Leibniz-IZW-Seminars

The Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research regularly organizes scientific seminars on various topics, in which invited speakers or IZW scientists present their work in the form of a lecture. The free lectures take place in the lecture hall of the IZW and are also broadcast live via video.
Interested persons are cordially invited to attend the Leibniz-IZW-Seminars in person or online. You are welcome to sign up for our newsletter at izwseminar@izw-berlin.de. The lectures will be held mostly in English.

Upcoming events

10th September 2026, 11 a.m.
Dr. Laura Bertola (National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India)
Harnessing genomic resources for informing conservation decisions
With the continued decline in sequencing costs, genomic data are becoming increasingly accessible for non-model species, creating new opportunities to integrate evolutionary and genetic information into wildlife conservation. Here, I will present two complementary approaches for translating genomic resources into conservation decision-making, ranging from whole-genome analyses to scalable targeted genomic tools.
First, we use whole-genome data to investigate the genomic factors underlying population persistence and resilience. Small and isolated populations are generally considered more vulnerable to extinction because of the loss of genetic diversity, increased inbreeding and accumulation of deleterious variation, alongside non-genetic threats. Conservation interventions such as genetic rescue can help alleviate some of these genetic risks. However, decisions about genetic rescue require balancing multiple and potentially opposing aspects of genomic variation, including overall diversity, local adaptation and mutation load. We propose a framework for evaluating the suitability of potential source populations across these three dimensions and illustrate its application using a real-world example: the pseudomelanistic tigers of Similipal.
Second, we explore how existing genomic resources can be translated into pragmatic, more cost-effective datasets for large-scale conservation applications. Species-specific SNP panels can enable the analysis of large numbers of samples, including low-quality or degraded DNA, while retaining information relevant to key conservation questions. Such datasets can establish genomic baselines for monitoring changes in genetic diversity, prioritising populations for conservation investment, informing translocations, supporting wildlife forensic investigations, and optimising the retention of genetic diversity in captive breeding programmes. We illustrate these applications through several ongoing projects using a lion-specific SNP panel.
As genomic resources become increasingly available for non-model species, translating these resources into practical tools offers new opportunities to integrate evolutionary information into on-the-ground conservation. By combining comprehensive whole-genome approaches with scalable targeted genomic tools, we aim to support researchers, conservation practitioners and policy-makers in assessing population vulnerability, monitoring genetic diversity and making better-informed decisions for wildlife management.

30th September 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Joseph Durant (Netherlands Institute of Ecology)
Title & Abstract follows

7th October 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Robert Koban (QIAGEN GmbH)
Digital PCR with Nanoplates: dPCR as easy as qPCR – seminar including instrument demonstration
Abstract follows

14th October 2026, 1 p.m.
Dr. Smadar Tal (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
From Dam to Neonate: Microbial, Metabolic, and Functional Pathways Shaping Early-Life Development in Dogs
Abstract follows

18th November 2026, 1 p.m.
Marlène Gamelon (French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS))
Title & Abstract follows

16th December 2026, 1 p.m.
Prof. Maria-Jesús Sánchez Calabuig (Complutense University of Madrid)
Title & Abstract follows

Contact
Organization
Constanze Wiechert
Tel: +49(0) 30 5168-336
E-Mail: wiechert@izw-berlin.de, izwseminar@izw-berlin.de

Technical support
Dorina Meneghini
Tel. +49(0)30 5168-340
E-Mail: meneghini@izw-berlin.de

Christine Reusch
Tel. +49(0)30 5168-123
E-Mail: reusch@izw-berlin.de

Accounting
Stefanie Lenz
Tel: +49(0)30 5168-459
E-Mail: lenz@izw-berlin.de


Last Update: 27. August 2026