Changes in the marine Biota (MAF) of the Black Sea

Organizers: Prof. Dr. Kadir SEYHAN and Asst. Prof. Dr. Umar Khan DURRANI Karadeniz Technical University, 61530, Trabzon, Türkiye

Venue and Timing: Faculty of Marine Science & Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, 61080 Türkiye, April 10-14, 2023

Overall goal: Participants will get an overview of MAF organisms’ ecological and socio-economic importance.

This workshop will teach participants how to use the geometric morphometric
approach to determine phenotypic differences of MAF organisms (e.g., gastropods)
in response to environmental deterioration. This workshop aims to update participants
on the techniques available for estimating the age and growth of MAF organisms (e.g.,
gastropods). Participants will also learn how to extract the ‘statolith’ for estimating
gastropod age.

Application deadline: February 20, 2023.

Applicants must provide a personal letter of interest, CV, and a letter of recommendation from their graduate supervisor or employer.

Notification of acceptance: March 10, 2023.

Travel grants: Limited funds are offered to some of the participants to cover round trip travel and per-diem cost. Applications should be appended to the registration material with justification for the funding request.

Who can apply: Applicants must be members of the COST Action MAF WORLD. To subscribe in the COST action formally: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA20102/

For more information contact:
Kadir SEYHAN – kseyhan.1962@gmail.com
Umar KHAN – ukhan@ktu.edu.tr
Sergio ROSSI – sergio.rossi@unisalento.it

Program

Day 1:

1. The ecological and economic importance of MAF organisms (Lecture).
2. Geometric morphometric approach to determine phenotypic differences of MAF organisms
   (e.g., gastropods) in response to environmental deterioration (Lecture)
3. Methods for estimating MAF organism age and growth: Gastropoda (Lecture)

Day 2:

1. Fieldwork on a vessel to sample MAF organisms from the Black Sea.

Day 3:

1. Aging of mollusks (e.g., gastropod) using statolith (Lab work)
2. Geometric analysis of mollusks shells (e.g., gastropod) to determine phenotypic
   differentiation (Lab work)