In July, Senior Macrophyte Ecologist Angela Darwell presented research entitled 'Macrophyte Mapping in the 21st Century - Are aerial survey and hydroacoustics effective for macrophyte mapping?' at the SEFS5 conference in Palermo, Sicily. The conference was attended by 300 delegates from 35 countries. Research was presented via 140 oral papers and 125 posters.

The symposium was devoted to basic questions in freshwater biology and various aspects of applied freshwater science, and brought together European scientists working on freshwater systems, habitats and organisms.

The conference included an excursion to Selinute and the River Belice Nature Reserve. Selinute (from Selinon, the wild celery) is an ancient Greek city, with ruins of acropolis and numerous temples. Today the city is included in the largest archaeological park in Europe. The river Belice is one of the few permanent rives in Sicily.

The conference provided a good opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues from around Europe and APEM's most recent research into macrophyte mapping was very well received.