Training Course: Spider taxonomy and field methodologies in Crete, Greece
The CETAF (Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities), through the official training platform DEST (Distributed European School of Taxonomy), has announced the new edition of its training course on spiders: “Spider taxonomy and field methodologies.”
This 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.
Who may participate? Bioscience students (undergraduates, MSc, PhD, postdocs) and anyone interested in spider taxonomy and field sampling
When? The online part will take place in March 2025. The in-person part will take place from the 7th to the 11th of April 2025.
Registration is now open. The deadline is on the 30th of December 2024.
Online interactive modules: Background and introduction to arachnids (March 2025)
- 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 7th to Friday 11th of April 2025)
Day 1: Natural History Museum of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece – Field station
- 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 (Module 4): At the field station – field
Lectures:
- Experimental design and field techniques
- Taxonomic identifications
Practicals:
- Materials checklist, introduction to collecting methods, setting pitfall traps
- Lab and taxonomic identifications
- Night sampling (for scorpions, spiders, etc)
Day 3 (Module 5): At the field station – field
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 (Module 6): At the field station – field
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 (Module 7): At the field station – field
Lectures:
- Measuring species richness
Practicals:
- Processing and identification in the lab
- Fieldwork assessment
- Final test to assess knowledge acquisition
Departure to Heraklion
Course 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 (Postdoctoral Researcher at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Netherlands)
Dr Iasmi Stathi (Researcher and Laboratory Teaching Staff at Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Greece)
Training dates
Three theoretical online sessions, plus five working days (Monday to Friday) field-lab work and lectures in Crete, Greece
February to April 2025 divided as follows:
Online sessions:
Friday 14th of March 2025 (15:00 to 18:00 CET)
Friday 21st of March 2025 (15:00 to 17:00 CET)
Friday 28th of March 2025 (15:00 to 17:00 CET)
Face to face field-lab work and lectures:
Monday 7th to Friday 11th of April 2025
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 per Trainee. The fee covers transportation from the venue to the field and back, meals (breakfast, light lunch and dinner), educational material, teachers’ fees, and technical support.
Payment of fees
Registration is free. Only the trainees who will be selected to participate in the course will be requested to pay the fees. This will happen after the registration deadline.
Registration deadline
The deadline is 30 December 2024
Registration form
Please refer to the official course website in case of any updates to the location of the registration form.
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 17 trainees
Types of training/ Implementation method
- Theoretical modules/Online and in-person lectures
- Field – Lab work/Face to Face
Training Course learning outcomes
The present course will cover a variety of topics from purely theoretical to the development of skills in the field and lab. The main expected outcomes are:
- 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, jacket, sunblock, cap or hat, rain protection)
- Medication in cases of allergies or other medical conditions
- Collection material will be provided by the organisers
Additional information
During the face-to-face part, there will be sampling trips in areas which require trekking on rough soil (e.g. we will cross a gorge or walk on a mountain path), so we recommend the trainees to be in a good physical/health condition and be able to walk in a harsh natural environment.
For updated and further details please visit the official page:
https://cetaf.org/dest/spider-taxonomy-and-field-methodologies-2/
Should you have any questions, please contact Andres Rivera Quiroz at [email protected].
