Learn how to study this fascinating symbiosis in 7 days packed with hands-on sampling, lab exercises, and discussions guided by an experienced team of entomologists and mycologists.
WHERE
University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, USA.
Plant Pathology Department classroom 2564.
WHEN
- May 13, 2025: arrivals
- May 14-20, 2025: workshop
- May 21, 2025: departures
What you will learn
HANDS-ON SAMPLING AND ISOLATION
- collect ambrosia beetles in the university forest and store samples for fungus isolation
- learn data management to link specimens, fungal isolates, molecular methods, and sequences
- identify ambrosia beetles using morphological characters
- understand morphology of ambrosia fungi, macro and micro
- take high-quality photographs of beetles and share them with experts for identification
- learn how to isolate ambrosia fungi and avoid contaminants
- extract DNA from fungi and from beetle mycangia for molecular identification
- choose appropriate primers and PCR-amplify DNA from ambrosia beetles and ambrosia fungi
GUIDED ANALYSES
- process and interpret sequencing data from barcoding analyses using free software
- publish species records and molecular data
- statistical and ecological analysis of ambrosia fungus community from isolation and sequencing studies
THEORY
- ask interesting questions, design robust experiments, publish high-impact papers
- identify and avoid common pitfalls in ambrosia symbiosis research
- emerging biosecurity issues
COST
Non-UF external participants: US$1,592, the analog of 3 UF credits. The cost includes:
- textbook
- research materials
- ambrosia fungi cultures
- ambrosia beetle collection
- local transport.
The cost does not include $39/day for on-campus lodging, and it does not include food.
Pre-registration to save your seat: $50 by December 31, 2024
Full registration: $1,542 by March 30, 2025.
Accommodation: we recommend that participants stay at the university dorms for visiting scholars, which we are arranging. Please let us know if you are interested in this option. Regarding flights: logistically it is best to fly directly to Gainesville. Cheaper flights may be available to Orlando, but it may require either a bus or car rental (we may be able to provide limited transportation from Orlando).
MORE QUESTIONS? Feel free to contact us at [email protected].