On Wednesday, February 12, at 17:30 GMT+2 we will hear two talks on #Microbiome and #Ancient Genomes Research:

Talk 1

Prof. Dr. Horia-Leonard Banciu, "Microbial world of permanently stratified saline lakes", Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Keywords: halophiles, microbiome, biogeochemical roles

Abstract: Permanently stratified saline lakes are characterized by steady physico-chemical layering of the water column that is mirrored by niche partitioning of microbial communities. These lakes are of particular interest for studying the vertically interconnected biogeochemical cycles driven by microorganisms. Nowadays, the full picture of microbial world and its roles in aquatic ecosystem is achievable through multifaceted approaches including conventional culturing and omics-centered methods in addition to environmental monitoring and in-situ activity measurements.

Resources: https://banciuhoria.wordpress.com/

Talk 2

Dr. Ioana-Nicoleta Meleg, "Inferring past ecosystems through ancient biomolecules", Emil G. Racoviță Institute, Babeș-Bolyai University

Keywords: cave bears, palaeoecology, palaeogenomics

Abstract: Over the past decades, advancements in biomolecular analysis have provided new insights into species’ ecological and evolutionary responses to past environmental changes. Using cave bears as a model species, this study examines their dynamics across millennia, focusing on their adaptation to Late Pleistocene climatic conditions and the factors contributing to their extinction. Stable isotope analysis of individuals from the Carpathian Basin (45,000–26,000 years ago) reveals significant dietary variability within a predominantly herbivorous niche, a pattern absent in their Eurasian counterparts. This variation, independent of population genomics data, suggests that localised environmental conditions shaped distinct foraging strategies. The findings support the hypothesis that the Carpathians served as a refugium during harsher climatic periods, experiencing less extreme cooling and drying than other regions, which fostered unique ecological adaptations and dietary specialisation. While this flexibility may have been an adaptive response, it was ultimately insufficient to prevent extinction. This interdisciplinary approach provides a deeper understanding of past ecological processes and species’ resilience to environmental shifts.

Format: Online, free to attend, no registration is required: Zoom