CREPIDOTUS
What we (do not) know about the genus Crepidotus (Agaricomycotina, fungi) Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and Slovak Academy of Sciences project no. VEGA 2/0050/22, years 2022-2025
Background: Fungi of the genus Crepidotus (Agaricomycotina) have pileate fruiting bodies with a lamellate hymenophore and a typically reduced stipe. They grow on various dead plant substrates, especially wood. They are circumpolarly widespread and relatively common from tropical to hemiboreal regions. The genus Crepidotus has been monographically inspected several times, but the individual species were defined only based on morphological features. Phylogenetic studies have confirmed Crepidotus as a separate lineage within Agaricomycotina, but species delimitations and phylogenetic relationships are not sufficiently known and supported.
Hypotheses: (I) Crepidotus is a monophyletic genus with several well-defined lineages; (II) current infrageneric classification based on morphology does not correspond to phylogenetic grouping.
Aims: (I) To revise the taxonomic, systematic, and phylogenetic status of species within the genus; (II) To identify host and substrate ranges of Crepidotus species; (III) To infer phylogenetic relations within the genus.
The project is performed only by MEM members; the principal investigator is Soňa Jančovičová.
Evolutionary and ecological outcomes of plant invasions: What are the potential consequences of post-invasion hybridization and polyploidization on the invasiveness of Solidago taxa in Europe? VEGA 2/0024/23 (2023-2026)
Annotation: Because of the complexity of biological invasions and post-invasion processes (such as mating interactions with native species), a better understanding of the underlying factors and their management is challenging. Members of the genus Solidago represent exceptionally successful invaders in Europe. In this project, we aim to determine the impact of hybridization and introgression in alien-hybrid-native S. canadensis–xniederederi–virgaurea populations and polyploidization in S. gigantea populations on the evolutionary and invasive potential of newly formed genotypes within the invaded range in Europe. We will take an integrative approach combining relative DNA content screening, assessment of population genetic structure by up-to-date molecular markers and measurements of reproductive potential and fitness parameters. We expect to bring new insights into the microevolutionary processes and their impact on further invasiveness and provide a baseline for nature conservation and management decisions.
Biodiversa+ – The European Biodiversity Partnership – Invasive Alien Species Subpilot (Horizon Europe 101052342, 2023-2024)
Annotation: The species monitoring sub-pilot consists of two modules. Module 1 focuses on plants, and Module 2 focuses on insects. The main focus is on invasive alien species, but additional emphasis is put on the wider group of non-native species whose impacts are not fully understood. This wider scope should prepare for the detection of future invasive alien species. Both modules employ image recognition using computer vision and deep learning models for cost-efficient and rapid detection of species of concern. These methods rely on training data of the species of concern to function effectively. Such data is available in GBIF and pilot projects from Denmark (plants and insects), France and Switzerland (plants). However, additional data needs to be collected as part of this pilot program to ensure accurate detection models for the future. For module 1, there is an effort to monitor both introduction and spread. In this way, the pilot program will be relevant in the context of introduction sites and for collecting additional training data to improve image recognition models. Project website: https://www.biodiversa.eu/biodiversity-monitoring/pilot/.
Ponds in urban environments – biodiversity, non-native biota and ecological quality (VEGA 2/0044/22, 2022-2025)
Annotation: The project focuses on researching benthic invertebrate communities in urban ponds (UP) that are not well-known. These ponds are essential as potential sources of biodiversity for native species and habitats for non-native and invasive species. The primary research objective is to identify biodiversity patterns in UP, with a focus on [1] comparing the significance of various types of UP for preserving native biodiversity, [2] examining the introduction and survival of non-native fauna in urban environments, and [3] identifying the sources and pathways of non-native species through population genetic analyses. For this research, we selected various urban ponds in ten Slovak cities, equally distributed along the Carpathian and Pannonian ecoregions. The results of this systematic study will significantly contribute to the current fragmented knowledge of the causal relationships between diversity, distribution, and the environmental status of these habitats.
Diversity of urban biota in the Carpathian-Pannonian region (VEGA 2/0108/21, 2021-2024)
Annotation: The project deals with the research of biodiversity in the urban environment in the territory of two important Central European bioregions – Pannonian and Carpathian. After multiple stratification, 30 Slovak towns were selected, representatively distributed on the basis of geographical location and demography. Within each town, the research will be carried out through two models, ecologically significantly linked groups (vascular plants and terrestrial snails) and on seven habitats typical of the urban environment. The aim of the submitted project is to find out: 1) How environmental and anthropogenic factors affect the diversity of native species in different types of urban environment and the penetration of non-native species into towns, 2) if there is a difference in the diversity structure of model groups of organisms in the Carpathian and Pannonian biogeographical regions, and 3) which of the urban habitats is the most important in terms of biodiversity and can potentially serve as an indicator habitat.