CroGen: Genomes in the dark — collecting in a hidden biodiversity hotspot in Croatia
Croatian Biospeleological Society is a collaborator on field research for the project Genomes in the dark — collecting in a hidden biodiversity hotspot in Croatia (CroGen). The project is carried out at the Ruđer Bošković Institute under the leadership of Ph.D. Martina Pavlek.
CroGen is part of the HORIZON project of the European consortium Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE), which brings together two networks of scientists – iBOL Europe (DNA barcoding and metabarcoding) and ERGA (genome sequencing), for the protection and restoration of biodiversity.
The main goal of the BGE project is to accelerate the use of genomic research to improve the understanding and monitoring of biodiversity, and to help create actions for preventing biodiversity loss. You can read more about the project here.
Along with 5 other European countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Hungary and Portugal), Croatia was chosen as one of the hot spots of European biodiversity. The CroGen project aims to collect as many different species of cave invertebrate fauna as possible, for future sequencing of reference genomes.
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- Samples collecting in Male Ponte jama on Mljet island (photo: T. Rožman)
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- Spiders from Pišurka cave at Korčula island (photo: M. Pavlek)
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- Amphipods Niphargus miljeticus (photo: M. Pavlek)
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- Samples labeling (photo: T. Rožman)
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- Martina gives a lecture to the employees of Mljet National Park and participants of the Bioblitz action (photo: T. Rožman)
