Assets
The FLOWer Lab presents two specific infrastructures that are used to produce part of the science we generate. These assets complement the broader infrastructure of the Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra, particularly laboratory and office spaces, as described under "Join us".
Entomological Collection
Established in 2018 as the FLOWer Lab Entomological Collection and formally recognised in 2026 as the Entomological Collection of the Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, this collection currently comprises approximately 25,000 dried insect specimens, as of February 2026. It is housed in three cabinets with 54 drawers containing entomological trays, plus 13 additional smaller entomological boxes.
The collection functions as an active repository of voucher specimens obtained through multiple sampling methods across several scientific projects. It supports taxonomic research, species identification, and advanced training in entomology.
GRSciColl code FLOW (link here)
Location College of São Bento
Main responsables Sílvia Castro and Hugo Gaspar
Our numbers (as of February 2026)
25 000
20 000
1 000
4 000
This collection includes most insect groups of the fauna of Portugal with a special focus on the main pollinators, most noticeable bees (Anthophila) - the largest Portuguese collection - and hoverflies (Syrphidae) - the largest Portuguese modern collection (post-1990).
It includes specimens from all continental Portugal regions, mostly within the framework of FLOWer Lab research projects conducted since 2018, with particular emphasis on the CULTIVAR project (Beira Interior) and Hugo Gaspar PhD (all regions), as well as through individual donations.
The data collected are published directly in our scientific papers, largely in collaboration with international researchers, and are open for research. Soon, all of the dataset will be available at gbif.org, a free, open-access repository for biodiversity data worldwide.
Flow Cytometry
The FLOWer Lab has recognised expertise in the application of flow cytometry to the study of plant cells, particularly for genome size estimation and ploidy level inference across a wide range of plant taxa, using fresh and dried material. These approaches are central to our research on plant diversification, polyploidization, and evolutionary dynamics.
Location College of São Bento
Main responsables João Loureiro and Mariana Castro
Our numbers (as of February 2026)
20
> 800
30 000
To support this work, we operate a Sysmex CyFlow Space flow cytometer equipped with a 532 nm green solid-state laser and a UV LED excitation source, enabling the analysis of multiple fluorochromes and ensuring high-resolution nuclear DNA content estimation. The platform is complemented by all necessary ancillary equipment and certified reagents for isolating and staining plant nuclei and for internal standardisation.
This infrastructure allows us to provide robust, reproducible genome size measurements and ploidy assessments for both fundamental research and applied projects, as well as specialised training and collaborative services.
