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PROJECT DETAILS
- Category : ΕΣΠΑ 2021-2027
- Project Title : SponBIODIV
- Principal Investigator : Thanos Dailianis
- Budget : 94.000,00 €
- Start / End Date : 2024-2027
Marine sponge biodiversity from genes to ecosystems: delivering knowledge and tools for sustainable management and conservation
SponBIODIV is a key initiative to protect marine sponges and their ecosystems.
Its main activities include:
- Improving the understanding of marine sponge diversity and distribution
- Creating new monitoring tools for sponge habitats
- Increasing knowledge of the threats that marine sponges are facing
- Developing effective conservation measures to protect restore marine sponges
- Contributing to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030
Objectives & Main Research Questions
SponBIODIV’s main goal is to establish a sponge diversity and distribution baseline knowledge, as well as delivering tools to improve management and conservation of sponges across the Atlantic and Mediterranean. More specifically, this project will aim to:
- Identify bio and phylodiversity hotspots of sponge and sponge habitats across the Atlantic and Mediterranean, by compiling the most comprehensive dataset of sponges of this region.
- Establish ecological/genetic corridors and refugia areas between species and regions, combining biophysical modelling and population genomic approaches.
- Develop new methodologies for wider biodiversity detection and monitoring of sponge habitats by harnessing the potential of eDNA and sponges as natural samplers of eDNA.
- Assess the current conservation status of species and habitats in line with major international processes.
- Engage relevant stakeholders for co-production and co-delivery of data and practical tools to inform management, conservation, and restoration actions.
- Raise public awareness of the importance of sponge species and habitats.
SponBIODIV is funded by Biodiversa+, the European Biodiversity Partnership, under the 2021-2022 BiodivProtect joint call for research proposals, co-funded by the European Commission (GA N°101052342) and with national funding from the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI).
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