Biodiversity of Polar Foraminifera:
Morphology, DNA Barcoding, and Metabarcoding
Tromsø, Norway, 30 August – 06 September 2026
Background
Benthic foraminifera are among the most important bioindicators in polar marine ecosystems, where they play key roles in biodiversity assessment and environmental monitoring. While multichambered calcareous and agglutinated species are relatively well studied and widely used in ecological assessments, a large proportion of polar foraminiferal diversity consists of organic-walled and agglutinated monothalamous species that remain poorly documented.
Recent advances in DNA barcoding and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding have revealed an unexpected diversity of these overlooked taxa and demonstrated their sensitivity to environmental change. These findings suggest that monothalamous foraminifera have significant potential as indicators of climate-driven ecosystem shifts, including ongoing changes in Arctic marine environments associated with ocean warming and Atlantification.
In response to the growing need for taxonomic and molecular expertise in marine biodiversity assessment, the first workshop on benthic foraminifera was convened in Tjärno in 2000 and then in Bergen in 2006. The event generated strong interest among researchers and environmental practitioners and stimulated the development of pilot applications of foraminiferal morphology and molecular approaches for biodiversity monitoring across several countries.
Building on the success of this initiative, and with the generous support of the Nordic Society Oikos, in partnership with UiT The Arctic University of Norway, the European Geosciences Union (EGU), the Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research and the endorsement of Past Global Changes (PAGES), we are pleased to organize the Biodiversity of Polar Foraminifera: Morphology, DNA Barcoding, and Metabarcoding (BioPolFor-MBM) training workshop. The workshop will be held at UiT in Tromsø, Norway, from 30 August to 6 September 2026. It aims to strengthen technical capacity in the identification and analysis of polar foraminifera through the integration of traditional morphological methods with modern DNA barcoding and eDNA metabarcoding approaches.
Objectives
The BioPolFor-MBM workshop aims to:
- Provide early-career researchers (ECRs) with hands-on training in the morphology, taxonomy, DNA barcoding, and metabarcoding of benthic foraminifera.
- Strengthen expertise in the identification and characterization of Arctic soft-walled and monothalamous foraminifera, one of the least-studied components of marine biodiversity.
- Promote the integration of classical taxonomy and molecular approaches for more robust and reproducible biodiversity research.
- Foster international collaboration among taxonomists, molecular biologists, ecologists, and environmental monitoring practitioners.
- Support the development of future applications of foraminifera-based biomonitoring in rapidly changing polar marine ecosystems.
Contents of the training workshop
The 8-day workshop combines fieldwork, laboratory training, lectures, and networking activities to provide participants with hands-on experience in the study of benthic foraminifera:
- Field sampling: Collection of sediment samples from Arctic fjords around Tromsø.
- Morphological identification: Sorting and identification of benthic foraminifera, with a focus on soft-walled monothalamids.
- DNA barcoding and metabarcoding: Practical training in DNA extraction, sequencing, and eDNA-based biodiversity assessment using Oxford Nanopore technologies.
- Bioinformatics: Introduction to sequence analysis and reference databases.
- Expert lectures: Presentations on taxonomy, molecular ecology, metabarcoding, and sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA).
- Networking: Opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange among participants and experts.
- Science & Art: Creative activities to communicate Arctic biodiversity research to broader audiences.
Expected Outputs
- Enhanced expertise and biodiversity resources: Participants will gain practical skills in the integrated use of morphology, DNA barcoding, and metabarcoding for studying benthic foraminifera, while contributing to new reference collections, images, and DNA sequence resources for Arctic biodiversity research.
- Strengthened collaboration and research capacity: The workshop will foster lasting partnerships among researchers and institutions, establishing a collaborative network to advance taxonomy, molecular ecology, and biodiversity monitoring of polar marine ecosystems.
Venue
The workshop will be held at the Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, in Tromsø, Norway.
As part of the workshop, participants will join a field trip aboard the R/V Beret Paulsdatter to nearby Arctic fjords and open sea, where they will collect sediment samples and gain hands-on experience in marine field sampling. These samples will be used for subsequent morphological and molecular analyses during the workshop. The Department of Geosciences will provide the necessary meeting and lab facilities for the training workshop, including a lecture room, microscopy and molecular biology laboratories. Participants will use their own laptops during the bioinformatics training sessions.
Tentative programme
Day 1 – Welcome and networking: Registration, opening lecture, keynote lecture, workshop orientation, presentation of participant’s research and ice-breaking activities
Days 2 and 3 – Arctic field sampling and specimen processing: Field excursions to Malangen fjord and open sea for sediment sampling, combined with laboratory training in sieving, wet-picking, and sorting benthic foraminifera.
Days 4 and 5 – Taxonomy, biodiversity, and molecular ecology: Expert lectures on monothalamid biodiversity, DNA barcoding, metabarcoding, invasive species monitoring, and environmental applications, alongside practical identification sessions.
Days 6 and 7 – DNA barcoding and metabarcoding workflows: Hands-on laboratory training in DNA extraction, PCR amplification, Oxford Nanopore sequencing, and bioinformatics for foraminiferal biodiversity assessment.
Day 8 – Data analysis and workshop synthesis: Barcoding and metabarcoding data analysis, participant presentations, discussion of results, and workshop conclusions.
Qualifications of participants
The workshop is designed for early-career researchers (ERC), postgraduate students, and professionals interested in marine biodiversity, taxonomy, molecular ecology, and environmental monitoring.
Applicants should have:
- A background in micropaleontology, marine biology, (paleo)ecology, environmental sciences, molecular biology, or a related discipline.
- An interest in benthic biodiversity, foraminifera, environmental DNA (eDNA), or biodiversity assessment.
- Basic molecular laboratory and computer skills.
- Sufficient English proficiency to actively participate in lectures, discussions, and practical sessions.
Previous experience with foraminifera, DNA sequencing, or bioinformatics is beneficial but not required.
Application
Applications are open to early-career researchers, postgraduate students, and professionals interested in marine biodiversity, taxonomy, molecular ecology, and environmental monitoring.
The workshop will accommodate a maximum of 16 in-person participants and 20 online participants.
To apply, candidates must complete the online application form by 30 June 2026.
A limited number of discounted registration fees* are available for students and selected early-career researchers. Applicants requesting a discounted fee should additionally submit a motivation letter.
Selection will be based on the applicant’s academic background, research interests, relevance to the workshop themes, potential to apply the acquired skills, and commitment to advancing biodiversity research and environmental monitoring.
Successful applicants will be notified after the review process.
Registration Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| In-person participant | €650 |
| Discounted fee (students and eligible participants)* | €250 |
| Online participant | Free |
* Discounted fees are subject to eligibility and availability.
Please note: The registration fee covers accomodation, workshop materials, laboratory sessions, field activities, coffee breaks, and lunches during the workshop. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel unless otherwise specified by the organizers.
Contact points
Inés Barrenechea Angeles, Ph.D, email: ines.a.angeles@uit.no
Joost Martijn van Genuchten, M.Sc., email: joost.m.genuchten@uit.no
Important Links
Online Registration Form: