Projects / Programmes
Emergence of a global subterranean biodiversity hotspot – the origin of the Dinaric amphipod fauna
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.03.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B320 |
Biomedical sciences |
Systematic zoology, taxonomy, zoogeopraphy |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.06 |
Natural Sciences |
Biological sciences |
speciation, species richness, Niphargus, paleogeography, Dinaric Karst, subterranean habitats, hotspot
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
35367 |
PhD Teo Delić |
Biology |
Head |
2018 - 2020 |
130 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Mediterranean area has been recognized as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Region’s biodiversity has been traditionally attributed to climatic oscillations during Pleistocene (2.5 MY – 11 700 years ago), and explicitly linked to mechanisms generating species richness – dispersal and extinction. The third mechanism, speciation, received far less attention and is poorly understood. Indeed, several studies suggested that most of the species richness emerged before Pleistocene, emphasizing the importance of speciation. Such discrepancies call for studies paying more attention to deviations from the general species-richness patterns, consider speciation as important generator of species richness, and search for the possible explanations of the existing patterns in a more distant past than traditionally done.
Subterranean animals offer a unique model to study speciation events, especially when executed in a global subterranean biodiversity hotspot – the Dinaric Karst. The processes and mechanisms underlying the emergence of this unique subterranean hotspot are not known. As in subterranean animals the dispersal abilities are limited, the evidence of past speciation events should be clearer than in surface species. Question of speciation’s relative importance in subterranean fauna will be specifically addressed in a subterranean amphipod genus Niphargus. Niphargus is the species richest genus of freshwater amphipods, bound almost exclusively to groundwaters, and reaching its highest species richness in the Dinaric Karst. Interestingly, some of the clades widely distibuted in Dinarides occur also in the Apennines; having a peculiar transadriatic distribution. We will employ island biogeography theory, using subterranean regions of Dinaric Karst as analogues to islands, and test how paleogeographic events affected species richness and pace of diversification in the Dinaric Karst Niphargus. Specifically, we will explore the role of four major paleogeographic events in diversification of the genus:
1. Collision of the Dinaric platform with the European mainland;
2. Rise and fall of the intra-lacustrine Dinaric lake system during Miocene;
3. Messinian salinity crises and;
4. Interchange of glacial and interglacial phases during Pleistocene.
We will study four Niphargus clades, distributed on both sides of the Adriatic Sea, as natural replicates, warranting a robust comparative analysis. Spatio-temporal analysis of diversification patterns should pinpoint which paleogeographic events most critically affected speciation processes in Dinaric region. Phylogenetic structure and speciation events within the focal clades will be scrutinized using genus-wide molecular phylogeny, time calibrated phylogeny and implementation of uni- and multilocus species delimitations. Ancestral ranges will be inferred using present species distribution. Finally, the relative importance of palogeographic events will be modelled in a joint comparative analysis.
A two year project will be organized in six working packages. The results are expected to establish the much needed links between paleogeographic events in Southeastern Europe and patterns and rates of speciation in Dinaric Niphargus. Linking the patterns with mechanisms will enable conclusions about the effect of speciation rates and patterns onto the emergence of biodiversity hotspot in the Dinaric Karst. Indirectly, we will acquire insights into present and past hydrological connections in Dinarides. In addition, regional analyses would also enable recognition of centers of diversification, which can thereafter be largely applied in nature conservation strategies. Inclusion of the aquatic subterranean fauna into existing conservation framework is of crucial importance, due to a fact that groundwaters present the most important source of drinking water throughout the countries of the Dinaric Karst.
Significance for science
The potential benefits of the proposed project and its results are manifold. Speciation is one of the central topics of biodiversity research. Inferences of past speciation are demanding, as it is often masked by other biological processes such as post-speciation dispersal. Due to small dispersal possibilities in subterranean fauna, our study system - amphipod genus Niphargus, has relatively low masking effect, and may attract a broader scientific community. Investigations of factors that led to speciation and diversification of species in some parts of the world, while not in others, contributes greatly to understanding of general biodiversity patterns and existence of species richness hotspots. Further on, we list the directions of research that could derive directly from results of this project:
1. The presented study will link paleogeographic events in SE Europe, namely Dinaric Karst and Apennines, with the patterns and rates of speciation in a subterranean amphipod genus Niphargus. Establishing these links on our model system has wider applicability and importance for subterranean fauna. The study could be expanded to the entire Europe, importantly adding to our understanding of how variation in speciation affects global biodiversity patterns.
