AQUA-INVERT: Assessing Multiple Drivers of Mollusc and Crustacean Biodiversity Decline in Aquatic Ecosystems

AQUA-INVERT proposes an integrated research approach to identifying and assessing the direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity decline among molluscs and crustaceans in freshwater and marine ecosystems.

The proposed contribution focuses on understanding how environmental pressures interact across spatial and temporal scales, influencing species diversity, community composition, population dynamics and habitat suitability.

Building on expertise in aquatic ecology, invertebrate taxonomy, molecular identification, DNA barcoding, ecological monitoring and GIS-based spatial analysis, our research team can contribute to the following activities:

1. Assessment of mollusc and crustacean biodiversity

Field surveys, taxonomic and molecular identification, and comparative analysis of species diversity and community structure across aquatic habitats.

2. Identification of direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity decline

Assessment of the effects of climate change, pollution, habitat degradation, land-use changes and other anthropogenic pressures on aquatic invertebrate communities.

3. Analysis of interacting environmental pressures

Investigation of cumulative and potentially synergistic effects of multiple environmental drivers on biodiversity, community composition and ecological resilience.

4. Spatial and temporal analysis of biodiversity change

Application of GIS-based mapping, spatial modelling and comparative ecological datasets to identify biodiversity trends, vulnerable habitats and areas at increased risk of species decline.

5. Development of biodiversity indicators and monitoring approaches

Integration of ecological and molecular methods to develop indicators for assessing mollusc and crustacean biodiversity, detecting environmental changes and evaluating ecosystem condition.

6. Scientific support for conservation and restoration

Translation of ecological findings into recommendations for biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration and environmental management, supporting the implementation of European biodiversity and nature restoration policies.

Proposed Contribution to the Consortium

Our research team can contribute expertise in aquatic invertebrate ecology, biodiversity assessment, molecular taxonomy, DNA barcoding, ecological monitoring, spatial analysis and conservation-oriented research.

We are interested in participating in work packages focused on biodiversity monitoring, assessment of environmental drivers, ecological indicators, spatial and temporal analysis, and evidence-based conservation and restoration strategies.

Proposed role: Scientific partner contributing to the assessment of mollusc and crustacean biodiversity, identification of environmental drivers of decline, ecological monitoring, molecular identification and spatial biodiversity analysis.

Interdisciplinary cooperation with specialists in environmental policy, socio-economic analysis and stakeholder engagement will help translate the ecological findings into practical conservation and restoration measures.