Illuminating range shifts through evolutionary FIASCO*:
contrasting FaIling And Successful ColOnizations in replicated wild populations
A joint effort among the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, University of Ferrara, and other national and international researchers coordinated by Francesca Raffini and funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU
*What is a fiasco?
In Italian, a fiasco is literally a bottle (a flask encased in a straw basket, see the picture below) but it has also a figurative meaning: an utter failure. The linguistic evolution of fiasco from flask to flop is still obscure, similarly to our understanding of the evolution of ecological success in small populations, that will be addressed by the FIASCO project.
Project overview
Anthropogenic disturbances and climate changes can lead to rapid population declines, shifted geographic distributions, or adaptation to new conditions. The drivers and implications of this disparity in species’ responses remain puzzling. We explore the evolutionary mechanisms underlying range shifts by contrasting naturally replicated dispersal events in a marine snail. We leverage multidimensional information from whole genomes, including chromosomal structural variants, phenotypic traits, and local habitats to clarify why some range shifts succeeded while others ended in a fiasco, advancing our understanding of the drivers of ecological success.
These findings will contribute to the urgently needed improvement of knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms that originate and maintain biodiversity to inform effective actions in wildlife management.
Our results will be disseminated to the scientific community, stakeholders, and citizens to draw attention to biodiversity research, increase social trust, and build resilience against the global decline of biodiversity, economy, and society.
people
In alphabetical order
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Andrea Benazzo Local Coordinator University of Ferrara (Italy) |
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Roberto Biello University of Ferrara (Italy) |
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April M. H. Blackeslee East Carolina University (USA) |
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Luciano Bosso CNR - ISAFOM (Italy) |
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Roger K. Butlin University of Sheffield (UK) |
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David Carmelet-Rescan Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Italy) |
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Fabio Crocetta Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Italy) |
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Rui Faria CIBIO/InBIO, Research Center on Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto (Portugal) |
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Kerstin Johannesson University of Gothenburg & Tjärnö Marine Station (Sweden) |
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Lisa Locatello Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Italy) |
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Stefano Mazzotti Museum of Natural History of Ferrara (Italy) |
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Luca Mizzan Museum of Natural History of Venice (Italy) |
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Francesca Raffini Principal Coordinator Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Italy) |
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Beatrice Sammarco University of Ferrara (Italy) |
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Anja M. Westram Nord University (Norway) & Institute of Science and Technology Austria (Austria) |
Funding
The FIASCO project "Illuminating range shifts through evolutionary FIASCO:contrasting FaIling And Successful ColOnizations in replicated wild populations" has been funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza - MUR code: P202229JBC, CUP: C53D23007100001).
Stop the invasion with us!
🎲 Dive into our roll-and-write game! 📝
The Mediterranean Sea is under siege by an invasion of alien species 👾👾👾. Can you and your team of scientists hold the line for ten rounds to prevent a total disaster?
🎲 Dive into our roll-and-write game! 📝
The Mediterranean Sea is under siege by an invasion of alien species 👾👾👾. Can you and your team of scientists hold the line for ten rounds to prevent a total disaster?
News
fiasco game released
November 2025
🤿 Dive into Sea Defenders: Operation FIASCO & become a Marine Scientist Hero!
This roll-and-write game lets you be a 🧑🔬🦸 battling 👾👾👾 in the 🌊:
⛳ Your mission: Save the Mediterranean Sea! 🌊
🎲📝 Grab dice & a pen!
🧠🤝 Solo or co-op fun!
📥 FREE Download: https://fiascoproject.odoo.com/game
👏 David and Beatrice for creating it!
🤿 Dive into Sea Defenders: Operation FIASCO & become a Marine Scientist Hero!
This roll-and-write game lets you be a 🧑🔬🦸 battling 👾👾👾 in the 🌊:
⛳ Your mission: Save the Mediterranean Sea! 🌊
🎲📝 Grab dice & a pen!
🧠🤝 Solo or co-op fun!
📥 FREE Download: https://fiascoproject.odoo.com/game
👏 David and Beatrice for creating it!
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more historical snails
October 2025
Bringing together incredible historical snails 🐌🐚📜 from researchers, museums, and private collectors for the Fiasco Project 🔬🏛️🔍
Overwhelmed by the generosity—thank you for trusting us with these precious mollusk specimens 💖
Bringing together incredible historical snails 🐌🐚📜 from researchers, museums, and private collectors for the Fiasco Project 🔬🏛️🔍
Overwhelmed by the generosity—thank you for trusting us with these precious mollusk specimens 💖
historical snails
September 2025
🙏 Thank you, Museum of Natural History of Ferrara!
Your historical 🐚 specimens are key for the Fiasco Project 🔑🐌🌊
Museums are not just archives of the past but active libraries for future discovery 📚🔬💡. This is the power of these remarkable collections! 💪🦸
ℹ️ https://storianaturale.comune.fe.it
🙏 Thank you, Museum of Natural History of Ferrara!
Your historical 🐚 specimens are key for the Fiasco Project 🔑🐌🌊
Museums are not just archives of the past but active libraries for future discovery 📚🔬💡. This is the power of these remarkable collections! 💪🦸
ℹ️ https://storianaturale.comune.fe.it
GGC inaugural meeting
September 2025
Just back from the inaugural meeting of the 🇮🇹 Conservation Genomics Group!
The 🐚🌊🐌 team was thrilled to present how Fiasco is leveraging the power of genomics 🧬 evolution to protect biodiversity 🌱🪸
Inspired by the community and ready to drive action together!
