- City
- Begur
- Country
- Spain
- Stage of project
- Stage 2: R&D
- Sea basin regions
- Mediterranean Sea
- Description
The purpose of my project is to deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanisms behind the symbiotic relationships in Mediterranean gorgonians, specifically within the genus Eunicella. Gorgonians play crucial ecological roles by providing habitats that support marine biodiversity. However, due to climate change and other stressors, their populations are increasingly at risk. This project aims to identify genes that regulate the symbiotic interactions between gorgonians and their symbiotic dinoflagellates, which contribute to their resilience in nutrient-poor environments. The primary beneficiaries of this research are marine conservationists, and policymakers, as the findings will inform conservation strategies for these vulnerable coral species. However, knowledge will be shared visually to maximize outreach and impact including YouTube vides explaining the importance of this research and infographic on Instagram. The project start in August 2023, the genetic analyses finished in January 2024 and now we are doing the computer analysis. The funding contributors of this project are: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), PADI foundation, the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Lerner-Gray Fund for Marine Research, and the Linnean Society Research Fund (LinneSys).