Robert D. Holt, professor of Ecology at the University of Florida, will give the conference 'Natural Enemies & Biodiversity: Pros and Cons' this Tuesday, April 24 at 1 p.m. in the Charles Darwin room of the Burjassot-Paterna Campus, on the occasion of the IX Peregrí Casanova Memorial and within the events for the 50th anniversary of Biology studies in Valencia. The event pays tribute to the man who was professor of Anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine, introducer of evolutionary ideas and organizer of the tribute to Darwin in the Auditorium of the University of Valencia in 1909.

Robert D. Holt argues that much of the diversity of life has arisen from the struggle between natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens or herbivores) and their victims. Sometimes, the fight between natural enemies can facilitate the maintenance of biodiversity (for example, preventing the growth of a species), although in other circumstances it is natural competitors who can limit biodiversity due to the fact that most species have one or more natural enemies.

The researcher from the University of Florida will explain the interaction between competition and many current ecological problems, including the control of agricultural pests, harvesting, the conservation of endangered species and the dynamics of emerging diseases. In his speech on Tuesday at the IX Peregrí Casanova Memorial, the Ecology expert will also analyze other factors on which competition between species linked to individual behavior and the spatial and community context depends.

The Peregrí Casanova Memorial is organized by the Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology and the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit-Chair for the Dissemination of Science of the University of València.

Previous Peregrí Casanova Memorials have featured speakers such as evolutionary biologist Rosemary Gillespie (University of California), Stanley L. Miller (University of California, San Diego), David M. Hillis (University of Texas, Austin), Francisco J. Ayala (University of California-Irvine), José Luis Sanz (Autonomous University of Madrid), Rosemary and Peter Grant (Princeton University), and Roger Butlin (University of Sheffield).

More information: http://ir.uv.es/XRuUQ0P  

• 
•