Description
This course aims to introduce students to state-of-the-art methods in macroalgal taxonomy and phylogeny. Through real case studies and ongoing research projects from around the world, students will learn and explore contemporary challenges and approaches in modern phycology. With the participation of leading international experts in macroalgal taxonomy and systematics—researchers actively reshaping current classification frameworks—the course will present the principal methods used to identify species, with special emphasis on current challenges and recent advances in macroalgal classification. Sessions will include lectures, fieldwork, and laboratory exercises.
Tentative schedule
07.09.26 Day 01
09:00 Arrival to Espegrend
09:30 Welcome, each one present himself (all)
10:00 Lecture 01 Current Issues in Macroalgae Classification: Insights from Norwegian Phycology (Goecke)
11:00 Lecture 02 Ecology and ecological functions of macroalgae (Molis)
12:00 lunch
13:00 Lecture 03 Global overview of the diversity, taxonomy and phylogenetics of the red algal order, Bangiales (Brodie)
14:00 Lecture 04 Artsdatabanken project nr. 16-21 – Ectocarpales (Sjøtun)
15:00 Lecture 05 Cladophorales: identification, systematics and ecology (Leliaert)
08.09.26 Day 02
09:00 Lecture 06 / Lab work Artsdatabanken project nr. 6-24 – Marine microfilamentous green algae (Goecke)
12:00 lunch
13:00 Lecture 07 New Artsdatabanken project – Ulvophyceae (Steinhagen)
14:00 Lecture 08 Phylogenetic methods: Introduction and exercises on basic DNA sequence analysis (alignment, tree building), exercises
09.09.26 Day 03 (day 02/03 may be exchanged, weather dependent)
08:00 Fieldtrip + Lab Identification procedures – overview, analysis and conservation (all)
12:00 lunch
13:00 Lab (all)
——————————————
18:30 Pizza night (dinner), Lecture 09 EULVA project (De Clerck)
10.09.26 Day 04
09:00 Lecture 10 Species delimitation methods, exercises (Leliaert)
12:00 lunch
13:00 Lecture 11 Plastid genomes in algal classification, exercices (De Clerck)
11.09.26 Day 05
09:00 Lecture 12 Environmental sequencing (Verbruggen)
11:00 Lecture 13 Trait and morphological evolution (Verbruggen)
13:00 Conclusions, students feedback, goodbye, departure
Trainers
Juliet Brodie (Natural History Museum, UK)
Olivier De Clerck (Ghent University, Belgium)
Franz Goecke (Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NMBU, Norway)
Frederik Leliaert (Meise Botanic Garden, Belgium)
Markus Molis (Arctic University of Norway, UiT, Norway)
Kjersti Sjøtun (University of Bergen, UiB, Norway)
Sophie Steinhagen (University of Gothenburg, Sweden & University Museum, University of Bergen, UiB, Norway)
Heroen Verbruggen (Spanish Institute of Oceanography, CSIC-IEO, Spain)
Dates of Training period
–
Duration
5 days, 8 hours per day
Location
Espegrend Marine Research Field Station, Bergen, Norway
Course’s language
English
Target audience
PhD students, Master’s students, Undergraduate students.
Registration deadline
2nd May, 2026
It is expected that all participants in the course are ForBio members or become affiliated with the ForBio research school. Please read about the ForBio membership/affiliation here. The webpage contains ForBio membership application link as well:
https://www.forbio.uio.no/membership/
Participant quota (min and max number of trainees)
Max: 10
External funding/sponsoring
None
Types of training/ Implementation method
- Theoretical lectures
- Practical experience
Training Course learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Collect, preserve, and analyze macroalgal specimens using up to date protocols.
• Identify and classify macroalgal species using morphological, molecular and ecological data.
• Construct and interpret phylogenetic trees based on different levels of DNA sequencing and use species delimitation methods.
• Be able to understand and articulate the implications of recent advancements in macroalgal taxonomy and systematics.
Registration
For further information how to apply for a place on this course, please contact: Franz Goecke. Priority will be given to students and BIOCORE/ForBio members. A prior knowledge of bioinformatics is desirable. The deadline for submitting the application form is: 2nd May Results of the selection process will be announced via e-mail ca. by the beginning of June.
Contact: Micah Dunthorn for practicalities.