Developing and testing approaches to monitor subterranean biodiversity in karst
Call
Duration
01/04/2024 – 31/03/2027
Total grant
Approx. 871 thsd. €
More information
Maja ZAGMAJSTER
maja.zagmajster@bf.uni-lj.si
Partners of the project
- Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBioLab, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Sciences, Department for Biology of Organisms, Free University of Brussels (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences (MESVA), University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
- Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- “Emil Racovita” Institute of Speleology; Cluj Napoca, Romania
- National Museum of Natural History Luxembourg, Zoology Department; Luxembourg
Context
The subterranean species of karst regions in Europe represent a unique and indispensable part of European biodiversity. Numerous specialised species are rare and highly endemic, bound to narrow geographical areas. At the same time, subterranean habitats are among the most challenging for biodiversity monitoring, due to difficult accessibility and the complexity of its exploration, which requires expertise and specialised equipment. Caves are rare points where humans can enter the subterranean domain and are often considered to be the main habitat for the subterranean species.They are protected as a special habitat type (8310 “Caves not open to the public”) in the EU Habitats Directive, which demands their monitoring at national and international level.
However, up to now, there is no standardised sampling method for monitoring subterranean species and habitats. The Sub-BioMon will reconsider the role of caves as either habitats or simply windows into an extensive subterranean habitat in a fractured rock, consisting of cavities and crevices inaccessible to humans. The project will provide a scientific basis for monitoring, which is relevant to a variety of stakeholders, such as governmental and conservation institutions, management authorities of natural parks and show caves, as well as the general public, all of which will be involved in the project.
Main objectives
The Sub-BioMon project will provide standardised methods and protocols for monitoring subterranean biodiversity in European karst areas, with a focus on developing and testing novel approaches.
Main activities
The project will tackle several interrelated challenges, starting from the problem of selecting monitoring sites, sampling using standardised methods, and identifying the selected taxa down to the species level. The selection of monitoring sites and microhabitat locations will be based on defining bioregions at different spatial scales, using both large and accessible datasets on selected groups of subterranean animals and national databases.
The second major challenge is to standardise field sampling methods. Subterranean animals are rare and repeated visits are necessary to detect them. We will build upon practices implemented in participating countries and test a feasible protocol for monitoring subterranean fauna in the field.
The final challenge addresses the problem of identifying sampled specimens, which is especially difficult in subterranean habitats with numerous cryptic species. We will implement DNA-based molecular approaches, including DNA barcoding and environmental DNA (eDNA) for both identification and detection of species.
The results of Sub-BioMon will provide scientifically supported approaches to assess subterranean biodiversity. The outcomes will directly support policy makers and authorities who are obliged to monitor and report on subterranean biodiversity to the international community. A framework for the development of Citizen Science approaches will be established to involve the public and cavers in an early warning system about the status and potential threats to subterranean karst areas and, where possible, to collect data on selected, easily recognizable species. The developed guidelines will lay the foundation of an international network for long-term monitoring of subterranean biodiversity.