2. The proposed phylogenetic-paleogeographic template can be directly adapted to studies of other subterranean taxa with similar distributions (subterranean taxa like isopods Proasellus, Monolistra, leptodirine beetles etc.) or additionally expanded into studies of broader geographic scales.
3. Due to the use of paleogeographic data, the usability of our results will have reciprocal effects. Well resolved phylogenies of subterranean taxa and inferences of present or historical connections between geographical regions, will enable insights into past and present hydrological connections within the Dinaric Karst. Due to the turbulent paleographic history of the area, some of the past hydrological connections can be recognized only by using the biomarkers such as subterranean animals.
4. Modern trends in nature conservation increasingly explore how present or past processes could be incorporated into conservation strategies. Identification of regional centers of diversification and their incorporation into nature conservation strategies would be a step towards the contemporary nature conservation.
5. Last but not least, the results of this study, and its uniqueness on a world scale, will promote and increase the importance of speleobiology as a research discipline, as it will demonstrate the opportunities it offers in resolving general and relevant scientific questions. Slovenia is recognized as a “cradle of spelobiology”, as the first discoveries offsetting the discipline started herein. Our study and its innovative approach in combining species distribution, phylogenetical and paleogeological data will further support this leadership in promoting the discipline, and in showing the future direction it could take in a new area of research questions on the world level.
Significance for the country
The potential benefits of the proposed project and its results are manifold. Speciation is one of the central topics of biodiversity research. Inferences of past speciation are demanding, as it is often masked by other biological processes such as post-speciation dispersal. Due to small dispersal possibilities in subterranean fauna, our study system - amphipod genus Niphargus, has relatively low masking effect, and may attract a broader scientific community. Investigations of factors that led to speciation and diversification of species in some parts of the world, while not in others, contributes greatly to understanding of general biodiversity patterns and existence of species richness hotspots. Further on, we list the directions of research that could derive directly from results of this project:
1. The presented study will link paleogeographic events in SE Europe, namely Dinaric Karst and Apennines, with the patterns and rates of speciation in a subterranean amphipod genus Niphargus. Establishing these links on our model system has wider applicability and importance for subterranean fauna. The study could be expanded to the entire Europe, importantly adding to our understanding of how variation in speciation affects global biodiversity patterns.
2. The proposed phylogenetic-paleogeographic template can be directly adapted to studies of other subterranean taxa with similar distributions (subterranean taxa like isopods Proasellus, Monolistra, leptodirine beetles etc.) or additionally expanded into studies of broader geographic scales.
3. Due to the use of paleogeographic data, the usability of our results will have reciprocal effects. Well resolved phylogenies of subterranean taxa and inferences of present or historical connections between geographical regions, will enable insights into past and present hydrological connections within the Dinaric Karst. Due to the turbulent paleographic history of the area, some of the past hydrological connections can be recognized only by using the biomarkers such as subterranean animals.
4. Modern trends in nature conservation increasingly explore how present or past processes could be incorporated into conservation strategies. Identification of regional centers of diversification and their incorporation into nature conservation strategies would be a step towards the contemporary nature conservation.
5. Last but not least, the results of this study, and its uniqueness on a world scale, will promote and increase the importance of speleobiology as a research discipline, as it will demonstrate the opportunities it offers in resolving general and relevant scientific questions. Slovenia is recognized as a “cradle of spelobiology”, as the first discoveries offsetting the discipline started herein. Our study and its innovative approach in combining species distribution, phylogenetical and paleogeological data will further support this leadership in promoting the discipline, and in showing the future direction it could take in a new area of research questions on the world level.
Most important scientific results
Interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report
