Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DarkLife (THE BLACK SEA BASIN, A CRADDLE AND REFUGE OF EUROPEAN BIODIVERSITY)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-10-01 al 2022-09-30
The project aims at improving our current knowledge of the origins and diversification of terrestrial invertebrates in the Black Sea basin – a neglected refuge for the survival of species during the glaciations and an important centre of origin and dispersal of an unique component of European wildlife. The project objectives are:
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.
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.
The project resulted in five published papers. I described four spider species, new to science: Dysdera zonsteini, Tegenaria euxinica, Maimuna anatolica, and Brachythele rhodopensis. Together with the collaborators, I investigated the phylogenetic relationships of a group of morphologically similar Tegenaria species from the Black Sea region and Anatolia. We clarified the species boundaries of the Tegenaria percuriosa complex, delimited the species distribution ranges, characterized the climatic and geological events that drove their diversification, and proposed an evolutionary hypothesis. The species Tegenaria boitanii was revalidated. We also removed T. boitanii and Tegenaria bithyniae from the synonymy of Tegenaria percuriosa. T. bithyniae was then placed as a junior synonym of T. boitanii. The distribution patterns of the taxa strongly support a preference of the group for humid and secluded habitats, which in combination with the narrow distributional ranges of the species may point to the key role of climatic changes in shaping present-day diversity and distribution patterns. The humid forest habitats around the southeastern Black Sea shores provide shelter for the only two epigean species of the group – T. boitanii and the newly described T. euxinica. All the others, distributed in the more dry inland Anatolia and the eastern Mediterranean were forced to inhabit the caves after the extinction of the epigean populations. This clearly illustrates the role of the Black Sea humid environment as a cradle and refuge of biodiversity and the sensitivity of these taxa to climatic changes, especially to global warming and the loss of humidity. Similarly, I examined the representatives of the genus Maimuna in Turkey. Apart from the described new species, I fixed some misidentifications in the literature records and clarified the distribution ranges of the taxa. I also discussed the complexity of the Black Sea, and how it facilitates Mediterranean species (in this case Maimuna vestita) to inhabit the Balkan Peninsula and Eastern Europe. Additionally, I described two more species, new to science from adjacent territories, the unknown male sex of another one, and recorded many faunistic novelties. Another two studies about the phylogeny and evolution of the genera Inermocoelotes (Agelenidae) and Harpactea (Dysderidae) are at a very advanced stage and will be submitted for publication within the next couple of months. Although the dissemination was strongly affected by the covid restrictions last 2 years, the results of my research were presented at two international congresses and generated significant interest among the scientific community.
I significantly improved the knowledge about the target groups’ diversity in the territories around the Black Sea. I have discovered and clarified a complex species composition in a Tegenaria clade, previously considered to be a single species. Together with the collaborators, I delimited the species boundaries, distribution ranges and habitat preferences. As a result, it is now clear that the wet eastern beech (Fagus orientalis) forests and plant societies associated with them are the only suitable habitat for endemic species like Tegenaria euxinica and Tegenaria boitanii, which are the only extant epigean species of the group left. Both the climatic changes and the logging in this area put these fragile endemic species in great danger. It is important to notice that the above-mentioned taxa are just a model group and the same conclusion applies to all the terrestrial invertebrate fauna in the region. All the studies reveal very high percentage of endemism. By definition, the endemic species are stenobiotic, hence very sensitive to climatic and environmental changes. The terrain studies were carried out mainly in Bulgaria and Georgia. When applying for the permits I informed the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia about the aim and the objectives of the project. According to our agreements, a full report of the project results will be sent to the two institutions after it is approved by the MSC office. Apart from the covid restrictions, the main obstacle that handicapped my research was that I could not get permission for collection trips and terrain work in Turkey, due to some restrictions in Turkish legislation. Although politically outside European Union, Turkey is strongly connected with the Balkan Peninsula and Europe in terms of biodiversity. For my project, studying the South Black Sea biodiversity, and especially the Pontic Mountains is vital because they interconnect two of the major biodiversity hotspots - the Caucasus and the Balkans. The problem prompted me to get in touch with the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water, asking to initiate an official communication with the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change to facilitate the process of academic and institutional interaction. The logical further step will be to unify the environmental protection rules for joint territories like Strandzha and Sakar Mountain, and the Thracian plain.