Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre SAS
Topic
DNA metabarcoding of the polinator fauna of selected crops
PhD. program
Biológia, špecializácia Ekológia a evolučná biológia
Name of the supervisor
RNDr. Fedor Čiampor, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University
Annotation
Proposed aims:
1. Definition of the biodiversity status of selected orders of insects in agricultural crop locations within the
POLINES project (APVV-21-0386) using DNA metabarcoding, assessment of taxonomic composition.
2. Evaluation of the structure and status of pollinator biodiversity and environmental factors (e.g., crop
species, surrounding environment characteristics, local climatic conditions, presence of other pollinator
species, etc.).
3. Estimation of the value of the studied taxa in terms of their function as pollinators of agricultural crops.
4. Construction of a reference DNA barcode library for the fauna of Slovakia.
Justification of the proposed doctoral dissertation topic:
Pollinators, especially insects, are currently under significant pressure due to anthropogenic activities, and it
has been repeatedly confirmed that their abundance and species diversity are rapidly declining. At the same
time, pollinators are crucial for human populations, agriculture, and the economy. Interest in this component
of Earth's biota has been increasing recently, but we still know relatively little about their species
composition, local community characteristics, or the influences of environmental factors. These pieces of
information are crucial for their protection and, consequently, for preserving their function, on which we are
to a large extent dependent.
1. Definition of the biodiversity status of selected orders of insects in agricultural crop locations within the
POLINES project (APVV-21-0386) using DNA metabarcoding, assessment of taxonomic composition.
2. Evaluation of the structure and status of pollinator biodiversity and environmental factors (e.g., crop
species, surrounding environment characteristics, local climatic conditions, presence of other pollinator
species, etc.).
3. Estimation of the value of the studied taxa in terms of their function as pollinators of agricultural crops.
4. Construction of a reference DNA barcode library for the fauna of Slovakia.
Justification of the proposed doctoral dissertation topic:
Pollinators, especially insects, are currently under significant pressure due to anthropogenic activities, and it
has been repeatedly confirmed that their abundance and species diversity are rapidly declining. At the same
time, pollinators are crucial for human populations, agriculture, and the economy. Interest in this component
of Earth's biota has been increasing recently, but we still know relatively little about their species
composition, local community characteristics, or the influences of environmental factors. These pieces of
information are crucial for their protection and, consequently, for preserving their function, on which we are
to a large extent dependent.