposium is dedicated to research into “linked” plant and fungal invasions, which will take place from 26 – to 29 June 2024 at the University of Campinas, Brazil.

Some studies show that the co-introduction of plants and fungi introduces entirely new changes in the characteristics and functioning of ecosystems. At the same time, relatively little is known about broad biogeographical patterns, ecological and evolutionary dynamics, and the ecosystem and biogeochemical consequences of such introductions.

The symposium will build on large-scale projects studying plant-fungal co-invasions. Discussion of such studies will allow us to generalize the results available to date, develop cooperation between local studies of introductions with their inclusion in the global network to identify issues of a large geographical scale.

The 45th New Phytologist symposium will be organised into sessions by research topics and there will be dedicated time for breakout sessions, poster sessions, selected poster talks and a field trip.

Topics of the Symposium sessions.

Session 1: Ecosystem functional consequences of plant–fungal co-invasions.

Research is presented on the effects of alien plant or fungal species on ecosystem performance indicators such as productivity, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling when plants or fungi invade new habitats.

Session 2. Evolution and plant–fungal co-invasions.

Research into the possible manifestation of new natural selection pressures, as well as demographic processes that may lead to evolution through genetic drift in the context of plant and fungal invasions.

Session 3. Assembly, traits, and interactions in plant–fungal co-invasions.

Research into the patterns, mechanisms and consequences of community association during the invasion of alien plants and fungi.

Session 4: Deliberate fungal invasions – fungi as bioinoculants. Part 1 Effects aboveground.

Research addressing the following questions: Can inoculated fungi become invasive? How do they affect ecosystems? Are they an effective tool for growers?

Session 5: Deliberate fungal invasions – fungi as bioinoculants. Part 2 Effects belowground.

Research addressing the following questions:.Can inoculated fungi become invasive? How do they affect ecosystems? Are they an effective tool for growers?

 

Travel grants are available to attend the 45th New Phytologist symposium, application deadline – 1 March. Contact information for receiving a grant: Christine Phillips, Events and Promotions Manager, The New Phytologist Foundation, email:< np-symposia@lancaster.ac.uk>.

Organizing Committee of the Symposium.

Erika Buscardo, Ph.Dr, Department of Forestry, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil; Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Jason Hoeksema, Professor, Department of Biology at the University of Mississippi, United States.

Laszlo Karoly Nagy, Professor, Department of Plant Biology at the University of Campinas, Brazil.

Miranda Hart, Professor, the Department of Biology at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Canada.

Oral abstract deadline – 1 March.

Poster abstract deadline – 1 April

Abstract submission here>>

Further details of the symposium are on the 45 th Symposium website>>