FroSpects-meeting on non-adaptive and non-ecological speciation in Lund August 18 2012

During the past decade, the ecological theory of adaptive radiation and adaptive speciation has been a main focus of interest in much speciation research. Much of current thinking in this area assumes that incipient species are formed as a direct or indirect result of niche-based ecological differences and divergent natural selection.

However, more recently it has been an increased interest also in non-ecological and non-adaptive speciation in groups like birds, fish, amphibians and insects. Some radiations are simply not very likely to result from divergent ecological selection, as species are often ecologically similar and show high degree of niche conservatism, yet speciation obviously happens also in these groups. Behavior might play a crucial role in driving speciation processes in these circumstances, including learned mate preferences, sexual selection and sexual conflict. These and related topics will be the focus of one-day scientific meeting at Lund University (Sweden) on August 18 2012.

On August 18 2012, we are therefore proud to organize this one-day meeting (free of charge) entitled "The Role of Behaviour in Non-adaptive and Non-ecological Speciation".

This meeting is funded by the European Science Foundation's (ESF) Frontier's of Speciation Research FroSpects, and will be one of several post-conference symposia the day after The International Behavioural Ecology Congress ("ISBE 2012") that will take place between August 12 and August 17 2012. 

Note that although the ESF-meeting is free of charge, the preceeding ISBE-congress is not. The meeting is open both for ISBE-participants and those who wish to only come for to the speciation meeting. Coffee and refreshments will be served on August 18, but participants will have to fund and organize travel, meals and ackomodation for themselves.

In addition to three excellent invited keynote speakers (Dr. Rampal S. Etienne, Prof. Kerry Shaw and Prof. John Wiens), we will also accept contributed talks (15 minutes, including 3 minutes of questions) to this meeting. Send an abstract (100-200 words) to Dr. Maren Wellenreuther (maren.wellenreuther@biol.lu.se), no later than April 2012.  More general questions about the meeting can be answered by Prof. Erik Svensson (erik.svensson@biol.lu.se).

Organizing committé:


Prof. Erik Svensson
Dr. Machteld Verzijden
Dr. Maren Wellenreuther
Ms. Anna Runemark