My postdoctoral study is designed to develop protocols and procedures to obtain genomic DNA data from degraded old museum specimens using HTS (e.g., exome-capture and/ or mtDNA genome sequencing) using SE Asian frogs as focal taxa. Specimens housed in natural history museums are essential raw materials for studies of cryptic speciation that is very common in the tropics. These studies require molecular genetic tools that, to date, could only be applied to freshly collected tissue samples. Because HTS is based on short-fragment sequencing technology, it is more effective at obtaining sequence data from historical specimens than Sanger sequencing, particularly for very old samples collected more than 100 years ago. HTS methods will be tested to assess the phylogenetic and taxonomic position of the Asian ranid frogs with gastromyzophorous tadpoles, a group that has defied taxonomic clarification for decades. This proposed study is well aligned to the Work Programme of Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions. The results of this study will be a valuable baseline to assess the feasibility of and to improve exome-capture techniques aimed at retrieving historical DNA from type specimens for future studies. This study will be the first to investigate the evolution of gastromyzophory in Asian ranid frogs. It will also emphasize the need to apply modern techniques in tropical countries with high biodiversity as a critical step in quantifying its diversity and developing conservation actions for cryptic species. Apart from that, this study is an exceptional step towards advancing my career and establish myself as an independent researcher in the field of phylogenetics systematics. Furthermore, I will be able to actively contribute to disseminate my science to broader audience and play an important role as a catalyst for a long term collaborations between the institutions in Germany, USA, and Indonesia in phylogenomic, systematics, and biogeographic studies.

Many multicellular organisms have a division between germline and soma. It has been long-standing dogma that all these cells have the same genome as they develop from a single cell. However, programmed DNA elimination can remove DNA during germline–soma differentiation and thereby lead to dramatic differences in genome organization between tissues. The evolution and function of programmed DNA elimination remains mysterious due to technological limitations and lack of an evolutionary framework. However, a role of this phenomenon in minimizing germline–soma genetic conflict has been suggested. This conflict arises when developmental gene expression is beneficial for the germline but deleterious for the soma. The aim of this proposal is to test whether programmed DNA elimination allows germline-specific expression of developmental genes to minimize germline–soma conflict. Using the germline-restricted chromosome (GRC) of the zebra finch as a unique study system, I have recently pioneered high-throughput genomics to overcome previous limitations. Combining my novel approach with transcriptomics, proteomics, cytogenetics, and developmental and functional genomics will provide unprecedented insights into the evolution and function of germline–soma genome differences. First, I will establish the so far first GRC study system by generating a zebra finch GRC reference assembly. Second, I will test how the GRC is inherited and maintained in zebra finch populations. Third, I will elucidate the long-term evolutionary history of GRCs across songbirds to reveal genes that are most conserved and thus candidates for GRC function. Fourth, I will trace GRC expression and elimination across zebra finch development, and functionally validate candidate genes. Altogether, I will establish an evolutionary framework which will significantly advance our understanding of programmed DNA elimination during germline–soma differentiation, a phenomenon likely widespread across the Tree of Life.

DIVERSify is a consortium of scientists, farmers, advisors, breeders and SMEs to co-construct a new approach and tools to investigate the mechanisms underpinning the benefits associated with cropping plant teams, and the crop traits and agronomic practices promoting these benefits. Focussing on arable and grassland systems, the six objectives are to: 1) identify current best practice for plant teams through participatory engagement with agricultural practitioners and scientific literature; 2) determine the mechanisms promoting positive plant-plant and plant-environment interactions using ecological principles to define experimentally the underpinning processes; 3) devise improved plant teams and identify potential breeding targets with a trait-based approach and novel tool to select crop types and deployment strategies that promote performance; 4) collaborate with stakeholders in European pedo-climatic regions and beyond to validate and demonstrate plant teams and devise practical crop management prescriptions; 5) construct a plant teams decision aid for practitioners by collating trait and agronomy data in a framework that can be interrogated for information on crop selection and management in different regions; and 6) work with stakeholders and RUR-6 for participatory knowledge exchange between different actors, EU policy and wider society through an appropriate and targeted array of communication media and activities. The co-innovation approach will allow tacit and scientific knowledge to be applied to real-world challenges in plant team cropping for developing practical solutions, in the form of teams with improved productivity, pest and disease control and environmental benefits. Knowledge exchange on crop traits, management and the decision aid will have impact on farmers, advisors, breeders, science and policy, improving awareness and overcoming barriers to uptake of plant teams for yield stability, diversification, sustainability and resilience.

Unsustainable agricultural practices are major drivers affecting habitat and species diversity in agricultural landscapes of the EU. However, peatland, grassland, and species associated with agriculture are of most concern. The ongoing negative impacts of unsustainable agricultural practices emphasize the need for a fully integrated approach between the EU 2030 Biodiversity and Farm to Fork Strategies. Supporting the EC`s ambition of enhancing biodiversity of agricultural landscapes advanced systems are required to monitor biodiversity features and their changes over time and in space. Such biodiversity monitoring systems will support implementation of result-based policies in the European agricultural landscapes. The BioMonitor4CAP project will design advanced biodiversity monitoring systems mainly assessing diversity of targeted species and habitats to be tested, calibrated, and demonstrated in five European regions representing the major agro-ecological regions of the EU and one region in Peru representing one of the global biodiversity hot spots. The project will combine classical indicator systems that are part of the European monitoring framework (e.g. Farmland Bird Index) with various indicator systems mostly recently developed and applied in form of standalone systems: i) new indicator species (e.g. grasshopper), ii) genetic diversity (eDNA), iii) on-site sensors (e.g. wing beat frequency, acoustic sounds), iv) functional diversity (e.g. pollinators), and iv) various spatial measures. Supporting development and implementation of revised agricultural policies and ensuring rural development the project will involve among multiple stakeholder groups particularly farmers, conservationists, and service provides as the value and/or marketability of public and/or private goods delivered through maintained and enhanced biodiversity and related monitoring systems are hardly understood.

BIG4 is a global network to amalgamate the cutting edge methods of genomics, phylogenetics, informatics, taxonomy, semantic biodiversity publishing and citizen science, into highly competitive cross-disciplinary training programme for 15 ESRs with a stronghold in biosystematics. These 15 future leaders will extend the exploration of the four biggest groups of living organisms in a more forward looking way than has been attempted before. The urgent focus on the “big four” insect groups, i.e. Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (wasps, ants and bees), Diptera (flies and mosquitoes), and Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) is justified by the super abundance of this form of Life, and by the growing need by science and society to make better use of the enormous potential hidden in their biological diversity. BIG4 aims [1] to gain a robust systematic knowledge that explains the evolutionary origin, diversification, past and present distributions of living organisms, [2] to model their future dispersal and [3] to predict the traits of species that are yet unknown. Additionally, BIG4 strives for [4] implementing organismal features into engineering, medicine, agricultural or environmental solutions, the insect flight mechanics and more effective pollination to mention just a few. Such knowledge is in a particularly high demand in respect of the four biggest insects groups comprising the most important model organisms, the most dangerous pests or disease vectors, the most abundant invasive species and the most fragile entire species communities undergoing extinction due to habitat destruction. By integrating academia with the business and public sectors, BIG4 will greatly increase services and beneficial products provided by the biosystematics as a science. BIG4 will place insect mega-diversity as a powerful service for economic and societal needs such as environmental monitoring, biological control, biomedicine, or ecological farming.