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Dr. Nelida Abarca

Research Group Diatoms

Dr. Nelida Abarca
Scientist, Diatom Research Group
Dr. Nelida Abarca
Telefon
+49 30 838 50 152
Fax
+49 30 838-4 50 152
E-Mail
n.abarca@bo.berlin
Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin
Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8
14195
Berlin
Deutschland

Lebenslauf

  • 1994 - 1999 Diploma in Biology at Michoacana of San Nicolas of Hidalgo University, Mexico. (Diploma-Thesis: „Pleistocene Evolution of the Paleolake of Zacapu, based on the Register of the Fossils Diatoms“).
  • 2000 - 2002 Master in Management and Conservation of Natural Resources, at Michoacana of San Nicolas of Hidalgo University, Mexico. (Master-Thesis: „Environmental Fluctuations of the Patzcuaro Lake in the Quaternary and its relation with the Vulcan-Tectonic Evolution“).
  • 2004 - 2009 PhD at the BGBM. Thesis: „ Diatom Community Analysis and Quality Assessment of the Polluted Tropical Lerma River (Mexico)”.
  • Since 2010 Postdoc at the BGBM, since 2019 also Curator for the algal herbarium with focus on diatoms.

Forschungsinteressen

  • Diatoms as bioindicators
  • Taxonomy of diatoms
  • Changes in the biodiversity of freshwater diatoms
  • Generating Biological Indicators for Environmental Management: Diatom Indices of the Lerma River Catchment (Mexico)

Ehrungen und Preise

Promotionsstipendium zur wissenschaftlichen Aus- und Fortbildung in Deutschland: Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) und des Mexikanischen Forschungs- und Technologierats (CONACyt)

Papers in peer reviewed journals (published and in press)

Jahn R., Mora D., Abarca N., Kusber W.-H., Zimmermann J. & Skibbe O. 2025: Integrative taxonomic study of Cocconeis witkowskii sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae) from tidal flats of the North Sea (Wadden Sea) based on unialgal strains. – Nova Hedwigia 120: 263-285. https://doi.org/10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2025/0981
 
Mohamad H., Jahn R., Al-Handal A., Al-Shaheen M., Kusber W.-H., Zimmermann J., Abarca N. 2025: Prestauroneis furatensis sp. nov., a new diatom species from the River Euphrates, Iraq. - Fottea 25(1): 61-67 https://doi.org/10.5507/fot.2024.008
 
Kusber W.-H., Rolfing J.B., Abarca N. & Jahn R. 2024: Why Surirella amphioxys is not an Iconella (Bacillariophyceae). - Phytotaxa 644(4): 297-300. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.644.4.6
 
Mohamad H., Schimani K., Al-Shaheen M., Abarca N., Jahn R., Al-Handal A., Kusber W.-H. & Zimmermann J. 2024: Comparison of the biodiversity of epiphytic diatoms in the Euphrates-Tigris rivers using morphological and metabarcoding analyses. - Metabarcoding and Metagenomics 8: e135082. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.8.135082
 
Mora D., Stancheva R., Abarca N., Bouchez A., Cantoral-Uriza E., Carmona-Jiménez J., Chonova T., Kusber W.-H., Rimet F., Skibbe O., Wetzel C.E., Zimmermann J. & Jahn R. 2024: Adding more taxa to the Cocconeis placentula group (Bacillariophyta): two new species from streams in biodiversity hotspots. - Nova Hedwigia 118(3-4): 277-319. https://doi.org/10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2024/0918
 
Abarca N., Stancheva R., Skibbe O., Schimani K., Kusber W.-H., Zimmermann J. & Jahn R. 2023: Gomphadelpha (Bacillariophyceae) – a new genus name for taxa formerly subsumed in the Gomphoneis herculeana-group. - Nova Hedwigia 000(0-0): [1-42] https://doi.org/10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2023/0859
 
Juchem D.P., Schimani K., Holzinger A., Permann C., Abarca N., Skibbe O., Zimmermann J., Graeve M. & Karsten U. 2023: Lipid degradation and photosynthetic traits after prolonged darkness in four Antarctic benthic diatoms, including the newly described species Planothidium wetzelii sp. nov. – Frontiers in Microbiology 14: 1241826. http://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1241826
 
