Symposia
Symposia
Here is the list of symposia that will be organized during the conference. Abstracts are presented in the language in which they were submitted.
Please note that all symposium invited speakers must complete the presentation submission form and indicate which symposium their presentation belongs to. All invited speakers should register for the conference by the early-bird deadline. Should some invited speakers be unable to attend, or not register by the early-bird deadline, the LOC reserves the right to replace them with contributed talks that appear relevant to the theme of the symposium.
In the presentation submission form, you can indicate if you would like your oral presentation to be associated with an existing symposium.
Organizers: Denis Réale (UQAM), Julien Martin (U Ottawa)
Abstract: Ecological studies have slowly moved from seeing habitat as an extrinsic set of factors imposing constrains and pressures on individual animals to an integrative part of these individual features. With the development of concepts such as genotype-environment covariance, matching habitat choice, habitat-dependent phenotypic plasticity, niche construction, or individual niche specialization, it is now clear that considering habitat as an individual’s extended phenotype will help shed new light on the interactions between individual animals and their environment, and thereby provide a deeper and broader vision of the evolutionary ecology of behaviours and other traits. With this symposium, we would like to bring together researchers who are interested in how to integrate individual habitat features to study and explain the maintenance of individual (co)variation in behaviour and other traits, and their ecological and evolutionary consequences. We also want to encourage discussions around how to incorporate habitat features at different scales in their behavioural ecology studies.
Organizers: Isaac Eckert (McGill University), Nina Obiar (McGill University), Simon Joly (Institut de recherche en biologie végétale & Département de Sciences biologiques á Université de Montréal), Anne Bruneau (Institut de recherche en biologie végétale & Département de Sciences biologiques á Université de Montréal), Laura Pollock (McGill University)
Abstract: Over the past half millennium, humans have amassed vast natural history collections that once proved foundational to our understanding of Earth’s biodiversity. Now, a growing body of work suggests that the value of these collections likely extends much further, as the mobilization of the various data stored in herbaria and museums is set to transform our understanding of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. In this symposium, we showcase the multifaceted and expanding role these institutions and their collections play in modern biodiversity research: from resolving biogeographic patterns, to monitoring responses to global change, to directly informing conservation action. Here, we highlight the importance of natural history institutions, not only as custodians of historical specimens, but also as critical sources of novel biodiversity data, hubs of global-change research, and bridges between scientific research, policy, the public, and the natural world. Finally, throughout the symposium, we address the ethical considerations of working with these institutions and their data, their colonial and Indigenous legacies, and the future role they can play in scientific outreach, conservation, and reconciliation.
Organizers: Allyson Menzies (University of Calgary), Murray Humphries (McGill University), Rowenna Gryba (Inuit Circumpolar Council), Kyle Bobiwash (University of Manitoba), Danielle Nowosad (University of Guelph)
Abstract: The Braiding Wildlife Knowledges: Common threads connecting place-based work in ecology and evolution symposium will consider knowledge co-production that is inclusive of Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, grounded in place-based collaboration, and focussed on shared knowledge priorities about wildlife. Meaningful and effective braiding of wildlife knowledges can help to ensure research agendas and conservation outcomes reflect collective understanding and lead to positive impact. Braided work is significant because it i) centers Indigenous peoples, lands, and priorities at the forefront of the research, ii) explicitly recognizes the inherent validity of multiple ways of knowing and doing, iii) applies co-produced wildlife knowledges to local conservation, adaptation, and well-being outcomes, and iv) advances learning and impact by building bridges between place-based projects. This symposium will highlight knowledge braiding approaches and impacts related to the ecology and evolution of culturally significant wildlife across a diverse set of place-based initiatives. We aim to dedicate the final two presentation slots to a panel to consider shared learnings and common threads about knowledge braiding across diverse place-based projects.
Organizer: Noémie Boulanger-Lapointe (University of Victoria)
Abstract: This symposium will explore vegetation response to climate change in Arctic and Alpine ecosystems. It is intended as a forum to foster knowledge exchange and strengthen collaborations among Canadian researchers working in remote field sites across Canada. Standardized methodologies and international syntheses have brought together plant ecologists working in these ecosystems, but such an organized network is currently lacking at the national level. With this symposium, we aim to create a space for early career and established researchers to discuss recent results and methodological advances with peers. It will include research on a range of species across scale and sites which should appeal to a broad audience.
Organizer: Jérémy Fraysse (Université du Québec à Montréal)
Abstract: Cities are the focus of interactions between humans and nature and offer unique opportunities to study ecological dynamics from new angles. In this regard, the fine scales of urban ecology can reveal dynamics that are essential to understanding urban ecosystems. This symposium explores how insects and microbes, often neglected, offer unique perspectives on ecological interactions in urban environments. Addressing entomology, microbiology and micro-ecology, the presentations will highlight the role of small organisms in urban biodiversity, ecosystem services and adaptation to anthropogenic pressures. Speakers from all backgrounds will share their research on these small-scale but high-impact organisms and discuss their implications for urban planning and environmental management. Join us as we explore new dimensions of urban ecology, where the very small becomes essential to understanding and shaping the cities of tomorrow.
