Invaders on the Horizon! Advancing Invasion Science from Genes to Ecosystems and Society is a scientific conference that aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and explore the multifaceted challenges posed by invasive alien species, a major driver of global change. With a strong focus on the genetic, ecological, and societal aspects of biological invasions, this conference provides a unique platform to exchange knowledge and insights.

By attending this conference, you will have the opportunity to engage with renowned experts, exchange ground breaking ideas, and contribute to the collective understanding of invasive species. Join us at Invaders on the Horizon! and be part of the vibrant scientific community committed to tackling the challenges posed by biological invasions!

Helen Roy

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Bernd Lenzner

Division of Bioinvasions, Global Change, Macroecology at the University of Vienna

Tanara Renard Truong

IPBES Assessment Coordinator

Ivan Jaric

University of Paris-Saclay in France & Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Pedro Naves

INIAV´s Acarological Laboratory

The conference will take place at Auditório Municipal de Vila do Conde.

Mindelo Field Trip

The “Paisagem Protegida Regional do Litoral de Vila do Conde and Reserva Ornitológica de Mindelo” stands as a sanctuary for nature conservation in Vila do Conde. Initially birthed from the “Reserva Ornitológica de Mindelo”, Portugal’s pioneering protected area for nature conservation established back in 1957, its inception owes much to the tireless efforts of Professor Joaquim Santos Júnior from the University of Porto. Professor Júnior initiated a bird monitoring program in Mindelo centered around bird banding, with a particular emphasis on tracking the migration patterns of the European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur).

However, the landscape’s significance waned notably from the 1980s onwards. Encroachment, marked by the conversion of natural areas into construction zones, sand removal, the proliferation of exotic plant species, waste dumping, and illegal bird trapping, led to a period of distressing degradation. Recent efforts have aimed to restore the area, evident in the installation of marked trails over the last five years.

The locally scoped protected area boasts a relatively compact size, spanning the coastline between the mouth of the Ave River and the mouth of the Onda River. Its habitats encompass mixed forests of eucalyptus, pine, acacia, and oak, agricultural fields (mainly intensive maize cultivation), coastal and interdunal zones, scrublands, and two small estuarine areas (Ave River and Onda River). Notably, the region hosts a rich variety of biological treasures, including a diverse array of amphibian species (12 out of Portugal’s known 19 species have been recorded), thriving due to the abundance of temporary ponds. Additionally, two plant species endemic to the North Portuguese coastal dunes, Coincya johnstonii and Jasione maritima var. sabularia, flourish within its confines. The avian community within the protected area is also remarkably diverse, with records of more than 160 species.

However, alongside these invaluable assets, invasive alien species are impacting the area, for example, the golden wattle (along with its natural control agent Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae), the Asian hornet, and the common waxbill (among many others!)