Schimani K., Abarca N., Skibbe O., Mohamad H., Jahn R., Kusber W.-H., Campana G.L. & Zimmermann J. 2023: Exploring benthic diatom diversity in the West Antarctic Peninsula: insights from a morphological and molecular approach. - Metabarcoding and Metgenomics 7: e110194 pp.339-384. https://doi.org/10.3897/mbmg.7.110194
 
Schimani K., Abarca N., Zimmermann J., Skibbe O., Jahn R., Kusber W.-H., Leya T. & Mora D. 2023: Molecular phylogenetics coupled with morphological analyses of Arctic and Antarctic strains place Chamaepinnularia (Bacillariophyta) within the Sellaphoraceae. - Fottea 24(1): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.5507/fot.2023.002
 
Van de Vijver B. & Abarca N. 2023: Observations on the type material of Gomphonema affine Kützing (Gomphonemataceae, Bacillariophyceae). - Notulae Algarum 294: 1-6. https://www.notulaealgarum.org/2023/documents/Notulae%20Algarum%20No.%2…
 
Van de Vijver B., Williams D.M. & Abarca N. 2023: Observations on the type material of Gomphonema ventricosum Gregory (Gomphonemataceae, Bacillariophyceae). – Notulae Algarum 299: 1-6. https://www.notulaealgarum.org/2023/documents/Notulae%20Algarum%20No.%2…
 
Duwe V.K., Vu L.V., von Rintelen T., Raab-Straube E.v., Schmidt S., Nguyen S.V., Vu T.D., Do T.V., Luu T.H., Truong V.B., Di Vincenzo V., Schmidt O., Glöckler F., Jahn R., Lücking R., von Oheimb K.C.M., von Oheimb P.V., Heinze S., Abarca N., Bollendorff S., Borsch T., Buenaventura E., Dang H.T.T., Dinh T.D., Do H.T., Ehlers S., Freyhof J., Hayden S., Hein P., Hoang T.A., Hoang D.M., Hoang S.N., Kürschner H., Kusber W.-H., Le H.N., Le T.Q., Linde M., Mey W., Nguyen H.D., Nguyen M.T., Nguyen M.T., Nguyen D.V., Nguyen T.V., Nguyen V.D.H., Nguyen D.Q., Ohl M., Parolly G., Pham T.N., Pham P.V., Rabe K., Schurian B., Skibbe O., Sulikowska-Drozd A., To Q.V., Truong T.Q., Zimmermann J., Häuser C.L. 2022: Contributions to the biodiversity of Vietnam – Results of VIETBIO inventory work and field training in Cuc Phuong National Park .Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e77025 https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10e77025(Link ist extern)
 
Mohamad H., Mora D., Skibbe O., Abarca N., Deutschmeyer V., Enke N., Kusber W.-H., Zimmermann J. & Jahn R. 2022: Morphological variability and genetic marker stability of 16 monoclonal pennate diatom strains under medium-term culture. - Diatom Research (Published online 02 Dec 2022; 22 pp.) https://doi.org/10.1080/0269249X.2022.2141346
 
Prelle L.R., Schmidt I., Schimani K.,Zimmermann J., Abarca N., Skibbe O., Juchem D. & Karsten U. 2022: Photosynthetic, Respirational, and Growth Responses of Six Benthic Diatoms from the Antarctic Peninsula as Functions of Salinity and Temperature Variations. - Genes 13(7):1264. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13071264
 
Skibbe O., Abarca N., Forest F. & Werner P. 2022: Exploring diatom diversity through cultures - a case study from the Bow River, Canada. - Journal of Limnology 81(1): 1-29. https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2022.2095
 
Abarca N., Zimmermann J., Kusber W.-H., Mora D., Van A. T., Skibbe O. & Jahn R. 2020: Defining the core group of the genus Gomphonema Ehrenberg with molecular and morphological methods. - Botany Letters https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2019.1694980
 