Just back from the inaugural meeting of the 🇮🇹 Conservation Genomics Group!
The 🐚🌊🐌 team was thrilled to present how Fiasco is leveraging the power of genomics 🧬 evolution to protect biodiversity 🌱🪸
Inspired by the community and ready to drive action together!
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SIBE SUMMER SCHOOL 2025
September 2025
How is the "omics" revolution reshaping our understanding of evolution & conservation? 🧬🔍
The FIASCO🐌🐌 team's formula at Società Italiana di Biologia Evoluzionistica's SIBE Summer School 2025?
Inspiring sessions on genomics & bioinformatics 🖥️ + Playtesting our science game 🧑🔬🎲 = Ideas evolving through fun! 💡🧠🚀🃏
How is the "omics" revolution reshaping our understanding of evolution & conservation? 🧬🔍
The FIASCO🐌🐌 team's formula at Società Italiana di Biologia Evoluzionistica's SIBE Summer School 2025?
Inspiring sessions on genomics & bioinformatics 🖥️ + Playtesting our science game 🧑🔬🎲 = Ideas evolving through fun! 💡🧠🚀🃏
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eseb2025 success
August 2025
We came, we saw, we evolved! 🔝
ESEB2025 🐚🧑🔬 colonization: SUCCESS ✅
With two 📜, a symposium, many brilliant 💬🧠⚡️ with old & new colleagues 🫂, and 🍷🥘🍻, our mission in Barcelona 🇪🇸 was not a fiasco!
Huge thanks to everyone ❤️
A special thanks 💗 to the Journal of Evolutionary Biology and the European Society of Evolutionary Biology for supporting our attendance and in-person gatherings 🤝, and the ESEB Equal Opportunity Initiative and Anne Charmantier for all their efforts to disseminate and increase #diversity, #inclusivity and #equity in science 🌈
We came, we saw, we evolved! 🔝
ESEB2025 🐚🧑🔬 colonization: SUCCESS ✅
With two 📜, a symposium, many brilliant 💬🧠⚡️ with old & new colleagues 🫂, and 🍷🥘🍻, our mission in Barcelona 🇪🇸 was not a fiasco!
Huge thanks to everyone ❤️
A special thanks 💗 to the Journal of Evolutionary Biology and the European Society of Evolutionary Biology for supporting our attendance and in-person gatherings 🤝, and the ESEB Equal Opportunity Initiative and Anne Charmantier for all their efforts to disseminate and increase #diversity, #inclusivity and #equity in science 🌈
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Two fiasco studies at eseb2025
August 2025
Our 🌊 🐚 & FIASCO 👩🔬👨🔬👩🔬👨🔬 are heading to ESEB2025 Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona! 🇪🇸💃
Curious about how colonizations evolve in success or failure 🟢🧳🔴?
Join us @ 📃 Session 1, Aug 18th, 5:00-7:00PM with two groundbreaking studies 🔍🔍!
💬 Let’s chat about science, survival, and snail tales! 🔬💪🐌
See you there? 👋
Our 🌊 🐚 & FIASCO 👩🔬👨🔬👩🔬👨🔬 are heading to ESEB2025 Congress of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona! 🇪🇸💃
Curious about how colonizations evolve in success or failure 🟢🧳🔴?
Join us @ 📃 Session 1, Aug 18th, 5:00-7:00PM with two groundbreaking studies 🔍🔍!
💬 Let’s chat about science, survival, and snail tales! 🔬💪🐌
See you there? 👋
Fiasco playtesting
July 2025
🎮 Playtesting in progress! 👾
Our semestral gathering wasn’t just about research—it was also the perfect chance to test our board game in action 🦀🎲💪🐚
Huge thanks to everyone who jumped in—your feedback is 🔥!
More updates coming soon… 👀
🎮 Playtesting in progress! 👾
Our semestral gathering wasn’t just about research—it was also the perfect chance to test our board game in action 🦀🎲💪🐚
Huge thanks to everyone who jumped in—your feedback is 🔥!
More updates coming soon… 👀
LRC summer meeting
July 2025
🚀 So proud of the FIASCO team! 🌟
Brilliantly presented our latest advancements to the Littorina Research Community at our semestral meeting. 🐌🌊🎤💡
Grateful for all the valuable feedback & encouragement – now onto the next steps! 🔥
🚀 So proud of the FIASCO team! 🌟
Brilliantly presented our latest advancements to the Littorina Research Community at our semestral meeting. 🐌🌊🎤💡
Grateful for all the valuable feedback & encouragement – now onto the next steps! 🔥
Embo popgen course
June 2025
🐌✨ Our David & snail take on EMBO PopGen! ✨🐌
Exciting news! 🎉 David is off to the EMBO Population Genomics Course, and guess who’s tagging along? Our favorite snail! 🐌💼
Huge thanks to SIBE for the scholarship making this possible—your support means the world! 🙌🔬
Can’t wait to see what insights they bring back. Will our little gastropod become the next pop-gen superstar? Stay tuned!
🐌✨ Our David & snail take on EMBO PopGen! ✨🐌
Exciting news! 🎉 David is off to the EMBO Population Genomics Course, and guess who’s tagging along? Our favorite snail! 🐌💼
Huge thanks to SIBE for the scholarship making this possible—your support means the world! 🙌🔬
Can’t wait to see what insights they bring back. Will our little gastropod become the next pop-gen superstar? Stay tuned!
fiasco deep Genomes in our hands
May 2025
The wait is over! FIASCO's deep whole-genome sequencing data is now in our hands! 🐚🧬🙌
What secrets hide in this sea of sticky genomes 🧬🌊🐌? Time to decode them!
