Projects / Programmes
Biodiversity, phylogenetic and biogeographic patterns in karst regions
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.03.01 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biology |
Zoology and zoophysiology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B320 |
Biomedical sciences |
Systematic zoology, taxonomy, zoogeopraphy |
biodiversity, karst, hypogean habitats, molecular analysis, Hirudinea, Isopoda, Chilopoda, evolution, population genetics, phylogenetics, phylogeography
Researchers (5)
Abstract
The high biotic diversity of karst regions depends on their dynamic paleogeography; polytope immigration of species underground may contribute to their genetic diversity in spite of certain morphological convergencies; secondary introgressions may follow post-Pleistocene reinvasions. Appropriate gene pools allow and the population pressure force populations to spread underground; passive immigration is only an exceptional event in the origin of cave faunas.
Some Isopoda, Hirudinea, Chilopoda will be studied to prove these suppositions; morphometrical, molecular (sequencing, RAPD), and mathematical methods will be used. Some important knowledge gaps in all levels of phylogenetic relations (e.g. in Hirudinea) will be filled up. Morphological and molecular diversity within some species will be studied separately and in comparison. A laboratory for molecular phylogeny will progress.
The extent of the general diversity in hypogean faunas will be established and analyzed, some taxonomic groups (e.g. Malacostraca) will be studied more in detail. Some other aspects of the biotic diversity in Dinaric karst and in other karst areas (e.g. fauna in ancient lakes) will be studied.
