Madeira Insects Bioblitz
Coordination
University of Madeira
Museum für Naturkunde Berlin
Funding
28.400 €
Funder
Biodiversity Genomics Europe (BGE)
The Madeiran Insects Bioblitz (MIB) project is a short-term project (April – October '24) aimed at creating a collection of reference genomes for endemic species in the Madeira archipelago, a biodiversity hotspot and UNESCO World Heritage site. The project will be developed in close collaboration with the Biodiversity Genomic Europe (BGE) consortium and will provide essential reference genomes for the accurate identification of Madeiran insect species through genomics. The project targets over 100 described species, primarily from the orders Diptera, Hemiptera, and Orthoptera. Approximately 60% of these species are endemic, and 74% are not listed in GOaT or associated with any other genomic project. The results will be crucial for addressing the global biodiversity crisis in vulnerable environments such as island systems.
Goals
Create first-time reference genomes
The generated metadata will improve taxonomic knowledge and species identification practices using molecular tools.
Sample 100 species
Sampling will focus on hyperdiverse and poorly known taxa (= dark taxa), characterized by small size and complex taxonomy.
Improve core knowledge of endemic taxa
We expect to promote fundamental advancements in conservation, science, and policies within the BGE.
Progress
Species
0
Reference Genome
0
Barcoding
0
Biobanking
0
Vouchers
0
Sample Sites
Team
Hugo Miguel Silva
Researcher
Gonçalo Gomes
student
Partners
Funder
This project has received funding from the European Union under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program, co-funded by the Swiss Government and the British Government