Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DarkLife (THE BLACK SEA BASIN, A CRADDLE AND REFUGE OF EUROPEAN BIODIVERSITY)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-10-01 bis 2022-09-30
1. To conduct an integrative taxonomic revision of the target spider genera in the region of interest. 2. To delimit the distribution ranges and identify the environmental preferences of the target species. 3. To infer the phylogenetic relationships of the target spider species. 4. To estimate the diversification timing of the target species. 5. To reconstruct the biogeographic history of the target species. 6. To identify the impact of past climatic and geological changes in the diversification of the target families in the region and to assess the sensitivity of the target species to climatic changes under climatic projections, both in the past (e.g. last glacial maximum) and in the future, under the predicted scenario of global warming. 7. To investigate the comparative role of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean basins as a refuge for the European faunas, based on geological history, faunistic composition, and biogeographical affinities.
The new perspective put forward by the EU’s Responsible Research and Innovation framework encourages research that addresses social challenges and promotes those activities that help to bring the scientific endeavor closer to the general public. Although for the most part the here proposed project can be considered fundamental research, the expected results would be of great value for understanding the effect of climatic changes on biodiversity, which is one of the main global challenges facing present-day societies. Studying the biodiversity around the Black Sea is supposed to unravel the evolutionary history of its endemic fauna, identify the factors driving its diversification and assess its sensitivity to global environmental changes. The obtained information during the project can be used to make predictions on the impact of global warming on the unique habitats of the region, providing essential information for future conservation policies and sustainable development programs.