Conference Topics- Symposium on environmental and human evolution in South America The aim of this symposium is to present and discuss aspects of ecological, climate, environmental, cultural and human changes and their evolution, at different time scales, notably in the Pleistocene, the Holocene and in recent centuries. The objective is to bring together researchers from different projects financed by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and to present the results of their research in South America to the international community. - Session 1 : Change and continuity in the genus Homo: resilience and adaptation in a changing world - Levy Figuti* & Mercedes Okumura**, *Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, **Institute of Biosciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Since its origins around 2 Ma, many different species considered to be part of the genus Homo have shown remarkable instances of adaptation to environmental challenges, including the dramatic climatic changes observed during the Pleistocene, as well as more discrete environmental fluctuations documented in more localized settings during the Holocene. From 2 Ma to around 200 ka, different species of hominins occupied a great variety of landscapes in the Old World, facing rather demanding challenges in terms of adaptation and resilience in these new environments, most of them quite different from the original African landscape. In the last 200 ka, populations of Homo sapiens have colonized, explored, and adapted to a changing environment. Such adaptive strategies can be observed in the myriad of different and innovative ways of adaptation and natural resources management observed in hunter-gatherer groups, as well as in the anthropogenic constructed niches (mostly) related to the advent of plant and animal domestication. The challenges faced by Homo sapiens today (global warming, emergent pathogens, overpopulation, among others), which apparently seem so distant from the Pleistocene and most of the Holocene period, are actually not that different. In the past, human populations also grappled with the stresses of climate change, exposure to new pathogens, as well as population growth. This call invites new research and knowledge, that critically explores the diverse ways in which the genus Homo colonized and adapted to a changing world in the last 2 Ma, including Homo sapiens and the more recent adaptations observed during the Holocene. We aim to present a wide range of case studies showing a great diversity of adaptations of Homo populations in the last 2 Ma, calling attention to potential cultural changes and continuities related to coping strategies in response to a changing world. We also would like to stress that the challenges faced by humans today can be considered as a continuation (albeit now in a more extreme level) of stressors which hominin populations have been exposed in the last 2 Ma. - Session 2 : Environmental, ecological, and climate changes in South America in the Holocene and last millennia - Gregorio Ceccantini, Institute of Biosciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Multidisciplinary research, mainly in geosciences, shows that the Earth has already undergone profound ecological, environmental and atmospheric changes throughout its history. The best known are the appearance of much higher global temperatures in the Mesozoic (up to about 15°C above the current average) as well as the Pleistocene ice ages, with much lower global temperatures. They have had drastic effects on the landscapes of the Northern Hemisphere. The glaciations these past 2 million years have left visible effects, still present today, on the landscape, ecosystems and the living organisms of our planet. Nowadays, there is much discussion about the environmental and climate changes that have occurred over the past 10,000 years and especially over the last millennia, which was accelerated by activities of anthropogenic origin. The environmental changes over the past three centuries are even more marked and rapid. This symposium aims to bring together scientists who study all these climate changes and their implications on ecosystems and biota to fuel an in-depth debate and a better understanding of the phenomena with a determining impact. It is also important to address their already visible effects on the landscape and environment in South America thanks to the crucial participation of Brazilian researchers from various institutions in São Paulo. During this meeting, 19 researchers from São Paulo or from this state, whose research is funded by FAPESP, will meet and present their results to an international public : a very special dialogue will be established with Moroccan researchers who have expressed their desire to establish Moroccan-Brazilian cooperation networks for a better understanding and adaptation to the ecological, climate and environmental changes of our time. - Application of geomatics to natural resource management and the environment - Abdelkader El Guarouani, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, University Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Morocco. Natural resource management remains an important issue for public and private organizations. Research activities in the field of geomatics (Geographic Information Systems, cartography, airborne and spatial data acquisition, etc.) are helping to develop innovative processes in these areas, with strategies for implementing proposed solutions and supporting decision-making. - Satellite Remote Sensing for an effective natural resource management - Hassan Tabyaoui, Natural Resources and Environment Laboratory, FPT, Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah University, Fez, Morocco. Satellite-based Remote Sensing plays a vital role in a wide spectrum of applications. Remote Sensing technology has evolved to a new era with several kinds of earth observation data. The advanced technologies and upgraded sensors have revolutionized the ability of scientists to monitor and manage natural resources. This results in effective natural resource management with more accurate, advanced, and timely information on existing as well as potential future techniques. In this session, we target areas related to advancing high-resolution and mid-resolution remote sensing data acquisition and sensor modeling combined with new data processing techniques for information extraction, including machine learning and deep learning. We are also interested in advances in Remote Sensing that help find solutions to modern human problems, including combating climate change and addressing sustainable development. We encourage participation from academia, space agencies, government stakeholders and industrial research and development leaders to share their latest technology and research. - Soil erosion and quality of aquatic environments - Mohammed