Organizers: Computational Biodiversity Science and Services (BIOS2) (Université de Sherbrooke)
Abstract: The Computational Biodiversity Science and Services (BIOS²) training program is part of an NSERC-CREATE Program, and is concluding its activities as such in this Symposium. BIOS² aimed to widen opportunities and skill sets among students and postdoctoral fellows and have fostered a new culture in ecoinformatics that made technologies and methods accessible to the new generation of stakeholders and decision-makers. As we transition into a new format hosted by the Québec Centre for Biodiversity Sciences, we want to celebrate the accomplishments of our current and past fellows and glimpse at what’s to come in the next years. We will share research results, experiences, ambitions and reflections on Computational Biodiversity Sciences, and explore the historical developments in the area while daydreaming about what will be done in the future. A diverse panel of experts will offer perspectives on how computational tools can tackle pressing global issues, and how is the Canadian research ecosystem equipped for that, offering a forward-looking vision of a data-driven future for biodiversity science.
Organizers: Andrea Paz (Universite de Montreal), Juan Carvajal-Quintero (Dalhousie University), Tim Parker (Whitman College), Timothee Poisot (Universite de Montreal), Diane Srivastava (University of British Columbia), Cristian Alexander Cruz Rodriguez (Universite de Montreal), Bruno Soares (University of Regina)
Abstract: This symposium will explore how ecologists do ecology. There have been repeated calls for ecological research to become more reproducible, open and inclusive - but are we are making progress towards these goals? In this symposium we will examine both successes and challenges as we follow the research cycle from data collection to analysis to sharing and synthesis. We will ask who benefits from open science and scientific collaborations, and whether these benefits are equitably shared. We will celebrate the successes of programs like CIEE’s Living Data Project, while considering challenges that remain in replicating science. Talks will intersperse meta-research (i.e. research on research) with examples of best practice.
Organizer: Drew Sauve (African Lion Safari and Universite du Québec a Montréal)
Abstract: Human activities are altering the breeding time of a broad range of species, impacting their interactions and ecosystem dynamics. This symposium will explore variation in the timing of life-history in a broad range of human-altered environments, from the disruption of existing synchronies to the challenges faced by species reproducing in novel environments. We will address the role of introduced species in reshaping phenological interactions within communities, and explore how climate change and ex situ breeding environments might be impacting phenological cues and the timing of reproduction. Specifically, we hope to highlight the diversity of ways that human activities might alter phenological events and determine what the consequences of these changes might be for the evolution, ecology, or conservation of the studied species.
Organizers: Frederic Guichard (McGill University), Eric Harvey (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières), Charlotte Ward (University of Guelph), Eric Pedersen (Concordia University), Frithjof Lutscher (University of Ottawa), Jeremy Fox (University of Calgary), Marie-Josee Fortin (University of Toronto), Kim Cuddington (University of Waterloo), Takuji Usui (University of Toronto), Carling Bieg (Case Western Reserve University), Zachary Miller (Yale University), Maxime Clenet (Université de Sherbrooke)
Abstract: Global change is transforming landscapes in both space and time, yet ecological theory often considers spatial and temporal environmental variability separately. Although the knowledge gained this way has been fundamental, there is a need to unite these dimensions towards understanding the role that spatio-temporal variation plays in ecological dynamics. This session will aim to do so by highlighting theoretical and empirical advances that unpack spatial and temporal variation as both drivers and consequences of ecological dynamics in changing landscapes. Collectively, these talks will integrate the interactive roles of spatial connectivity, climate variability, and species interactions, and showcase a range of mathematical, conceptual and applied approaches to modeling changes in the environmental "arena" for ecological dynamics. The goal of this session is to link these changes to population persistence, spatial patterning and (meta-)ecosystem resilience, particularly in the face of global change.
Organizer: Mona Parizadeh (University of Calgary)
Abstract: Microbial communities play fundamental roles in ecosystem function and resilience, driving nutrient cycles, influencing host health, and responding dynamically to environmental changes. This symposium will explore cutting-edge research in microbial ecology and evolution across diverse ecosystems, including terrestrial, aquatic, and host-associated environments. By uniting perspectives from different ecological domains, we aim to highlight the shared principles and unique adaptations shaping microbial dynamics. Speakers will present advances in microbial biogeography, host-microbe interactions, and the evolution of microbial traits under environmental pressures. Topics include the role of microbes in shaping ecosystem services, adaptation to extreme environments, and cross-ecosystem comparisons of microbial diversity and function. The symposium emphasizes the application of novel approaches such as meta-omics, experimental evolution, and computational modeling to explore microbial complexity. Discussions will focus on unifying concepts in microbial ecology and the translational potential of microbial insights for ecosystem management and conservation. This event aims to inspire collaboration and foster interdisciplinary perspectives, advancing our understanding of microbes as integral drivers of ecological and evolutionary processes.
