Organizers: Thomas von Rintelen¹, Michael Balke^2
1Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Germany
²Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns, Munich, Germany

The freshwater invertebrate fauna of Southeast Asia is incredibly diverse, yet only partially explored. At the same time, all freshwater habitats in the region are rapidly deteriorating due to human population growth and economic activities. In this symposium, we want to chart the progress made in inventorying and describing SE Asia’s freshwater invertebrates during the last three decades in particular and the accompanying insights into their biogeography and diversification.

Essentially, we are asking what is known already and which are the major taxonomic and geographic gaps hampering our understanding of species diversity, distribution and traits. We invite all contributions on these topics, including those focusing on the application of novel methods in the study of aquatic invertebrates or providing links to other disciplines such as paleogeography and climate studies.

Keynote Speaker:
Associate Professor Dr. Darren Yeo Chong Jinn
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore 117377
E-mail: dbsyeod@nus.edu.sg, nhmyeod@nus.edu.sg

Organizers of the section: Somsak Panha and Chirasak Sutcharit
Department of Biology/ Centre of Excellence on Biodiversity, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
E-mail: somsak.pan@chula.ac.th, jirasak.s@chula.ac.th

The Mekong River is a lifeline for millions of people and a hotspot for biodiversity in Southeast Asia. However, it is increasingly threatened by disruptive situations, including climate change, dam construction, pollution, and overfishing. These challenges have profound impacts on the region’s unique ecosystems and the livelihoods of communities depending on the river.

This symposium aims to bring together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss taxonomy, the current status, challenges, and future directions for conserving biodiversity in the Mekong River under these disruptive conditions. It will serve as a platform for sharing the latest research findings, identifying knowledge gaps, and fostering collaborative efforts to protect this vital ecosystem.

Keynote Speaker:
Professor Dr. Santi Pailoplee
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Topic: Geography and Landform along the Mekong River Basin

Organizers: L. Lee Grismer¹, Evan S.H. Quah² and Anchalee Aowphol³

¹Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Biology, La Sierra University, 4500 Riverwalk Parkway, Riverside, California 92515, USA
E-mail: lgrismer@lasierra.edu
² Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
E-mail: evanquah@ums.edu.my, evanquah@yahoo.com
³Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand
E-mail: anchalee.a@ku.th

In the last 20 years, 100s of herpetology based biogeographic papers have been written ranging from the species level to faunal interpretations. Midway during this time period, a dramatic increase in our knowledge tectonic geography and associated seas increased the precision with which biogeographic scenarios and hypotheses were constructed. Augmenting these was a rapid uptick in molecular techniques used in phylogeny reconstruction and improved statistical methods for evaluating the robustness of the phylogenies.

Credit: Tan Fui Lian

It was the long career of Dato Dr. Robert F. Inger who wrote some of the first data rich hypothesis driven papers on biogeography on the Southeast Asian herpetofauna that systematically addressed these issues in a phylogenetic and ecological framework. Monographs such as The Systematics and Zoogeography of Philippine Amphibia (1954), The Systematics and Evolution of the Oriental Colubrid Snakes of the Genus Calamaria (Inger and Marx, 1965), The Systematics and Zoogeography of the Amphibia of Borneo (1966), and Tadpoles of the Forested Regions of Borneo (1985) and many other papers have directly or indirectly influenced a wide range of papers by many researchers since the turn of the century.

Southeast Asia continues to be the exciting biogeographical backdrop for many herpetological researchers. As the precision with which tectonic reconstructions of the evolving land masses continues to grow and the rapidly changing genomic landscape of phylogenetic reconstruction increases our ability provide more fine-grained analyses, biogeographers continue test old hypotheses—overturning many—and create new ones. A modern symposium on the biogeography of the Southeast Asian herpetofauna using the most advance techniques by some of the most recent well-published and respected researchers in the region coming together in one place at one point in time, will engender new ideas, methods, and productive collaborations which will serve to continue the upward trajectory we are currently experiencing in this field.

Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Bryan L. Stuart
Research Curator of Herpetology, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Topic: Information will be announced soon.

Organizers: Anchana Prathep¹, Milica Stankovic^2,3 and Ekkalak Rattanachot²

¹Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
²Excellence Center for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
³Dugong and Seagrass Research Station, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

Southeast Asia’s coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs, are treasures of global biodiversity and essential drivers of ecosystem services. These ecosystems are not only biodiversity hotspots but also critical allies in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time.  This symposium will focus on how preserving and enhancing the rich biodiversity of these ecosystems can serve as a foundation for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to address critical environmental and societal challenges such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development.

Participants will delve into the unique role that biodiversity plays in maintaining the functionality and resilience of these ecosystems, driving their ability to provide essential services such as carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and sustainable livelihoods.

Key discussions will address the integration of biodiversity into NbS frameworks, restoration, conservation, management and policies designed to combat habitat degradation, climate impacts, and biodiversity loss. The symposium will also highlight successful case studies from Southeast Asia, showcasing how communities, scientists, and policymakers are working together to preserve and restore coastal biodiversity through NbS approaches.

By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, this symposium aims to generate actionable strategies that leverage the power of biodiversity to secure the future of Southeast Asia’s coastal ecosystems and the millions of people who depend on them.

Organizers: Ekgachai Jerathitikul¹, Akihiro Nakamura², Yanqiong Peng^2
1Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand
²Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science, China

Southeast Asia, a global hotspot of insect diversity, is undergoing rapid environmental changes driven by a range of anthropogenic disturbances at local, regional, and global scales. Despite the immense diversity of insects and the critical ecological services they provide, our understanding of their current status and capacity to adapt to a changing world remains limited. This symposium aims to advance our understanding of insect biodiversity and evolutionary processes in the region by showcasing recent progress and identifying critical knowledge gaps. We welcome contributions on topics such as insect phylogenetics, biogeography, adaptation, and responses to environmental change, as well as innovative methodological approaches and interdisciplinary research linking areas like paleoclimate studies and conservation biology. Join us as we synthesize current knowledge and chart new directions for understanding and conserving Southeast Asia’s remarkable insect fauna.

Keynote Speaker:
Professor Dr. Chao-Dong Zhu
CAS State Key Laboratory of Animal Biodiversity Conservation and Integrated Pest Management
Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Organizers: Sopark Jantarit¹ and Louis Deharveng^2
1Excellence Center for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand
²Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France

Subterranean ecosystems—such as caves, karst systems, and groundwater habitats to deep aquifers—are among the most biologically unique and ecologically fragile environments on Earth. Southeast Asia is recognized as a global hotspot for subterranean biodiversity, home to a remarkable array of specialized and often endemic species, many of which remain scientifically unexplored or poorly studied.



As these hidden ecosystems face mounting threats from habitat destruction, pollution, tourism, climate change and unregulated development, the need for cross-disciplinary research and collaborative conservation efforts has never been more urgent.

This symposium aims to:
• Showcase current research and discoveries in subterranean biology across Southeast Asia and beyond
• Foster dialogue between scientists, conservationists, and policy-makers
• Build regional and international networks for long-term collaboration and capacity-building
• Promote awareness of subterranean biodiversity and sustainable conservation strategies rooted in science and local engagement

We are delighted to invite researchers, conservationists, policymakers, and practitioners from around the globe to attend the Symposium on Subterranean Biology and Conservation in Southeast Asia, a regional gathering with global relevance. We welcome contributions across a broad spectrum of topics related to subterranean ecosystems, including—but not limited to—taxonomy, evolutionary biology, ecological monitoring, conservation planning and management, karst and cave geology, as well as subterranean microbiology.

This symposium provides an inclusive platform for researchers and practitioners to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and collaborate in advancing the understanding and conservation of subterranean biodiversity.

Join us in Southeast Asia to explore the frontiers of subterranean science and conservation. Together, let us shed light on the extraordinary biodiversity that lies hidden beneath our feet.