Let the fun begin! 🎉
The wait is over! FIASCO's deep whole-genome sequencing data is now in our hands! 🐚🧬🙌
What secrets hide in this sea of sticky genomes 🧬🌊🐌? Time to decode them!
Let the fun begin! 🎉
Open Call for PhD
May 2025
🚀 Open Call for PhD Students!
🔍 Why do some species survive climate change… while others vanish?
We’re recruiting a fully funded (salary + project + registration fees) PhD student to crack this evolutionary puzzle using marine snails 🌊🐌!
Join us in Naples 🧜♀️ to:
🐚 Study Littorina snails — a model for repeated rapid evolution and adaptation and the first alien species in the Mediterranean Sea
🐚 Unravel why the Venice Lagoon population is going extinct—while others thrive
🐚Integrate genomics, morphometrics, behavior, bioinfomratics, ecology & demography to predict species’ fates
🐚 Turn science into real conservation action
📅 Apply now! Deadline: June 14th, 12:00 CET
ℹ️ More info: https://raffinifrancescalab.weebly.com/join.html
🚀 Open Call for PhD Students!
🔍 Why do some species survive climate change… while others vanish?
We’re recruiting a fully funded (salary + project + registration fees) PhD student to crack this evolutionary puzzle using marine snails 🌊🐌!
Join us in Naples 🧜♀️ to:
🐚 Study Littorina snails — a model for repeated rapid evolution and adaptation and the first alien species in the Mediterranean Sea
🐚 Unravel why the Venice Lagoon population is going extinct—while others thrive
🐚Integrate genomics, morphometrics, behavior, bioinfomratics, ecology & demography to predict species’ fates
🐚 Turn science into real conservation action
📅 Apply now! Deadline: June 14th, 12:00 CET
ℹ️ More info: https://raffinifrancescalab.weebly.com/join.html
Image created with AI
Become a snail detective
May 2025
🐌✨ Become a snail detective! 🕵️🐚🔍
Join our WinkleWatcher Luisa Kumpitsch on shore 🌊 and help scientists crack the case of snail shell colors 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣 with WinkleWatchers.
Who knew science could be this fun?
ℹ️ https://www.gu.se/en/news/become-a-snail-detective-help-scientists-solve-the-colour-mystery
ℹ️ https://littorina.at.biopolis.pt/winklewatch
🐌✨ Become a snail detective! 🕵️🐚🔍
Join our WinkleWatcher Luisa Kumpitsch on shore 🌊 and help scientists crack the case of snail shell colors 🔴🟠🟡🟢🔵🟣 with WinkleWatchers.
Who knew science could be this fun?
ℹ️ https://www.gu.se/en/news/become-a-snail-detective-help-scientists-solve-the-colour-mystery
ℹ️ https://littorina.at.biopolis.pt/winklewatch
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Pictures courtesy of Mikael Andersson and Annika Wall
SCB - ERC2025 talk
May 2025
David did an outstanding job presenting our 🌊🐌 as a model for conservation research at the II Conference of Conservation Biology for Early Career Researchers—"Biodiversity and Global Changes: A Conservation Perspective"—organised by the Society for Conservation Biology - Italy Chapter (here).
Francesca, who was part of the scientific committee, was impressed by all the insightful contributions from the talented early-career researchers.
A brilliant conference filled with inspiring science, wonderful people, and beautiful tags — what a fantastic event!
David did an outstanding job presenting our 🌊🐌 as a model for conservation research at the II Conference of Conservation Biology for Early Career Researchers—"Biodiversity and Global Changes: A Conservation Perspective"—organised by the Society for Conservation Biology - Italy Chapter (here).
Francesca, who was part of the scientific committee, was impressed by all the insightful contributions from the talented early-career researchers.
A brilliant conference filled with inspiring science, wonderful people, and beautiful tags — what a fantastic event!
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Pictures courtesy of David Carmelet Rescan
Sibe travel grant to david
April 2025
Exciting news! David has been awarded the SIBE Grant to attend the EMBO Practical Course in Population Genomics in Castellammare di Stabia! 🎉 A fantastic opportunity to dive deep into cutting-edge genomics research, explore the stunning surroundings, and network with fellow scientists.
Science + Italian charm—what a combo! 🇮🇹🔬
Exciting news! David has been awarded the SIBE Grant to attend the EMBO Practical Course in Population Genomics in Castellammare di Stabia! 🎉 A fantastic opportunity to dive deep into cutting-edge genomics research, explore the stunning surroundings, and network with fellow scientists.
Science + Italian charm—what a combo! 🇮🇹🔬
Generated with AI
first fiasco sequences are here
March 2025
Exciting 🎂🎁 for Francesca! 🎉 Just received the first fresh sequencing data 🧬 from Fiasco 🐚🌊🐌 - can't wait to dive in with the whole team and unpack these insights. Science birthdays are the best birthdays!
Exciting 🎂🎁 for Francesca! 🎉 Just received the first fresh sequencing data 🧬 from Fiasco 🐚🌊🐌 - can't wait to dive in with the whole team and unpack these insights. Science birthdays are the best birthdays!
Hard disk sent by the sequencing company with the raw sequencing data
Open abstract submission to our ESEB2025 symposium
March 2025
Are you an evolutionary biologist seeking non-random associations in genomes ⛓️💥🧬 to advance your studies?
Abstract submission to our ESEB 2025 Symposium - "S02 | Addressing new and long-standing evolutionary questions with linkage disequilibrium based approaches" organized with Paolo Momigliano (Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong) and Paolo Franchini (Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University) is now open (details here and here).