Organizers: Morgane Enea (Université de Sherbrooke, Centre d'Étude de la Forêt et Centre SÈVE), Jacob Beauregard (Université de Sherbrooke, Centre d'Étude de la Forêt et Centre SÈVE), Isabelle Laforest-Lapointe (Université de Sherbrooke, Centre d'Étude de la Forêt et Centre SÈVE)
Abstract: Microbial communities play fundamental roles in ecosystem function and resilience, driving nutrient cycles, influencing host health, and responding dynamically to environmental changes. This symposium will explore cutting-edge research in microbial ecology and evolution across diverse ecosystems, including terrestrial, aquatic, and host-associated environments. By uniting perspectives from different ecological domains, we aim to highlight the shared principles and unique adaptations shaping microbial dynamics. Speakers will present advances in microbial biogeography, host-microbe interactions, and the evolution of microbial traits under environmental pressures. Topics include the role of microbes in shaping ecosystem services, adaptation to extreme environments, and cross-ecosystem comparisons of microbial diversity and function. The symposium emphasizes the application of novel approaches such as meta-omics, experimental evolution, and computational modeling to explore microbial complexity. Discussions will focus on unifying concepts in microbial ecology and the translational potential of microbial insights for ecosystem management and conservation. This event aims to inspire collaboration and foster interdisciplinary perspectives, advancing our understanding of microbes as integral drivers of ecological and evolutionary processes.
Organizers: Simon Bonner (Western University), Guillaume Blanchet (Université de Sherbrooke), Vianey Leos Barajas (University of Toronto), Eric Pedersen (Concordia University), Sofia Ruiz Suarez (University of Toronto), Pedro Peres-Neto (Concordia University), Fanny Dupont (University of British Columbia), Sandra Hamel (Université Laval), Noudehouenou (Freedich) Houessou (Université de Sherbrooke)
Abstract: This session is led by members of the Canadian Community of Statistical Ecology/ Communauté canadienne de la statistique et de l'écologie (CCSE) an informal group of (currently) more than 60 researchers who are working to create a new joint section of the Canadian Society of Ecology and Evolution and the Statistical Society of Canada. The new section aims to bring together members of both the ecology and statistics communities who are interested in the development and application of advanced statistical methods to model every aspect of ecological systems to learn about their dynamics, distributions and their interactions with other populations, and to contribute critical information for implementing conservation practices. This session highlights the contributions of diverse researchers within the CCSE, and we plan to present a similar session at the 2025 meeting of the Statistical Society of Canada to reach members of both groups.
Organizers: Geneviève Lajoie (Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique), Anna O'Brien (University of New Hampshire), Julia Boyle (University of Toronto), Juan Carlos Villarreal Aguilar (Université Laval), Kadeem Gilbert (Michigan State University), Ryoko Oono (University of California Santa Barbara), Amélie Allard (Université du Québec à Montréal), Elizabeth Arnold (University of Arizona)
Abstract: Many hosts have external microbiomes that provide critical functions to their hosts, including defense against abiotic fluctuations. Better understanding assembly and evolution of these microbiomes is essential for predicting and manipulating responses of macro-organisms to global change. Plant aerial microbiomes (phyllosphere microbiomes) are an important study system due to their ecological diversity, abundance and role in plant stress responses and ecosystem health, and potential contributions to evolutionary trait change in plant hosts. Recent increasing interest and development of scientific tools in this long understudied system makes it an ideal moment for synthesis in this field. To collect this expertise, we propose a diverse set of speakers. Lajoie co-organized several regional and international conferences, including QCBS annual symposia and the 2022 joint ESA/CSEE symposium. O’Brien co-organized the regional NSF/MCB Outreach Workshop at UNH, 2024. This symposium will be relevant for a broad range of ecologists working on host-microbe interactions, microbiome ecology, or global change.
This year’s SWEEET will explore how barriers to effective and equitable science communication in ecology and evolution - particularly language and cultural obstacles - affect knowledge transfer and science accessibility across diverse audiences. These issues are often compounded by systemic inequities, creating additional challenges for researchers to communicate their work inclusively and effectively. Led by invited speakers, this event will include a presentation and guided discussion on inclusive science communication, offering insights into the barriers researchers face and potential solutions. We will also include a hands-on activity, such as designing graphical abstracts, to highlight inclusive science communication techniques. This interactive segment will provide participants with practical tools to create visuals that effectively convey research findings to diverse audiences, empowering them to integrate inclusive communication practices into their work. By combining expert insights, participant-driven discussion, and skill-building activities, SWEEET aims to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to advance equity, accessibility, and inclusion in science communication.