Zimmermann J., Abarca N., Kusber W.-H., Skibbe O. & Jahn R. 2021: Biodiversität und Sauerstoffproduktion in einer Glasschachtel. Kieselalgen – winzig, aber wichtig. - Biologie unserer Zeit 2/2021 (51): 132-141.  https://doi.org/10.11576/biuz-4248
 
Jahn R., Abarca N., Kusber W.-H., Skibbe O., Zimmermann J. & Mora D. 2020: Integrative taxonomic description of two new species of the Cocconeis placentula group (Bacillariophyceae) from Korea based on unialgal strains. – Algae 35(4): 303-324. https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2020.35.8
 
Abarca N., Zimmermann J., Kusber W.-H., Mora D., Van A. T., Skibbe O. & Jahn R. 2020: Defining the core group of the genus Gomphonema Ehrenberg with molecular and morphological methods. - Botany Letters https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2019.1694980

Salinas V.H., Mora D., Jahn R. & Abarca N. 2020: New species of Pseudostaurosira (Bacillariophyceae) including a tripolar taxon from mountain streams of Central Mexico. Phytotaxa 464(3); 193-206. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.464.3.1
 
Jahn R., Kusber W.-H., Skibbe O., Zimmermann J., Van A.T., Buczkó K. & Abarca N. 2019: Gomphonella olivacea (Bacillariophyceae) – a new phylogenetic position for a well-known taxon, its typification, new species and combinations. Plant Ecology and Evolution 152(2): 219-247. https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2019.1603
 
Mora D., Abarca N., Proft S., Grau J.H., Enke N., Carmona J., Skibbe O., Jahn R. & Zimmermann J. 2019 : Morphology and metabarcoding: a test with stream diatoms from Mexico highlights the complementarity of identification methods. – Freshwater Science 38: 448-464. https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/704827
 
Rimet F., Abarca N., Bouchez A., Kusber W-H., Jahn R., Kahlert M., Keck F., Kelly M., Mann D.G., Piuz A., Trobajo R., Tapolczai K., Vasselon V. & Zimmermann J. 2018: The potential of high throughput sequencing (HTS) of natural samples as a source of primary taxonomic information for reference libraries of diatom barcodes. Fottea, 18 (1). In press. Doi 10.5507/fot.2017.013.
 
Mora D., Carmona J., Jahn R., Zimmermann J., Abarca N. 2017: Epilithic diatom communities of selected streams from the Lerma-Chapala Basin, Central Mexico, with the description of two new species. PhytoKeys 88: 39-69. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.88.1461
 
Bochardt N., Schiefelbein U., Abarca N., Boy J., Mikhailyuk T., Sipman H. & Karsten U. 2017: Diversity of algae and lichens in biological soil crusts of Ardley and King George Island, Antarctica. Antarctic Science. doi:10.1017/S0954102016000638
 
Jahn R., Abarca N., Gemeinholzer B., Mora D., Skibbe O., Kulikovskiy M., Gusev E., Kusber W.H. & Zimmermann J. 2017: Planothidium lanceolatum and Planothidium frequentissimum reinvestigated with molecular methods and morphology: four new species and the taxonomic importance of the sinus and cavum,Diatom Research, 32:1, 75-107, DOI: 10.1080/0269249X.2017.1312548
 
Zimmermann J.,  Abarca N., Enke N., Skibbe O., Kusber W.-H. & Jahn R. 2014: Taxonomic Reference Libraries for Environmental Barcoding: a Best Practice Example from Diatom Research. PlosOne DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108793. http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0108793
 
Abarca N., Jahn R., Zimmermann J. & Enke N. 2014: Does the Cosmopolitan Diatom Gomphonema parvulum (Kützing) Kützing have a Biogeography? PLoS ONE 9(1): e86885. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086885
 
Schreck M., Abarca N. & Schröder H. 2007: Holocene sediments in the Cancosa Basin (Northern Chile): – First results of diatom analyses – Pp. 145‐149 in: Kusber, W.‐H. & Jahn, R. (ed.): Proceedings of the 1st Central European Diatom Meeting 2007. – Berlin. doi:10.3372/cediatom.130

