SIP 2024

Opening evening lecture: Chemodiversity, genetic diversity and phenotypic plasticity: Implications for plant-insect food webs under climate change by Prof. Renee M. Borges*

• Session 1: Environmental Change

Effects of different environmental change factors, such as drought, flooding, warming, carbon dioxide, invasive species and artificial light at night, on insect-plant relationships.

• Session 2: Inorganic versus Organic Plant Defences

Inorganic/ elemental defences (e.g. heavy metals, silicon) as well as organic defences (metabolites, proteins) of plants against insects.

• Session 3: Molecular Mechanisms and Eco-omics

Molecular aspects of insect-plant relationships (e.g. elicitors, effectors) and role of genes, transcripts (including epi-genetics), proteins and metabolites in these interactions.

• Session 4: Spatio-temporal Dynamics

Role of different spatial and temporal scales (e.g. latitudinal or altitudinal gradients, different plant parts; succession, circadian rhythms, seasons) in insect-plant relationships.

• Session 5: Vascular Systems

Role of phloem sap and xylem sap for insect-plant interactions.

• Session 6: Sequestration, Pharmacophagy and Addicts

How insects make use of plant metabolites (e.g. sequestration, pharmacophagy) and how they may become addicted to plant metabolites.

• Session 7: Crop Plants and Agriculture

Insect-plant relationships from an applied perspective, including techniques to monitor insect infestation and plant quality (e.g., traps, different sensors, remote sensing); biocontrol.

Final keynote: Role of Microbes and Scaling up to Communities by Prof. Robert R. Junker*

 

*These two talks will be held in hybrid form. While the conference participants are asked to attend in-person in the conference room, further people can attend virtually without a need for registration to the conference. The access details for virtual attendance will be published here one week before the beginning of the conference at the latest.

 

 

Excursions and Workshop

On Wednesday (August 7th, 2024) afternoon, we offer various parallel running excursions and a workshop. Bus transfers, including transfers to the subsequent conference dinner (Hechelei, Bielefeld downtown) will be available.

Please register for one of the excursions or for the workshop via the registration portal. Registration will close once an excursion/workshop is booked out (first come first served) or latest on July 1st, 2024. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, an excursion may be cancelled. If you have any further questions or need to cancel, please contact us at sip2024@uni-bielefeld.de.

The following options are offered:

“Insect Safari” in the surrounding of Haus Neuland

The region around Haus Neuland will be explored by the participants. The guided tour will focus on insect species and their habitats.

Programme: 16:15 start at Haus Neuland, 17:45 back at Haus Neuland, then bus transfer to conference dinner

Price (per person): 3 Euro | Max. 15 participants

 

Plant excursion to the “Ochsenheide” and the surrounding “Teutoburg forest”

The “Ochsenheide” is one of the most valuable nature protection areas in Bielefeld. About 120 plant species, including several threatened species (red list), occur there. In a guided tour, the plant species of the grassland and the surrounding Teutoburg forest will be presented, together with some insights into historical aspects of the Teutoburg forest.

Programme: 16:15 bus transfer from Haus Neuland to Ochsenheide, 17:00 – 18:30 excursion, then bus transfer to conference dinner or back to Haus Neuland

Price (per person): 6 Euro | Max. 25 participants per group

Zoo “Olderdissen”

The “Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen” is a zoo embedded in the Teutoburg forest, with various Central European animal species such as beavers, birds, lynxes, European bisons, wolves and bears. A guided tour is offered, focussing on nature/ wildlife conservation.

Programme: 16:15 bus transfer from Haus Neuland to the zoo, 17:00 – 18:30 visit the zoo, then bus transfer to conference dinner or back to Haus Neuland

Price (per person): 13 Euro | Max. 20 participants per group

The Sparrenburg Castle

This castle is one of the most famous landmarks of Bielefeld, located on the hill “Sparrenberg”. You can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view over Bielefeld. The excursion includes a guided tour (45-60 min) through the casemates of the castle. Afterwards you can explore the surroundings of the castle yourself.

Programme: 16:15 bus transfer from Haus Neuland to Sparrenburg, 17:00 – 18:30 at Sparrenburg, then bus transfer to conference dinner or back to Haus Neuland

Price (per person): 3 Euro | Max. 30 participants

Historical Museum and “Ravensberger Park” Bielefeld

In the historical museum and the “Ravensberger Park”, you can experience the history of Bielefeld and the region. In a guided tour, you will visit the museum with a focus on industry. Afterwards, you may walk through the park, where you can see the historical garden and buildings that were formerly used for flax spinning.

Programme: 16:15 bus transfer from Haus Neuland to Ravensberger Park, 17:00 – 18:30 museum, then walk to Hechelei for conference dinner or bus transfer back to Haus Neuland

Price (per person): 7 Euro (regular), 3 Euro (student) | Max. 25 participants

Workshop Eco-Metabolomics

The complementary nature of ecology and metabolomics is becoming increasingly apparent. Here, we will explore strategies and tools used to combine both fields and improve our understanding of plant-environment interactions. General strategies, analytical techniques, processing programmes and the concept of predictive metabolomics will be discussed.

Programme: 16:15 – 17:45 workshop at Haus Neuland, 17:45 bus transfer to conference dinner

Price: free of charge | Max. 20 participants