From the Labs to the Reefs

Assessing Heterotrophy in Marine Animal Forests and its importance in guiding conservation strategy

Marine Animal Forests (MAFs) are structured around either heterotrophic or mixotrophic metazoans. For heterotrophic metazoans, the uptake of external nutrients (prey/dissolved and detrital organic matter) is essential for their survival. They also form holobionts, being associated with a variety of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can provide their host with some essential nutrients. Mixotrophic metazoans are also associated with various partners, including autotrophic dinoflagellates, which allow them to combine their heterotrophic diet with autotrophic food. For most of these holobionts, the loss of the ability to feed heterotrophically has raised concerns about their long-term survival and the vulnerability of the overall MAF they have created. 
This workshop will provide an opportunity to share current knowledge and highlight existing gaps and future directions regarding heterotrophy’s importance to MAFs. During the workshop, we will summarize recent progress and identify research priorities.

Session 1:  Importance of heterotrophy for sustaining MAF holobionts under normal and perturbed conditions

Session 2: Assessing heterotrophy under natural conditions: challenges and perspectives

Session 3: Importance of heterotrophy for the resilience and conservation of the MAFs

Speakers:
Prof. David Baker (University of Hong Kong) / Dr Emma Camp (Climate Change Cluster, Sydney) / Prof. Andrea Grottoli (Ohio State University) / Dr Fanny Houlbreque (IRD – Nouméa, New Caledonia) / Dr Sandra Maier (Greenland Climate Research Center) / Prof. Giorgio Mancinelli (Università del Salento) / Dr Stephane Martínez (Centre Scientifique de Monaco)/  Dr Veronica Radice (University of Queensland) / Dr Marta Ribes (Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC, Barcelona) / Prof. Claudio Richter (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research) / Prof. Sergio Rossi (Università del Salento) / Prof. Gauthier Schall (Université de Bretagne Occidentale) / Dr Núria Viladrich (University of Washington/University of Barcelona) / Prof. Şükran Yalçin Özdilek (Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University)

Deadline: October 1^st 2022

For more information, please send a mail to contact@maf.world.eu