MERTOLA EVOLUTION CONFERENCES- 2026 EDITION: NATURAL SELECTION IN THE WILD

!!!! Save the date: 17 - 19th of April 2026, Mertola, Portugal !!!!!

Dear Colleagues,

It is a pleasure to announce the second edition of Mertola Evolution
Conferences (MECs), which will occur in the Spring at the beautiful
historical town of Mertola, Southern Portugal.

The MECs are annual meetings on Evolutionary Biology (each year a specific
topic) for researchers and students to present cutting-edge studies on
the field, as well as a forum for informal discussion, fostering new
ideas and collaborations among researchers all over the world. Mertola
Conferences are promoted by EBM - Biological Station of Mertola in
collaboration with other national and international institutions.

Mertola is located in Southeast Alentejo region of Portugal, near the
Spanish border, crossed by the Guadiana River and in the center of the
Natural Park of Guadiana Valley. The antiquity of Mertola is attested
by the many archaeological remains that prove the continuous human
occupation of this territory. Despite being and biodiversity hotspot
of Mediterranean ecosystems, the first traces of human presence dating
back to the Neolithic period, five thousand years ago, with different
civilizations, like Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. More
information at https://www.visitmertola.pt/mertola-vila-museu/

The MEC 2026 edition, entitled "Natural Selection in the Wild".

More information about invited speakers, registration and abstract
submission will soon be available.
We look forward to welcoming you at Mertola!
Please, spread the word among your colleagues.

The organizing committee,
Jeremy Searle
Miguel Carneiro
Rui Faria
Paulo Celio Alves

Rui Faria, PhD

1. Researcher and SEAGEN Group Leader
CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos,
InBIO Laboratório Associado
BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning
Campus de Vairão
Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nº 7
4485-661, Vairão, Portugal

2. Invited Assistant Professor,
Department of Biology
Faculty of Sciences at the University of Porto,
Rua Campo Alegre s/n
4169-007, Porto, Portugal

Webpages:
Littorina Research Community <https://littorina.at.biopolis.pt/>
https://rmigueldefaria.wixsite.com/farialab-1
https://sites.google.com/biopolis.pt/littorina/winklewatch

Rui Faria <ruifaria@cibio.up.pt>

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