African  Amphibian  Working  Group,  Trento  Italy,  28th  May  –  31st  May  2012    

 

  Summary   The   15th   meeting   of   AAWG   plans   to   be   a   big   celebration   of   African   amphibian   biology.   This   includes   celebration   of   one   of   the   key   contributors   to   our   field   -­‐   John   C.   Poynton   -­‐,   and   our   changing   understanding   of   African   amphibian   biology   since   the   first   African  Amphibian  Working  Group  meeting.  We  also  have  invited  some  World-­‐class  speakers   to   give   keynote   talks   on   a   range   of   subjects,   including   Caecilian   biology   and   Malagasy   Amphibian  conservation.  We  hope  you  can  join  us.       Timetable   The   AAWG   2012   meeting   will   be   held   between   the   28th   May-­‐31st   May   (Monday-­‐ Thursday),  at  the  Museum  of  Science.       Date   Monday  

  th 28  May  

Tuesday  

29  May  

Wednesday  

30  May  

Thursday  

31  May  

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Activity   Registration  and   opening  speech   Scientific  program     (Full  day)  

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Scientific  Program     (Full  day)  

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Scientific  Program     (1/2  day)   HAA  meeting  

Special  Activity     th

i),  AAWG  15  Meeting  Celebration,     ii),  Herpetological  exploration  of  Africa,   where  are  the  gaps?   A  celebration  of  John  Poynton’s   contribution  to  African  herpetology     Banquet   A  free  workshop  on  GIS     (please  register  your  interest)  

  Main  Topics  to  be  covered     1. John   Poynton’s   contribution   to   our   understanding   of   African   Herpetology   and   Biogeography   2. African  amphibian  biogeography  and  distribution   3. African  amphibian  phylogenetics  and  taxonomy   4. African  amphibian  conservation     Keynote  Talks     We  have  invited  several  individuals  to  give  keynote  talks  on  a  diverse  range  of  topics:       1.  Prof.   John   Poynton  (London,  UK)  will  present  on  his  research  regarding  biogeography  of   Afrotemperate  fauna.     2.   Prof.   Kim   Howell   (Dar   es   Salaam,   Tanzania)   will   give   a   talk   on   the   herpetological   contributions  of  John  Poynton.     3.  Dr.  Louis  de  Preez  (Potchefstroom,  South  Africa)  will  discuss  South  African  herpetology.   4.  Dr.  Franco  Andreone  (Torino,  Italy)  will  discuss  conservation  of  Malagasy  Amphibians.    

5.  Prof.   Alan   Channing  (Cape  Town,  South  Africa)  will  discuss  our  understanding  of  African   Herpetology  on  the  special  occasion  of  the  15th  AAWG  meeting.   6.  Dr.  Mark  Wilkinson  (London,  UK)  will  present  on  African  caecilian  biology.       Funding  opportunities     Thanks   to   funding   from   the   Museum   of   Science   and   the   Mohammad   bin   Zayed   Species   Conservation   Fund   we   are   glad   to   announce   funds   that,   in   conjunction   with   an   Eastern   Afromontane   Amphibian   Assessment,   are   aimed   to   support   regional   authorities   in   East  Africa  for  travel  and  accommodation  costs  in  Italy  for  one  week.  Participants  from  the   following   countries   qualify,   South   to   North:   Zimbabwe,   Malawi,   Mozambique,   Tanzania,   Rwanda,  Burundi,  Eastern  Democratic  Republic  of  Congo,  Kenya,  Uganda,  Ethiopia,  Eritrea,   Somalia  and  Dijibouti.     We   have   limited   funds   and   would   aim   to   fund   persons   that   can   contribute   to   an   updated  amphibian  assessment  for  as  many  species  across  the  Eastern  Afromontane  region   as   possible   and   are   ideally   a   focal   point   for   collating   data   from   other   colleagues   in   their   region.   We   would   aim   to   have   at   least   two   to   three   representatives   for   the   main   geographical  areas  (i.  the  Eastern  Arc  Mountains  and  Southern  Rift;  the  Albertine  Rift;  and   the  Ethiopian  Highlands).     If   you   are   interested   in   applying,   please   write   directly   to   Fabio   Pupin   ([email protected])   with   your   CV,   and   justification   including   a   list   of   the   species   or   groups   that   your   expertise   covers   and   experience   with   Eastern   Afromontane   amphibian   captive   breeding.     Insert   in   the   subject   heading   of   the   email:   “MBZ   funding   for   African   Herpetologists”.     Deadline   for   submission   of   this   application   is   29th   February,   Wednesday,   2012.       Accommodation     We   have   booked   a   limited   number   of   single   (54   Euros   per   night)   double   (58   Euros   per  night)  triple  (72  Euros  per  night)  and  quadruple  (85  Euros  per  night)  rooms  at  the  Hotel   Venezia   in   central   Trento   at   a   lower   than   advertised   rate   (http://www.hotelveneziatn.it/en/hotel/venezia/trento).   For   cheaper   options   we   will   book   rooms  at  the  “Giovane  Europa”  Youth  Hostel  (21,50  euros  per  person  in  double  rooms,  17   euros   per   person   in   quadruple   rooms   and   14,50   euros   in   multiple   rooms;   http://www.gayaproject.org/giovane-­‐europa.html)   and   can   also   advise   you   on   alternative   options  to  make  your  own  booking.  We  strongly  suggest  you  to  book  early.  Please  state  your   preferences  when  registering  and  we  will  contact  you  regarding  the  arrangements.     Contact  and  Registration     Please   register   online   and   give   preferences   for   the   title   and   type   of   scientific   presentation   and   your   accommodation   and   travel   requirements.   We   will   subsequently   contact   you   about   title   and   abstract   information.   If   you   have   already   registered   we   will   contact   you   directly   in   the   coming   week.   The   registration   deadline   is   29th   February   2012.   Registration   fee   is   20   Euros   and   can   be   paid   upon   arrival   and   this   will   cover   refreshments   and  lunch  during  the  conference.     Please   contact   Fabio   Pupin   ([email protected])   for   any   questions   regarding   the  conference  and  arrangements  (Travel  and  Accommodation).