Aim: Chalcid wasps comprise one of the most diverse insect groups, covering a variety of trophic regimes, however, have been greatly understudied in Cyprus. Throughout this fellowship native and non-native Chalcid wasp species will be studied at the protected Akrotiri Peninsula. This study will increase our knowledge of their biodiversity, biological invasions and their impacts through structured material surveys. Citizen-science will be utilized wherever possible.
Objectives:
Provide a baseline of Chalcid wasps in the Akrotiri Peninsula to enhance scientific research around the region’s fauna. This will be achieved by conducting structured monthly surveys across man-made and natural habitats in Akrotiri Peninsula to assess the native and non-native Chalcid fauna along with their impacts.
Raise public awareness, pool, supplement, and summarize our knowledge of the Chalcid wasp fauna of Cyprus by creating an online information portal about the “Chalcid wasps of Cyprus”.
Establish the basis of a long-term project regarding the whole Chalcid wasp fauna of Cyprus. Additionally, non-native Chalcid species that will be collected, will serve to future research regarding the introduction pathways of alien species in Europe, with the integrated use of morphological and molecular tools.
Duration: 1 st July 2023 – 30 th June 2025
Location: Cyprus, Western Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri
Funded by: Darwin Plus
Coordinating partner: Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre
Direct partners: Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre; Joint Services Health Unit Akrotiri SBA; Department of Biology, Faculty of Zoology and Marine Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (NKUA); Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza; University of Leeds.