ExploDES: Exploration of the Diversity of European Solenogastres (Mollusca, Aplacophora)

In the face of global biodiversity loss ExploDES “Exploration of the Diversity of European Solenogastres"" emerges as vital endeavor.

The accurate association of scientific names with species is paramount for reliable reference in biology, impacting phylogenetic studies, conservation efforts, and ecological research. ExploDES tackles key challenges in modern taxonomy with focus on Solenogastres (Mollusca). These challenges include providing empirical rigor to species hypotheses and accelerating species description.

Solenogastres are unique marine molluscs with significant evolutionary and ecological importance. However, they remain poorly understood. ExploDES aims to bridge this knowledge gap and seeks to revolutionize their study through an integrative approach.

With particular emphasis on species with a putative broad distribution (including the Mediterranean Sea and the Northern European Atlantic) the project's research questions dig on comparing traditional morphology-based species hypotheses with modern integrative taxonomy-based ones, evaluating distribution patterns, and understanding diversity drivers.

Objectives include, enhance existing data by analyzing museum specimens and sampling new ones, analyze genetic differences between lineages, and investigate morphological evolution. As a pioneering effort in Solenogaster research, ExploDES stands as a model for modern taxonomy.

The impacts extend far beyond the project's duration, offering lasting benefits as is poised to make a transformative contribution to the field of molluscan studies and to enhance the research aim to understanding of early molluscan evolution. The project will also advance our insight of Euorpean marine biodiversity.

Beyond its scientific contributions, ExploDES findings will inform marine conservation policies and may serve as an indicator of the impacts of climate change. Moreover, ExploDES has the potential to foster public awareness and appreciation of marine ecosystems.