Book chapters and monographs (published and in press)

Zimmermann J., Abarca N., Bansemer J., Bettig J., Droege G., Kusber W.-H., Luther K., Mohamad H., Mora D., Proft S., Schimani K., Skibbe O., Van A.T. & Jahn R. 2022: German Barcode of Life 2 (GBOL2) — Kieselalgen DNA-Barcoding und eDNA Metabarcoding im Kontext von Biodiversitätsforschung, Taxonomie und EU Wasserrahmenrichtlinie (2000/60/EC). - Pp. 307-311. In: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Limnologie (ed.): Ergebnisse der Jahrestagung 2021 (Leipzig). - Essen.

Other publications

Editorial work

Kusber W.-H., Abarca N., Van A. L. & Jahn R. (ed.) 2018: Abstracts of the 25th International Diatom Symposium, Berlin 25–30 June 2018. – Berlin: Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin. – 198 pp.  doi: https://doi.org/10.3372/ids2018

Abstracts and Reports

Kusber W.-H., Abarca N. & Zimmermann J. 2025: Benennung von Algentaxa in Checklisten, Taxonomie, Monitoring und Metabarcoding. - Pp. 98-104. In: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Limnologie (ed.): Ergebnisse der Jahrestagung 2024 (Dresden). - Essen.

Abarca N., Stancheva R., Skibbe O., Schimani K., Kusber W.-H., Zimmermann J. & Jahn R. 2023: Further observations on Gomphoneis: evaluation of morphological and molecular data. - P. 10 in Jordan R., Aba K., Fukuda M., Gu Y., Kubota-Kawai H., Nomura M. & Yokoyama J. (eds): Abstract Book 26th International Diatom Symposium, Yamagata, Japan 28 Aug. - 2 Sept. 2023. [Abstract & talk 2 September 2023]

Pümpin Ch., Reifarth N., Vrydaghs L., Abarca N., Jahn R., Wuttke M. 2018: Hidden traces in the Royal Tomb of Qaṭna, Syria. Reconstructing funeral activities by means of biogenic opal. - International Workshop on Archaeological Soil Micromorphology Brussels (Belgium). https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16998.88647

Jahn R, Abarca N., Enke N, Kusber W-H, Skibbe O, Zimmermann J (2015) Linking morphological and molecular data in reference libraries for diatoms – challenges for taxonomy. In: Programm und Abstracts, 16. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik (GfBS), 18-21 March 2015, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander König, Bonn. S. 30.

Jahn R, Kulikovskiy M, Abarca N., Zimmermann J, Gusev E, Skibbe O, Kusber W-H, Witkowski A, Enke N (2015) A morphological and molecular study on strains from the genera Pinnularia Ehrenberg and Caloneis Cleve. In: Abstracts, 9th Central European Diatom Meeting, 10-13 March 2015, German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven. S. 21.
 
Abarca N., Enke N, Kusber W-H, Zimmermann J, Jahn R (2015) Reconciling molecular data with morphological taxonomic concepts - keeping up. in: Abstracts, 9th Central European Diatom Meeting, 10-13 March 2015, German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven. S. 32
 
Mora D, Abarca N., Carmona J, Enke N, Jahn R (2015) Benthic diatoms from streams of the northern and central-eastern portion of the Lerma-Chapala Hydrologic System, Mexico. in: Abstracts, 9th Central European Diatom Meeting, 10-13 March 2015, German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven. S. 25.
 
Abarca N., Enke N, Kusber WH, Zimmermann J, Jahn R. (2014) Reconciling morphological taxonomic concepts with molecular data - a case study on serveral clone cultures in N.N. (ed.): The 23rd International Diatom Symposium. Nanjing, China 7-12 September, 2014. Programme and Abstract, 2014, Nanjing, China. S. 48.
 
