Summary:
The overarching goal of DarkCo is to devise a cost-effective and adaptive conservation plan to incorporate subterranean biodiversity in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. In pursuing this goal, we seek to broadly engage with key stakeholders and the public, increasing awareness about subterranean ecosystems to ensure their effective preservation in the long run2. To this end, we have established a research consortium composed of international researchers in subterranean biology and conservation science. The consortium is large (11 countries, 13 units) as we brought together researchers operating in aquatic (groundwaters) and terrestrial subterranean ecosystems. Accordingly, we will be able to cover the breadth of subterranean habitats and taxa across Europe within a unified framework and shared databases. Our consortium includes leading scientists on subterranean biology operating across main subterranean areas in the continent and oceanic islands, curators of main databases on subterranean species distributions and traits, and researchers holding expertise in taxonomy, ecological modeling, phylogenetic methods, functional diversity, spatial prioritization, and conservation biology.
Keywords:
Troglobites; Cave animals; Conservation Planning
Funding Institution:
EU - BIODIVERSA.
Partners:
PI - Stefanno Mammola (Italy; Finland).
The consortium is large (11 countries, 13 units) as we brought together researchers operating in aquatic (groundwaters) and terrestrial subterranean ecos.