We are looking forward to receiving many interesting contributions by April 25th, 2025, and seeing you in Barcelona 🇪🇸!
Are you an evolutionary biologist seeking non-random associations in genomes ⛓️💥🧬 to advance your studies?
Abstract submission to our ESEB 2025 Symposium - "S02 | Addressing new and long-standing evolutionary questions with linkage disequilibrium based approaches" organized with Paolo Momigliano (Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University; School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong) and Paolo Franchini (Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University) is now open (details here and here).
We are looking forward to receiving many interesting contributions by April 25th, 2025, and seeing you in Barcelona 🇪🇸!
LD plot based on stickleback data courtesy of Petri Kemppainen. Figure courtesy of Luciano Bosso.
WinkleWatch analyses
February 2025
Last summer, we received lots of 🐚shots and thoughts 📸💭 from citizens that contributed to our WinkleWatch initiatives🐌📲. We are now having fun analyzing this data 🤓📊. Thanks to all the enthusiastic WinkleWatchers that are advancing our understanding of snail color variation!
Last summer, we received lots of 🐚shots and thoughts 📸💭 from citizens that contributed to our WinkleWatch initiatives🐌📲. We are now having fun analyzing this data 🤓📊. Thanks to all the enthusiastic WinkleWatchers that are advancing our understanding of snail color variation!
One of the pictures submitted to WinkleWatch
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Snail scientists brainstorming on the submitted data
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SCB travel grant to david
February 2025
We're celebrating David's travel grant! He will present FIASCO's advancements to the 2nd Conference of Conservation Biology for Early Career Researchers in L' Aquila in May 2025 thanks to the Society for Conservation Biology—Italy chapter's funding.
We're celebrating David's travel grant! He will present FIASCO's advancements to the 2nd Conference of Conservation Biology for Early Career Researchers in L' Aquila in May 2025 thanks to the Society for Conservation Biology—Italy chapter's funding.
Generated with AI
fiasco Midterm review
January 2025
Already time for the FIASCO 🐚🌊🗺🧳🧬 midterm review 🧐 with the help of the whole Littorina Research Community and some fun caption bloopers (skerry -> scary, geometric morphometric -> German diplometric 😂). ⌛⏱️ flies when enjoying such great 🧑🎓🧑🎓🧑🎓 and 🐌🐌🐌! Some of us enjoyed a traditional LRC hike in the snowy Sheffield. Beatrice and David did a terrific job in presenting and discussing our advancements and future directions. Looking forward to a thrilling 2025!
Already time for the FIASCO 🐚🌊🗺🧳🧬 midterm review 🧐 with the help of the whole Littorina Research Community and some fun caption bloopers (skerry -> scary, geometric morphometric -> German diplometric 😂). ⌛⏱️ flies when enjoying such great 🧑🎓🧑🎓🧑🎓 and 🐌🐌🐌! Some of us enjoyed a traditional LRC hike in the snowy Sheffield. Beatrice and David did a terrific job in presenting and discussing our advancements and future directions. Looking forward to a thrilling 2025!
PPG58
January 2025
Our David and gigantic snail attended the 58th Population Genetics Group meeting in a snowy Sheffield, UK supported by NextGenEU, MUR and the Genetics Society. Lots of fun, great science and scientists, and good wine!
Our David and gigantic snail attended the 58th Population Genetics Group meeting in a snowy Sheffield, UK supported by NextGenEU, MUR and the Genetics Society. Lots of fun, great science and scientists, and good wine!
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Pictures courtesy of David Carmelet Rescan and Luisa Kumpitsch; word cloud from the PPG58 website.
season's greetings
December 2024
A great year for FIASCO! We worked very hard in the last months; we now take a break and will soon be back with many exciting updates. We wish everyone a happy holiday season and a peaceful New Year 🎄🎁☃️❄️!
A great year for FIASCO! We worked very hard in the last months; we now take a break and will soon be back with many exciting updates. We wish everyone a happy holiday season and a peaceful New Year 🎄🎁☃️❄️!
GS travel grant to david
December 2024
David obtained his first travel grant; congratulations! We are grateful to the Genetics Society for its support to present FIASCO to the 58th Meeting of the Population Genetics Group in Sheffield in January 2025. Don't miss his poster!
David obtained his first travel grant; congratulations! We are grateful to the Genetics Society for its support to present FIASCO to the 58th Meeting of the Population Genetics Group in Sheffield in January 2025. Don't miss his poster!
Generated with AI
glorius science
November 2024
The ‘glorious’ side of science 🔬✨: we collected thousands of snails 🐚🌊… then comes the real adventure—cleaning >1,000 tubes & tools & lab🧪🧴⚗️. Joy! 😅 Cinderella scientists 🫧🧹🪥🧼
The ‘glorious’ side of science 🔬✨: we collected thousands of snails 🐚🌊… then comes the real adventure—cleaning >1,000 tubes & tools & lab🧪🧴⚗️. Joy! 😅 Cinderella scientists 🫧🧹🪥🧼
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Sampling was not a fiasco
November 2024
Our collection 🔍 phase for the FIASCO project was not a fiasco🎉! Thanks to many passionate collaborators🤝, we sampled more than a thousand snails from 23 sites and visited lovely places, labs, and colleagues♥️. We’re looking forward to the next steps and unveiling these 🌊🐚🐌 secrets!