Enke N, Zimmermann J, Abarca N., Kusber WH, Skibbe O, Acs E, Bouchez A, Dvorak P, Kelly M, Mann D, Poulickova A, Rimet F, Sabbe K, Trobajo R, Vyverman W, Jahn R (2014) Standardising Information for Envieronmental DNA barcoding of Diatoms in Taxonomic Reference Libraries - Examples from Berlin Waters in N.N. (ed.): The 23rd International Diatom Symposium. Nanjing, China 7-12 September, 2014. Programme and Abstract, 2014, Nanjing, China. S. 66-67.
 
Jahn R, Kulikovski M, Gusef E, Kusber WH, Skibbe O, Abarca N., Enke N (2014) Is the genus Pinnularia Ehrenberg monophyletic? A molecular and morphological study including the genus Caloneis P.T.Cleve in N.N. (ed.): The 23rd International Diatom Symposium. Nanjing, China 7-12 September, 2014. Programme and Abstract, 2014, Nanjing, China. S. 55.
 
Jahn R, Abarca N., Enke N Kusber W-H, Zimmermann J (2014) DNA Barcoding and reference libraries – Impact on taxonomy. In: 8th Central European Diatom Meeting, Zagreb, Croatia, April 10 -13, 2014, Abstract Book p. 3; invited talk.
 
Abarca, N., Mora, D., Jahn, R. (2014) New freshwater diatoms from Central Mexico. In: 8th Central European Diatom Meeting, Zagreb, Croatia, April 10 -13, 2014, Abstract Book p. 8.
 
Mora, D., Abarca, N., Cantoral-Uriza, E., Martínez, M., Carmona, J., Jahn, R. (2014) Benthic diatoms from a semi-arid basin in Central Mexico. In: 8th Central European Diatom Meeting, Zagreb, Croatia, April 10 -13, 2014, Abstract Book p. 42.
 
Pfannkuchen, M., Godrijan, J., Marić Pfannkuchen, D., Kusber, W.-H., Zimmermann, J., Dröge, G., Enke, N., Abarca, N., Jahn, R. (2014) Diatom species from the Northern Adricatic: Life cell cultures, voucher material and DNA-Banks. In: 8th Central European Diatom Meeting, Zagreb, Croatia, April 10 -13, 2014, Program and Abstract Book p. 48.
 
Enke, N., Zimmermann, J., Abarca, N., Kusber, W.H., & Jahn, R. (2014) Calibration of new identification tools for diatoms: A case study from Berlin waters . In: 15th Scientific Conference of the Phycology Section of the German Botanical Society, 23 – 26 February 2014, Stralsund. Program and Abstract Book p. 27.
 
Enke, N.; Abarca, N.; Zimmermann, J.; Skibbe, O.; Jahn, R. (2013) Gomphonema parvulum revisited: A critical assessment of the taxonomic concept. In: Kroh, A., Berning, B., Haring, E., Harzhauser, M., Sattmann, H., Walochnik, J., Zimmermann, D. & Zuschin, M. (ed.): BioSyst.EU 2013 Global systematics! 18-22 February 2013. Abstract volume. Vienna.  S. 53.
 
Kusber, W.-H.; Abarca, N.; Zimmermann, J.; von Mering, S.; Jahn, R. (2013) Open access to protist biodiversity information: from file cards to GBIF. In: Kroh, A., Berning, B., Haring, E., Harzhauser, M., Sattmann, H., Walochnik, J., Zimmermann, D. & Zuschin, M. (ed.): BioSyst.EU 2013 Global systematics! 18-22 February 2013. Abstract volume. Vienna.  S. 120-121.
 
Pfannkuchen, M.; Godrijan, J.; Marić Pfannkuchen, D.; Dröge, G.; Kusber, W.-H.; Zimmermann, J.; Enke, N.; Abarca, N.; Jahn, R. (2013) Access to the planktonic biodiversity of the northern Adriatic. in: Kroh, A., Berning, B., Haring, E., Harzhauser, M., Sattmann, H., Walochnik, J., Zimmermann, D. & Zuschin, M. (ed.): BioSyst.EU 2013 Global systematics! 18-22 February 2013. Abstract volume. Vienna. S. 164-165.
 
