New data on limno-terrestrial rotifers of the world

The project deals with the Latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG), which is one of the important biodiversity structural characteristics that in its initial concept refers to the quantitative changes (increase or decrease) of species richness from the poles to the equator. In most terrestrial macroorganisms LDG is characterized by higher diversities near the equator, while aquatic species tend to increase diversity toward the poles. However, for the microfauna, especially for so-called limno-terrestrial organisms (inhabitants of wet soil, moss and lichens), the presence and shape of LDG are still unclear. The main aim of the proposed project is to estimate the prominence and shape of global LDG in limno-terrestrial bdelloid rotifers (Bdelloidea; Rotifera). The general strategy of the project implies the employment of both conventional and metabarcoding techniques (extraction and sequencing of total DNA from the already collected frozen soil and moss samples) to estimate diversity metrics and compare them. Secondary, the project aims at inventarization of rotifer biodiversity in less studied studied regions, especially in Arctic and Antarctic. Two European Universities are involved in the project: Klaipeda University (KU) as lead applicant and Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU) as co-applicant.

The project covers all regions of the Earth.

To address project's aim we used samples collected starting from 1996 until present in limno-terrestrial habitats throughout the world. More than 2,000 samples were analyzed using conventional methods (analysis of rotifer morphology using light microscopy) resulting in creation of dataset with 5,295 rotifer species occurrences, 98.5% of which belong to bdelloids. The data covers all continents, including both polar zones and ranging from 0 to 4,610 m of altitude. The further steps include estimation of the diversity patterns within defined geographical area (alpha- and gamma-diversity, rarefaction curve, asymptotic diversity estimates), and globally, i.e. revealing shape and prominence of latitudinal diversity gradient using hexagonal model and general additive model (GAM). In parallel, the diversity of limno-terrestrial rotifers will be assessed using molecular approach. It is planned to imply metabarcoding sequencing of coI mitochondrial gene for rotifers, however, not in global scale (only Europe - from Mediterranean to Arctic). Results obtained using both methodological approaches will be compared.

European Union