Our collection 🔍 phase for the FIASCO project was not a fiasco🎉! Thanks to many passionate collaborators🤝, we sampled more than a thousand snails from 23 sites and visited lovely places, labs, and colleagues♥️. We’re looking forward to the next steps and unveiling these 🌊🐚🐌 secrets!
Generated with AI
last fiasco fieldwork
November 2024
📍Closest to home yet!
Our last #FIASCO field expedition brought us to Venice’s lagoon 🇮🇹 thanks to our collaborator Luca Mizzan!
Collected 🐚 tucked among rocks, mud & Salicornia roots 🌿
Now, we're decoding the secrets of the first confirmed 👽 species in the Mediterranean 🌊 🛸🔬🔍
📍Closest to home yet!
Our last #FIASCO field expedition brought us to Venice’s lagoon 🇮🇹 thanks to our collaborator Luca Mizzan!
Collected 🐚 tucked among rocks, mud & Salicornia roots 🌿
Now, we're decoding the secrets of the first confirmed 👽 species in the Mediterranean 🌊 🛸🔬🔍
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Find the snails!
Flooded team
October 2024
Part of the Fiasco team is in the flooded areas in Emilia Romagna (Northern Italy) in these days. Luckily, both humans and snails are safe. Be careful and take care of yourself and your ecosystems!
Part of the Fiasco team is in the flooded areas in Emilia Romagna (Northern Italy) in these days. Luckily, both humans and snails are safe. Be careful and take care of yourself and your ecosystems!
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Pictures from web
snails in artificial lagoon
October 2024
Big thanks to Alan Le Moan for 🐚 from Bassin du Lenn 🇫🇷—where engineering meets evolution!
A concrete seawall built in 1913 🛠️👷 traps seawater at low tide, creating a sheltered artificial lagoon. For our 🌊🐌?
✅ Full marine vibes
✅ No crushing tides
✅ Zero wave drama
In Fiasco, we also study how these anthropic environments can sometimes create unexpected ecological refuges for marine life 🐟🪸🐙👼
Big thanks to Alan Le Moan for 🐚 from Bassin du Lenn 🇫🇷—where engineering meets evolution!
A concrete seawall built in 1913 🛠️👷 traps seawater at low tide, creating a sheltered artificial lagoon. For our 🌊🐌?
✅ Full marine vibes
✅ No crushing tides
✅ Zero wave drama
In Fiasco, we also study how these anthropic environments can sometimes create unexpected ecological refuges for marine life 🐟🪸🐙👼
Fieldwork in Anglia
October 2024
Snail hunting in weird spots in England! 🐚 🔍🇬🇧
We typically collect snails on rocky shores, but David and Roger explored some unusual sites:
💧 Salts Hole – Looks like a freshwater pond but is fed by a saltwater spring! Snails lived on submerged branches in the mud.
🌊 Missel Marsh – Reached by wading through tidal channels. Tiny, colorful snails thrived in shallow shingle pools.
Big thanks to local wardens for guiding us to these hidden spots!
Snail hunting in weird spots in England! 🐚 🔍🇬🇧
We typically collect snails on rocky shores, but David and Roger explored some unusual sites:
💧 Salts Hole – Looks like a freshwater pond but is fed by a saltwater spring! Snails lived on submerged branches in the mud.
🌊 Missel Marsh – Reached by wading through tidal channels. Tiny, colorful snails thrived in shallow shingle pools.
Big thanks to local wardens for guiding us to these hidden spots!
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Press coverage on fiasco and ww
September 2024
Our marine snail is not doing a fiasco in the Italian news! See the press coverage in Pikaia, Kodami, and ScubaPortal - in Italian only, sorry.
Our marine snail is not doing a fiasco in the Italian news! See the press coverage in Pikaia, Kodami, and ScubaPortal - in Italian only, sorry.
Picture courtesy of Ruth Turunen
Science by Day, Aurora Borealis by Night!
September 2024
Fieldwork in Tjärnö🇸🇪 got magical🪄! We witnessed the Northern Lights in all their glory - an absolute dream to capture.
Nature never fails to amaze ✨😍
Swipe to see the aurora dance!
Fieldwork in Tjärnö🇸🇪 got magical🪄! We witnessed the Northern Lights in all their glory - an absolute dream to capture.
Nature never fails to amaze ✨😍
Swipe to see the aurora dance!
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Pictures courtesy of David Carmelet Rescan.
Sampling in sweden
September 2024
Sampling day near Tjärnö—one of 🇸🇪Sweden’s most exposed coastal sites. The smooth granite rocks, scraped bare by glacial ice, make a tough home for snails. To survive here, they have to be small enough to cling to crevices, avoiding the relentless waves.
Nature finds a way—even in the harshest conditions. 🐌🐚🌊
Sampling day near Tjärnö—one of 🇸🇪Sweden’s most exposed coastal sites. The smooth granite rocks, scraped bare by glacial ice, make a tough home for snails. To survive here, they have to be small enough to cling to crevices, avoiding the relentless waves.
Nature finds a way—even in the harshest conditions. 🐌🐚🌊
David and Beatrice collecting Littorina saxatilis in Sweden assisted by the expert littorinid scientists in the Tjärnö Marine Station (University of Gothenburg, Sweden). Picture courtesy of Kerstin Johannesson.
SIBE2024 symposium
September 2024
As chairs of the #SIBE2024 symposium "The Wild Side of Population Genomics", Francesca and Roberto had the pleasure to host Joana Isabel Meier in Naples. Her expertise in speciation 🦋🧬🐠 tremendously enhanced the conference. What an inspirational opportunity to listen, connect, and exchange ideas with some of the most brilliant minds in evolutionary biology!