Kusber, W.-H., Abarca, N., Skibbe, O., Zimmermann, J. & Jahn, R. 2012: Reference library of DNA-barcoced diatoms - A use case for publishing data via the GBIF database AlgaTerra. in: Sabbe, K.; van de Vijver, B. & Vyverman, W. (ed.): Twentysecond International Diatom Symposium, Aula Academica, Gent, 26-31 August 2012. Abstracts. - VLIZ Special Publication 58. – S. 65.
 
Zetzsche, H.; Abarca, N.; Gusev, E.; Kulikovskiy, M. S.; Jahn, R. 2012: Melosira varians - a true cosmopolitan freshwater diatom species of low molecular and morphological diversity? in: Sabbe, K.; van de Vijver, B. & Vyverman, W. (ed.): Twentysecond International Diatom Symposium, Aula Academica, Gent, 26-31 August 2012. Abstracts. - VLIZ Special Publication 58. –  S. 115
 
Jahn, Regine; Zimmermann, Jonas; Abarca, Nélida; von Mering, Sabine; Kusber, Wolf-Henning (2012) Diatom research: towards cybertaxonomy. in: Gesierich, D. (ed.): Beiträge vom 26. Treffen Deutschsprachiger Diatomologen. Abstracts of the 6th Central European Diatom Meeting 22-25 March 2012. Innsbruck. - 2012, S. 23.

Abarca, N., Zimmermann, J. & Jahn, R. 2011: Gomphonema parvulum Kützing: Evaluation of some morphological and molecular characters – Pp. 13 in: Bak, M. et al. (ed.): Abstracts of the 5th Central European Diatom Meeting, 24-27 March 2011, Szczecin, Poland.

Abarca, N., Zimmermann, J. & Jahn, R. 2010: Taxonomy of some species of the diatom genus Gomphonema using morphological and molecular data – 21st International Diatom Symposium, 29 August – 3 September. : St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

Abarca, N., Jahn R. & Israde I. 2010: Insights into the tropical Lerma River (Mexico) – Pp. 4 in: Kusber, W.-H. & Jahn, R. (ed.): Abstracts of the 4th Central European Diatom Meeting 2010. Reichenau/Bodensee, 12-14 March 2010. Berlin, Germany.

Abarca, N., Jahn, R., Israde, I. & Blanco, S. 2007: Diatoms as Indicators of Water Quality in the Lerma River, Mexico – Pp. 7-8 in: Kusber, W.-H. & Jahn, R. (ed.): 1st Central European Diatom Meeting (1st CE-DiatoM), 23-25 March 2007. Program and Abstract. – Berlin, Germany.

Abarca, N., Israde Alcántara, I., Segura-García, V., Cantoral-Uriza, E., Ector, L. & Jahn, R. 2006: Résultats préliminaires pour l'évaluation de la qualité de l'eau de la Rivière Lerma (Mexique): espèces dominantes dans les sources et le cours principal et proposition de monitorage. – P. 73 in: Ector, L., Rimet, F. & Georges, A. (ed.): 25ème Colloque de l'Association des Diatomistes de Langue Française, 25-28 Septembre 2006. Programme scientifique, résumés des communications et posters. –  Caen, France.

Abarca N., & Jahn, R. 2005: Diatomeen-Diversität im Fluss Lerma, México. In: 10. Wissenschaftliche Tagung der Sektion Phykologie. April 3-6, 2005. – Köningswinter, Germany.

Abarca, N. 2005: Diatomeenflora des Mexikanischen Flusses Lerma; erste Ergebnisse. Pp. 31-32 in: Anon. (ed.), Abstractband, 19. Treffen Deutschsprachiger Diatomologen mit internationaler Beteiligung. 10-13 March 2005. – Neuhaus/Dierhagen, Germany.

Israde Alcantara I., Garduño-Monroy, V. & Abarca, N. 2002: Historia paleoambiental de los sedimentos levantados del margen sur del lago de Pátzcuaro in der X simposio la investigación y el desarrollo tecnológico en Michoacán. 25 - 29 de Nov. – Morelia, Michoacan, Mexiko.

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