12 expertos internacionales debatirán en la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad de Navarra sobre especies invasoras como el mejillón cebra
12 international experts will debate on invasive species such as the zebra mussel at the School of Sciences of the University of Navarra.
The conference, to be held from November 12 to 13, will address the problems of other species such as catfish and American crab.
Twelve international experts will meet at the School of Sciences of the University of Navarra to address the latest advances in the management of invasive freshwater species, such as zebra mussels, catfish or American and signal crabs.
The conference, promoted by the department of Zoology and Ecology of the academic center, will take place on November 12 and 13. According to its organizer, Professor Rafael Miranda, "these invaders can pose the greatest threat to biodiversity and the integrity of ecosystems; as well as cause substantial economic losses, as is the case with the zebra mussel in Spain".
In this sense, the specialist warns that although our country is the Mediterranean environment with the greatest biodiversity, much of it is threatened: "And freshwater ecosystems suffer this attack in a particular way due, above all, to the impact of exotic species of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates. This would be the case, for example, of freshwater turtles".
Exotic flora and freshwater turtles in Navarre
The conference also aims to goal review the status of biological invasions in the Iberian Peninsula, and to show future methods for the management and mitigation of their damage.
Speakers include, among others, Concha Durán, zebra mussel expert from the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro; Rodolphe Gozlan, professor at Bournemouth University, who will explain the process of assessment of the impact of an invasive species; and Gordon H. Copp, expert from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, executive agency of department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the Government of Great Britain.
Other topics to be discussed include the problem of invasive exotic flora linked to water in Navarra, at position by Asun Berastegi (management Ambiental Viveros y Repoblaciones de Navarra); and the threat of the introduction of exotic turtles in the region, on which Aitor Valdeón(Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi, Observatorio de Herpetología) will speak.
Also, on the occasion of the conference, a exhibition on zebra mussels, promoted by the Ebro Hydrographic Confederation, has been organized.