As chairs of the #SIBE2024 symposium "The Wild Side of Population Genomics", Francesca and Roberto had the pleasure to host Joana Isabel Meier in Naples. Her expertise in speciation 🦋🧬🐠 tremendously enhanced the conference. What an inspirational opportunity to listen, connect, and exchange ideas with some of the most brilliant minds in evolutionary biology!
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A busy team
September 2024
Busy and fun time for the FIASCO team: half of us visiting 🐚🐌🌊 in the Tjärnö Marine Station and the others enjoying SIBE2024 in Naples 🧜♀️🎤. Then, we'll join forces to collect and analyse MANY samples!
Busy and fun time for the FIASCO team: half of us visiting 🐚🐌🌊 in the Tjärnö Marine Station and the others enjoying SIBE2024 in Naples 🧜♀️🎤. Then, we'll join forces to collect and analyse MANY samples!
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a baltic adventure
August 2024
So grateful to our adventurous collaborators Kerstin & Bo Johannesson (University of Gothenburg & Tjärnö Marine Station, Sweden) who spent their summer break chasing🐚 along a salinity gradient in the Baltic Sea entrance in 🇸🇪🇩🇰!
Their passion and dedication make this research possible 💙
A 🐌🌊 adventure in six sites - see below!
So grateful to our adventurous collaborators Kerstin & Bo Johannesson (University of Gothenburg & Tjärnö Marine Station, Sweden) who spent their summer break chasing🐚 along a salinity gradient in the Baltic Sea entrance in 🇸🇪🇩🇰!
Their passion and dedication make this research possible 💙
A 🐌🌊 adventure in six sites - see below!
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1) Ajstrup Bay, a shallow fjord with a tiny entrance to the sea🇩🇰
Almost got the huge mobile home stuck on a tiny road 🚐🏠😅! Hiked through a 🌲🌳and found 🐚tenebrosa ecotype in 17 ppm salinity🧂. Success! Worth the struggle!
1) Ajstrup Bay, a shallow fjord with a tiny entrance to the sea🇩🇰
Almost got the huge mobile home stuck on a tiny road 🚐🏠😅! Hiked through a 🌲🌳and found 🐚tenebrosa ecotype in 17 ppm salinity🧂. Success! Worth the struggle!
2) Norsminde Fjord🇩🇰
Less luck in the fjord, but found 🦀-ecotype snails on the coastal side of the sea entrance! 🧂 gradients make for fascinating adaptations
3) Naerå Strand, Fyn Island🇩🇰
A tranquil nature reserve with a bird-watch tower and a soft-bottomed inlet.
🐚 Tenebrosa ecotype strikes again! Same ecotype, new location— 🧂 and habitat shaping their world.
4) Dypsö Fjord🇩🇰
🧂 dropped to 12.5ppm but 🐚 flourished on weeds and dead seagrass.
🌅Sunset reward after a long day.
🔬 Adaptation note: How low can salinity go before snails vanish? Here, they held on!
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5) Bornholm 🇩🇰 - The Mystery Snail!
This site is the only known Baltic record, 7.3ppm🧂!
🐌 The hunt: After 🤿 hours in multiple sites, just one single 🐚 at an uncommon depth. Rare or just elusive? 🔍🧐
6) Mölle🇸🇪
The most southern Swedish area rich in 🐌. Classic 🌊splash-zone crowds after days of Baltic rarity. 🐚 in their happy place!
Back to the lab, thanks for following our #SnailAdventure!
#LittorinaLife
Pictures courtesy of Bo & Kerstin Johannesson
Sibe2024 is coming
August 2024
Looking forward to the 10th SIBE-ISEB Congress that we host in Naples in few weeks! Many interesting contributions, friends to catch up with, and opportunities to have fun with scientists and citizens (details here). Spoiler: great view on the gulf!
Francesca and Roberto are beyond than happy and honoured to be part of the organising and scientific commitee, chair the symposium on "The wild side of population genomics" (program here), and that the wonderful Joana Isabel Meier is opening it!
Looking forward to the 10th SIBE-ISEB Congress that we host in Naples in few weeks! Many interesting contributions, friends to catch up with, and opportunities to have fun with scientists and citizens (details here). Spoiler: great view on the gulf!
Francesca and Roberto are beyond than happy and honoured to be part of the organising and scientific commitee, chair the symposium on "The wild side of population genomics" (program here), and that the wonderful Joana Isabel Meier is opening it!
snail collection in maine
August 2024
Recently, while sampling for the FIASCO project, April Blakeslee captured striking photos of Littorina saxatilis 🌊🐌 from Southport, Maine 🇺🇸, showcasing the remarkable variety in their forms and colors 🐚✨. She then transported these snails to Tjärnö, Sweden✈️🇸🇪 where the FIASCO team conducted detailed phenotypic measurements 🔍🔬 and dissected the specimens to gather DNA 🧬, reproductive data and examine symbionts, including trematode parasites and commensal ciliates 🦠.
The trematodes are particularly intriguing as they are multi-host, trophically transmitted parasitic castrators 🔪 - significantly impacting snail populations while also playing a crucial role in broader ecological networks. Their presence ties these snails to numerous other species, highlighting the intricate web of interactions within marine ecosystems.
Stay tuned for more insights from the FIASCO project as we continue exploring these complex host-parasite relationships!