Benabdelhadi, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, University Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Morocco. The development of urban planning and modern industrial and agricultural activities have resulted in serious damage and imbalances in natural environments, which have unfortunately been exacerbated by climate change. We therefore need to be aware of the importance of rational management of these natural resources and their protection against all risks likely to affect their quality. Among the aspects of this degradation is the deterioration in the quality of the aquatic environment and the phenomenon of soil erosion, which has accelerated at an alarming rate. - Groundwater and Climate changes - Lahcen Benaabidate, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, University Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Maroc. Groundwater resources are the main resource for drinking water supply in arid regions, and a large part of these resources used also for irrigation, remain very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Knowing and forecasting the future evolution of the climate and in particular of its impact on water resources remain essential. Furthermore, these resources, partly impacted by the degradation of their quality, require rational management to ensure the water bridge for future generations. - Hydrology and watershed management - Lahcen Benaabidate, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, University Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Maroc. The hydrological investigation of watersheds, the analysis of the various physical and geomorphological parameters using geomatics, the analysis of precipitation trends, the evaluation of the quality of hydrological data and the calculation of floods are all means of carrying out the hydrological modeling. This modeling constitutes a rational mechanism that allows to best reproducing the global behavior of watersheds in order to quantify the surface water resources and also to present the risk of flooding affecting the arid regions. - Waste recycling and recovery - Mohammed Benabdelhadi & Omar Kassou, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, University Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Maroc, ** PHILIA DMCC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. All human activities produce waste, whether green or not. The exponential increase in quantities of household and similar waste represents a major environmental, social and economic challenge. In recent years, however, a growing awareness has prompted governments, businesses and citizens to adopt more sustainable practices. The recovery and recycling of all types of waste has become a global priority. Non-recovered waste, such as household and similar waste, can have harmful consequences for the environment. The accumulation of waste in landfill sites contributes to soil and groundwater pollution, while its incineration without energy recovery leads to the emission of greenhouse gases and toxic substances into the atmosphere. By adopting waste recovery and recycling practices, we can significantly reduce these negative impacts. Waste recovery and recycling offer significant economic benefits. By promoting a circular economy, where waste is transformed into resources, we can foster sustainable development and economic growth. By adopting a global approach that integrates reduction at source, the adoption of policies and regulations to promote reuse, recycling and energy recovery. New technologies play a crucial role in improving waste recovery and enhancing energy recovery possibilities. In this way, we can minimize environmental impact, generate economic benefits and improve the social conditions associated with waste management. Government policies, scientific research, citizens' initiatives and public-private partnerships are all levers for promoting sustainable waste management, thereby helping to preserve our environment for future generations. - Natural substances, their potential for protecting plants against disease - Jamila Al Figuigui, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, University Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Morocco. Plant health has always been a real concern for scientists. Protecting them from pests and diseases is a key component of crop management. It is based on the respect of numerous rules and has often relied on the use of chemical inputs. Developing good practices and alternative control methods for sustainable agriculture is currentlya challenge that needs to be met. - Production and valorization of plant resources - Karima Mikou, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, University Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Morocco. Food and non-food plants are likely to provide products of great interest. The identification of these products and their transformation is developing continuously thanks to very active worldwide research that led to a wide diversity of products with significant biological activities that can be exploited in the agri-food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, energy and environmental sectors through the identification of the molecules responsible for these activities. The processes involved in adding value to these plant resources, as well as the different methods of production, are of great interest, in a spirit of sustainable development, using the plant as an organism interacting with its environment. - Conservation of animal biodiversity - Lahsen El Ghadraoui, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, Université Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah, Fez, Morocco. The conservation of animal biodiversity has been a highly debated topic since the turn of the millennium. Mother Nature, which provides us with food and shelter and is home to many living creatures, an exuberant fauna that mankind must appreciate at its true value, is undergoing an unprecedented decline. There is no doubt that the industrial revolution has led to major upheavals in the functioning of many ecosystems, and as a result, the steady, sometimes even irreversible loss of biodiversity. The decline in this priceless natural wealth concerns a large number of taxa, the main causes of which are multi-scale and anthropogenic (destruction and fragmentation of habitats). This massive destruction of biodiversity has been the subject of much research in recent decades, particularly with the emergence of a new scientific discipline known as conservation biology. The organization of such an international scientific event (RENA-2023) is an opportunity to debate and exchange data on this subject. - Soil management and biodiversity protection - Meryem Benjelloun, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah University, Fez, Morocco. By destroying natural and agricultural