Description
This blended training course combines theoretical knowledge (three online interactive modules) and one week of face to face field, laboratory, and interactive lectures in the island of Crete, Greece. Participants will learn about spider biology, from morphology to anatomy as well as their evolution and societal relevance in the fields of ecology, biomedicine, and biomaterials. In the field and the lab, they will learn about the tools and methods to collect spiders in different habitats (arid, semi-arid, oak forests and near creeks and rivers). Trainees then will learn to process and taxonomically identify samples in the lab with the help of specialised taxonomic keys.
Online interactive modules: Background and introduction to arachnids (February-March 2023)
- Module 1: Evolution of Arthropods, The Arachnid Orders, and Spider Evolution and Diversity
- Module 2: Spider Functional Anatomy
- Module 3: Spider silk and webs
Face to face field-lab work and interactive lectures (Monday 3rd to Friday 7th of April 2023)
Day 1: Natural History Museum of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece – Karydi field station at Sitia Unesco Global Geopark, Crete, Greece
- Getting to know each other. Description of the study sites
- Preliminary test to assess previous knowledge
- Departure for the field station
- Settling and lecture at the field station
Day 2: Karydi field station at Sitia Unesco Global Geopark
Module 4
Lectures:
- Experimental design and field techniques
- Taxonomic identifications
Practicals:
- Materials checklist, introduction to collecting methods, setting pitfalls
- Lab and taxonomic identifications
Day 3: Karydi field station at Sitia Unesco Global Geopark
Module 5
Lectures:
- Introduction to scorpions and other arachnid groups
- Local spider fauna: What spider families we might encounter and how to identify them (Part 1)
Practicals:
- Specimen collection
- Processing and identification in the lab
- Night sampling (for scorpions, spiders, etc)
Day 4: Karydi field station at Sitia Unesco Global Geopark
Module 6
Lectures:
- History of Arachnology/ Arachnology in Greece
- The local spider fauna: What spider families we might encounter and how to identify them (Part 2)
Practicals:
- Specimen collection
- Retrieving the pitfalls
- Processing and identification in the lab
Day 5: Karydi field station at Sitia Unesco Global Geopark
Module 7
Lectures:
- Measuring species richness
Practicals:
- Processing and identification in the lab
- Fieldwork assessment
- Final test to assess knowledge acquisition
Departure to Heraklion
Trainers
Dr Maria Chatzaki (Associate Professor, Lab of Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Democritus University of Thrace, Greece)
Dr Jeremy Miller (Researcher at Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Lecturer at Leiden University, the Netherlands)
Dr Andres Rivera (Researcher and Research Coordinator at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Netherlands)
Dr Iasmi Stathi (Researcher and Laboratory Teaching Staff at Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Greece)
Dates of Training period – Duration
Three theoretical online sessions, plus five working days (Monday to Friday) field-lab work and lectures in Crete, Greece
Online sessions:
Friday 24th of February 2023 (15:00 to 18:00 CET)
Friday 10th of March 2023 (15:00 to 17:00 CET)
Friday 24th of March 2023 (15:00 to 17:00 CET)
Face to face field-lab work and lectures:
Monday 3rd to Friday 7th of April 2023
Location
Natural History Museum of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece
Karydi field station at Sitia Unesco Global Geopark, Crete, Greece
Course’s language
English
Target audience
Students (undergraduates, MSc, PhD, postdocs) and professionals interested in spider taxonomy and field sampling
Fee
650 euros all included (teaching materials, lab equipment & facilities, accommodation in the field station, transportation from venue to the field station & transportation to the field sites, coffee breaks, lunches, dinners). Trainees have to pay only their tickets to Heraklion, Crete
Payment of fees
Registration is free.
Only the trainees who will be selected to participate the course will be requested to pay the fees. This will happen after the registration deadline.
Registration deadline
15 December 2022
Mode of trainees’ assessment
- Short interactive quizzes will be applied after the theoretical sessions
- Final group work
- Tests at the beginning and at the end of the course to have an evaluation of the knowledge gained
Participant quota (min and max number of trainees)
Min 15 – Max 20 trainees
Types of training/ Implementation method
- Theoretical modules/Online
- Field – Lab work/Face to Face
Training Course learning outcomes
- Learn about the biology and evolution of Arthropoda and Arachnida.
- Familiarise with spider biology, diversity and societal relevance in the fields of ecology, biomedicine, and biomaterials.
- Learn about experimental design and field techniques.
- Practice sampling methods in the field and their correct application in different habitats (e.g. arid, semi-arid, oak forests, etc.).
- Practice sample processing in the lab.
- Learn to identify spider taxa in the field and in the laboratory.
- Acquire basic knowledge on scorpions and other arachnid groups
- Learn about the history of Arachnology in general, and the Arachnology in Greece.
- Learn the basics of species richness measurements and their application.
Certifications provided
- Certificate of Attendance by CETAF DEST with 5 ECVET Units (European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training)
- Certificate by CETAF DEST according to Europass Certificate Supplement (certifying analytically the knowledge, skills and competences gained)
What trainees need to bring
- Laptop and other writing material (field notebook (A5 size), pen and/or pencil)
- Field equipment (field boots, T-shirt, light jacket, sunblock, cap or hat, rain protection)
- Medication in cases of allergies or other medical conditions
- Collection material will be provided by the organisers
More details: dest@cetaf.org