Species in Ancient Lakes 9: An introduction to the conference and special section

Abstract

SIAL (Species in Ancient Lakes), an informal association dedicated to the study of the biodiversity, evolutionary and ecological history and conservation of ancient lakes worldwide, held its 9th International Conference at the Lake Tanganyika Beach Hotel, Tanzania in July 2022. This meeting showcased research on a wide range of SIAL related topics by about 100 attendees. Since its inception in the early 1990s, the field of SIAL studies has expanded rapidly, encompassing breakthrough technologies and data collection approaches, documenting species diversity patterns, incorporating a rapidly expanding understanding of deep time histories of these lakes through scientific drill cores, incorporating whole genome approaches to phylogenetic reconstructions, and experimental approaches to understanding such phenomena as assortative mating and sexual selection in models of ancient lake diversification. Increasingly, the SIAL community has also provided data on anthropogenic threats to these unique ecosystems from both local processes and climate change. The 10 papers assembled in this special volume provide a cross section of the presentations and concepts reviewed at the SIAL9 conference.