Recently, while sampling for the FIASCO project, April Blakeslee captured striking photos of Littorina saxatilis 🌊🐌 from Southport, Maine 🇺🇸, showcasing the remarkable variety in their forms and colors 🐚✨. She then transported these snails to Tjärnö, Sweden✈️🇸🇪 where the FIASCO team conducted detailed phenotypic measurements 🔍🔬 and dissected the specimens to gather DNA 🧬, reproductive data and examine symbionts, including trematode parasites and commensal ciliates 🦠.
The trematodes are particularly intriguing as they are multi-host, trophically transmitted parasitic castrators 🔪 - significantly impacting snail populations while also playing a crucial role in broader ecological networks. Their presence ties these snails to numerous other species, highlighting the intricate web of interactions within marine ecosystems.
Stay tuned for more insights from the FIASCO project as we continue exploring these complex host-parasite relationships!
Field sampling in Boothbay and Southport, Maine.
Pictures courtesy of April MH Blakeslee. |
April Blakeslee’s son, Ethan Blakeslee (15), helps to collect snails from under and on the rocks, and in crevices. Pictures courtesy of April MH Blakeslee.
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Phenotypic variation in Littorina saxatilis from Southport, Maine. Pictures courtesy of April MH Blakeslee.
Does Littorina like it hot or cold?
August 2024
Do eco-geographical abiotic variables affect the worldwide distribution of Littorina saxatilis? Our spatial ecology analyses will soon provide insights on how environmental conditions have influenced the snail's biogeography. Stay tuned!
Do eco-geographical abiotic variables affect the worldwide distribution of Littorina saxatilis? Our spatial ecology analyses will soon provide insights on how environmental conditions have influenced the snail's biogeography. Stay tuned!
ww - Winklewatch: a community science project on snail colour
July 2024
Why are periwinkles 🌊🐚 so colourful🌈? Is this related to adaptation to local environments and colonisation success?
Help us finding this out and become a WinkleWatcher! How? Check our website: https://littorina.at.biopolis.pt/winklewatch
We call both scientists and non-scientists 🤝💪 from across the species distribution range (see the blue areas in the map below) to submit images of their local snails in order to spark curiosity about colour evolution and gather a large dataset.
Why are periwinkles 🌊🐚 so colourful🌈? Is this related to adaptation to local environments and colonisation success?
Help us finding this out and become a WinkleWatcher! How? Check our website: https://littorina.at.biopolis.pt/winklewatch
We call both scientists and non-scientists 🤝💪 from across the species distribution range (see the blue areas in the map below) to submit images of their local snails in order to spark curiosity about colour evolution and gather a large dataset.
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Getting BOLD: our recording adventure
July 2024
The team is working hard to test different setups to measure behavioural differences such as boldness in our snail. We are playing around with camera angles, animal containers, lighting, zoom levels, and other video settings. By using video recordings instead of watching the animals directly, we are making sure that our results are super repeatable and efficient, and avoiding any sneaky biases. This way, we can capture the boldness of these little creatures effectively every time!
The team is working hard to test different setups to measure behavioural differences such as boldness in our snail. We are playing around with camera angles, animal containers, lighting, zoom levels, and other video settings. By using video recordings instead of watching the animals directly, we are making sure that our results are super repeatable and efficient, and avoiding any sneaky biases. This way, we can capture the boldness of these little creatures effectively every time!
Pictures courtesy of David Carmelet Rescan
p.s. Have you noticed that the snail in the pics is not L. saxatilis? We’re using former data and another species from aquaculture to avoid affecting natural populations. The last step will be to test the optimized protocol in our target snail.
David meets our snail
June 2024
David explored the stunning Pointe de Penvins in the Brittany coast (France), sampling Littorina snails for the first time. He collected L. saxatilis but also some L. littorea - a common mix-up for non-experts due to their similar shell and overlapping habitat - and learned about the subtle differences between these species and the beauty of coastal fieldwork. Watch out for a fresh, eager malacologist!
David explored the stunning Pointe de Penvins in the Brittany coast (France), sampling Littorina snails for the first time. He collected L. saxatilis but also some L. littorea - a common mix-up for non-experts due to their similar shell and overlapping habitat - and learned about the subtle differences between these species and the beauty of coastal fieldwork. Watch out for a fresh, eager malacologist!
Rocky shores and tidal pools in Pointe de Penvins (France)
Littorina snails - can you spot the different species?
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Littorea littorea
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Pictures courtesy of David Carmelet Rescan
The greatest northern snail
June 2024
We successfully got our first thriving natural population from collaborators! Where do these snail come from? Hint 1: we're in Europe. Hint 2: there is still some snow in summer. Hint 3: they are the northernmost snail of our sampling design. Hint 4: we're very grateful to our teammates at the Nord University (Bodo, Norway).
Can you spot the Littorina snail in the pictures below?
We successfully got our first thriving natural population from collaborators! Where do these snail come from? Hint 1: we're in Europe. Hint 2: there is still some snow in summer. Hint 3: they are the northernmost snail of our sampling design. Hint 4: we're very grateful to our teammates at the Nord University (Bodo, Norway).
Can you spot the Littorina snail in the pictures below?
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Pictures courtesy of Bingqian Han
Getting ready for fieldwork
June 2024
Fieldwork starts in the lab! Less exciting tasks, such as filling 3000 microtubes (with what? Coming soon!), are necessary for sampling expeditions but can be fun thanks to teamwork. After pouring lab glassware with reagents, it's time to empty the cocktail bottles! A huge thank you to all the volunteers that contributed to this crucial step!
Fieldwork starts in the lab! Less exciting tasks, such as filling 3000 microtubes (with what? Coming soon!), are necessary for sampling expeditions but can be fun thanks to teamwork. After pouring lab glassware with reagents, it's time to empty the cocktail bottles! A huge thank you to all the volunteers that contributed to this crucial step!