areas, urban sprawl and soil artificialization contribute directly to the degradation of ecosystem functioning, the loss of species diversity and the accentuation of extreme weather phenomena. To face the destruction of these ecosystems and biodiversity, we need to promote sustainable agriculture and study the role of plants in soil conservation and ecosystem restoration, as well as mitigating the effects of invasive species on ecosystems. - Protection and valorization of plants - Majida Hafidi, Hajjaj Hassan, Rahou Abdelilah, Applied Mycology TeamPlant Biotechnology and Valorization of Bioresources LaboratoryFaculty of Sciences University Of Moulay Ismail, Morocco. Plant protection is a crucial aspect of agricultural practices and plays a significant role in ensuring global food security. It involves the implementation of various strategies and technologies to manage pests, diseases, and other harmful factors that can negatively affect plant health and productivity. Traditionally, chemical treatments have been extensively used for plant protection, but their overreliance has led to environmental contamination, health concerns, and the emergence of resistant phytopathogens. To address these challenges, alternative methods that promote sustainable plant protection, such as valorization that focuses on harnessing the potential of microorganisms, such as nitrogen-fixating rhizobacteria and biological control, have gained significant attention in recent years. Disease management is a critical aspect of plant protection, as plant diseases can cause substantial yield losses and economic damage. Biological control has emerged as an effective strategy for disease management, as it offers an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to chemical products. Various microbial agents, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes, have been identified and utilized for their ability to suppress plant pathogens. These agents can act directly by inhibiting the growth and development of pathogens or indirectly by stimulating the plant's natural defense mechanisms. The application of biological control for disease management involves various approaches, including the use of antagonistic microorganisms, biocontrol agents, and induced systemic resistance. Antagonistic microorganisms, such as certain strains of bacteria and fungi, produce antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of pathogens. Biocontrol agents, such as Trichoderma spp. and Bacillus spp., have been extensively studied and utilized for their ability to suppress a wide range of plant pathogens. These agents can colonize the plant's rhizosphere or phyllosphere and outcompete the pathogens for resources. Induced systemic resistance is another mechanism employed in biological control, wherein certain microorganisms or their by-products trigger the plant's defense responses, resulting in enhanced resistance against diseases. - Plant Biotechnology at the Service of the Improvement and Valorization of Plant Resources - Abderrahim Lazraq. Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering Laboratory, FST Fez, Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah University, Fez, Morocco. Biotechnology represents a discipline that opens a new horizon for research and development. It brings together a set of important tools for the sustainable development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, as well as the agri-food sector. Plant biotechnology is proving to be a promising niche in Morocco, this new discipline is able to provide concrete solutions to the problems of biotic and abiotic stress from which several crop varieties suffer. This could improve national productivity. It is therefore important to further integrate biotechnology techniques into research programs. Morocco's policy in terms of plant biotechnology is based on the following axes : plant protection ; clonal propagation ; conservation and exchange of germplasm and plant breeding. - Aquatic ecosystems: resources and valorization -El-Ouazna Bouchamma & Saad Rachiq, Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering, FST Fez, Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah University, Fez, Morocco Aquatic ecosystems, whether continental or marine, are home to a large number of micro-organisms, algae, invertebrates and vertebrates. This biodiversity constitutes a natural capital essential to economic growth and social well-being. The great biological wealth of aquatic environments is also one of the most threatened by the development of human activities that modify and degrade these ecosystems. The preservation of this biodiversity is therefore a necessity to ensure sustainable economic growth; this is achieved through a multi-disciplinary approach presenting different aquatic resources, their development, and the challenges in terms of innovation and conservation. - Blue biotechnologies: Economic and environmental valorization of natural and bioactive substances - Abdellah Zinedine & Samira Etahiri, Biomare Laboratory, Chouaib Doukkali University, Faculty of Sciences, El Jadida, Morocco The marine environment constitutes an inestimable wealth of inexhaustible natural resources for man, providing him with food, energy and water. These natural resources (algae, marine microorganisms, animals) are considered excellent natural sources of biomolecules with diverse and potentially interesting biological activities. The biological activity of these substances depends on their chemical composition and biochemical properties. Their most sought-after biological activities are their antimicrobial, antioxidant, etc. properties. Currently there is a significant demand for the research and identification of biomolecules of marine origin, given their potential application in various fields against pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms; this includes in particular the medical, cosmetic, agri-food and environmental fields, as well as their application as biopesticides.
- Natural resource compounds: chemical composition, biological activity and toxicity assessment - Abdelaziz Soukri*, Faouzi Errachidi** and Bouchra El Khalfi**FSAC UH2 & **FST Fez, Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah University, Fez, Morocco
This theme aims to promote research describing the chemical composition of natural compounds obtained from different biological sources (plants, animals, microorganisms, marine sources, etc.) which have a strong added value which results in exciting biological activities and offer new biotechnological solutions. Particular importance will be attributed to work which promotes inexhaustible Moroccan natural sources, in particular plant, microbial and marine sources, and which uses green extraction methods. Submission of abstracts reflecting toxicity assessment using in-vitro and in-vivo is strongly encouraged.
|
| Online user: 2 | Privacy |
|
