Sessions

1. Advances in Integrative Taxonomy: Bridging Morphological, Molecular, and Imaging Approaches

Integrative taxonomy, combining traditional alpha taxonomy with modern molecular approaches, has become essential for accurate species delimitation and robust systematics and phylogenetic inference in copepods. This session will bring together studies that reveal cryptic diversity, document new taxonomic records, and identify evolutionary lineages, thereby addressing key challenges in copepod systematics, evolutionary relationships, and patterns of diversification. Particular emphasis will be placed on methodological advances in imaging technologies, as well as on DNA-based approaches and integrated morphological-molecular frameworks that are transforming our understanding of copepod diversity and evolution.

Keywords: Taxonomy, Morphology, Integrative taxonomy, Molecular taxonomy, DNA barcoding, Imaging techniques, Phylogeny, Evolutionary processes

2. Biogeography and Conservation: Patterns, Processes, and Distributional Knowledge Gaps

Understanding the geographic distribution of biodiversity remains a fundamental challenge in ecology and conservation, particularly in light of the “Wallacean shortfall” and the limited knowledge of species distributions. This session explores the biogeography and conservation of copepod assemblages across diverse aquatic ecosystems, including marine, surface freshwater, and subterranean habitats. As widespread, diverse, and functionally crucial crustaceans, copepods serve as excellent models for biodiversity, endemism, and historical, ecological, and evolutionary process studies. Contributions ranging from single-species studies to multi-taxon approaches for refining copepod biogeography or addressing conservation biogeography are warmly welcomed.

Keywords: Biogeography, Conservation, Species distribution, Modelling, Biodiversity patterns, Species richness, Spatial analysis/mapping, Climate change, Alien species.

3. From species and community ecology to ecosystem functioning

Copepods play key roles in aquatic ecosystems, linking trophic levels, driving energy transfer, and contributing to ecosystem functioning across marine, freshwater, and groundwater habitats. This session explores the physiology and ecology of copepods across multiple levels of biological organization, from individual species and populations to communities and ecosystems. It welcomes contributions on functional strategies that shape ecological interactions in terms of trophic dynamics, host-microbe relationships, and life-history traits, ranging from single-species to population- and community-level studies. Particular attention will be given to how functional diversity influences ecosystem processes, resilience, and energy transfer. The session also welcomes contributions on host–parasite interactions, considering copepods as either parasites or hosts.

Keywords: Physiology, Life-history traits, Ecological interactions, Microbiota, Trophic dynamics, Functional strategies, Population dynamic

4. Responses to natural and anthropogenic stressors

Environmental change is reshaping aquatic ecosystems worldwide, exposing copepods to a wide range of natural and anthropogenic stressors. These include changes in temperature, salinity, oxygen, UV radiation, presence of nutrients and emerging contaminants, to which copepods exhibit diverse responses. This session focuses on the responses of copepods to changing environmental conditions across marine, coastal, transitional, and freshwater ecosystems, with the aim of advancing our understanding of the mechanisms underlying their adaptation, resilience, and vulnerability. This session welcomes contributions on taxonomic and functional changes due to stressors, in terms of physiological, behavioral, and -omics (transcriptomic, proteomic, epigenomic) responses. We particularly encourage studies addressing plasticity, local adaptation, resilience and associated trade-offs under single and multiple stressors scenarios.

Keywords: Physiological plasticity, Resilience, Adaptation, Stress, Environmental change, Contaminants

5. New Frontiers and perspectives

Rapid advances in analytical, molecular, and observational technologies are transforming copepod research and opening new avenues for understanding the biology, ecology, and applied relevance of these ubiquitous crustaceans. This session aims to shed light on these new frontiers, which will improve our understanding of the biology and ecology of these ubiquitous crustaceans. Contributions ranging from meta-omics (e.g., metagenomics, metatranscriptomics), to remote sensing, from species detection to ecosystem services evaluation, and their potential applications in various fields (pest control, bioindication, biotechnology) are just some of the approaches this session would like to showcase.

Keywords: Aquaculture, Biotechnology, Bioindicators, Ecosystem services, Pest control, Environmental management, eDNA, Imaging, AI-tools.