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ECCB24 talk
June 2024
Seahorses and snails colonised the Erudite, the Red, and the Fat town (Bologna, Italy) to give birth to effective conservation indications to protect marine biodiversity at ECCB2024 (official website here). Great time, scientists, and food at Francesca's birthplace!
Seahorses and snails colonised the Erudite, the Red, and the Fat town (Bologna, Italy) to give birth to effective conservation indications to protect marine biodiversity at ECCB2024 (official website here). Great time, scientists, and food at Francesca's birthplace!
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funded phd position available
May 2024
Open fully funded (salary + project + registration fees) PhD opportunity! Be a part of our team, pursuing a PhD at Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn & Open University, and collaborating with passionate experts. Let's work together to make a difference! Details here.
Open fully funded (salary + project + registration fees) PhD opportunity! Be a part of our team, pursuing a PhD at Stazione Zoologica Anton Dorhn & Open University, and collaborating with passionate experts. Let's work together to make a difference! Details here.
Welcome David
April 2024
We are thrilled to have David join the FIASCO team. Welcome!
David, a postdoctoral researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Italy), brings his passion for understanding the intricate relationships between species and their environments. With a keen interest in combining genomic and ecological tools to answer evolutionary questions, David’s interest lies in the underlying genetic and ecological mechanisms shaping biodiversity.
We are thrilled to have David join the FIASCO team. Welcome!
David, a postdoctoral researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Italy), brings his passion for understanding the intricate relationships between species and their environments. With a keen interest in combining genomic and ecological tools to answer evolutionary questions, David’s interest lies in the underlying genetic and ecological mechanisms shaping biodiversity.
Biodiversity in the anthropocene symposium
April 2024
It has been very nice to meet researchers committed to understanding biodiversity changes in the Anthropocene and share our insights on improving its assessment and management using seahorses as a study case at the "Cambiamento della biodiversità nell’Antropocene: priorità per la Ricerca" symposium (details and talks' video here).
It has been very nice to meet researchers committed to understanding biodiversity changes in the Anthropocene and share our insights on improving its assessment and management using seahorses as a study case at the "Cambiamento della biodiversità nell’Antropocene: priorità per la Ricerca" symposium (details and talks' video here).
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Pictures courtesy of Stefano Goffredo and the symposium organisers
Welcome Roberto
March 2024
A warm welcome to Roberto on the FIASCO team!
He is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Ferrara (Italy). His research interests focus on studying the demographic and evolutionary processes affecting populations and species of conservation concern. He finds great excitement in the use of genetic and genomic approaches to reconstruct patterns at the population level and explore mechanisms related to local adaptation, life history evolution, and wildlife conservation.
A warm welcome to Roberto on the FIASCO team!
He is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Ferrara (Italy). His research interests focus on studying the demographic and evolutionary processes affecting populations and species of conservation concern. He finds great excitement in the use of genetic and genomic approaches to reconstruct patterns at the population level and explore mechanisms related to local adaptation, life history evolution, and wildlife conservation.
kickoff meeting
January 2024
A great day for our FIASCO virtual kickoff meeting! Thrilled to meet collaborators, outline our goals, dive into details, and discuss next steps. Exciting times ahead!
A great day for our FIASCO virtual kickoff meeting! Thrilled to meet collaborators, outline our goals, dive into details, and discuss next steps. Exciting times ahead!
join us! two open positions
December 2023
We are looking for two 2-years researchers! Join us at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Naples, Italy) and the University of Ferrara (Ferrara, Italy) to explore the evolutionary processes underlying range shifts in a marine snail in the fully funded FIASCO project. Details here.
We are looking for two 2-years researchers! Join us at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (Naples, Italy) and the University of Ferrara (Ferrara, Italy) to explore the evolutionary processes underlying range shifts in a marine snail in the fully funded FIASCO project. Details here.
Welcome beatrice
December 2023
The FIASCO team is growing! We are happy to welcome Beatrice.
She is a PhD student in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology at the University of Ferrara (Italy). She is investigating the potential accumulation of deleterious mutations in the genomes of individuals from small populations, with a focus on structural variants.
The FIASCO team is growing! We are happy to welcome Beatrice.
She is a PhD student in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology at the University of Ferrara (Italy). She is investigating the potential accumulation of deleterious mutations in the genomes of individuals from small populations, with a focus on structural variants.
FIASCO HAS a logo and webpage
FIASCO HAS STARTED
December 2023
Finally, the FIASCO project has officially begun! Looking forward to working with Andrea Benazzo and other great scientists on the evolution of colonisation success in a cool marine snail. We’ll soon advertise two researcher positions – stay tuned!
Finally, the FIASCO project has officially begun! Looking forward to working with Andrea Benazzo and other great scientists on the evolution of colonisation success in a cool marine snail. We’ll soon advertise two researcher positions – stay tuned!
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here comes the Fiasco project
October 2023
We are very happy that the FIASCO project in collaboration with the University of Ferrara, the Littorina Research Team and other great colleagues has been funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU! Details and news will be posted here soon. Don't miss them!
We are very happy that the FIASCO project in collaboration with the University of Ferrara, the Littorina Research Team and other great colleagues has been funded by the European Union - Next Generation EU! Details and news will be posted here soon. Don't miss them!
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Pictures of the marine snail Littorina saxatilis courtesy of Daria Shipilina, Patrik Larsson and Diego Fernando Garcia Castillo
