A hidden treasure: Ecological implications from benthic foraminiferal propagule banks in coastal environments of Corfu (Ionian Sea)

底栖有孔虫已成为越来越重要的生物指标，特别是在浅水和沿海环境。由于它们无处不在、丰度高、生成时间短，它们能够对各种环境变化做出快速反应。在生物监测或生态变化研究中经常使用组合组成的变化以及指示分类群的存在或不存在。在过去的几年里，一种新的方法已经发展起来，以补充传统的有孔虫生态学的野外和实验室研究：繁殖体方法。这种实验方法的目标是繁殖体库-微小有孔虫幼体的组合，这些幼体出现在沉积物的细微部分。繁殖体很容易分散，并能在其自然分布范围之外定居。隔离繁殖体库并将其暴露在实验室的不同环境条件下，可以评估可能的动物对环境变化的反应。通过对特定条件下幼种的生长进行定位，可以更好地了解和评估繁殖体库作为物种库的潜力。本研究项目的目的是研究科孚岛（希腊）有孔虫繁殖体库对海洋变量变化的组合反应，这些变化在未来几十年将变得越来越重要：极端温度和pH值下降。地中海尤其受到这些环境变化的影响。持续的海洋变暖将导致夏季的季节性温度峰值，这将给浅水动植物造成特别紧张的环境。此外，海洋酸化和随后的pH值下降对钙化生物（包括有孔虫）构成了威胁。随着传播方法的应用，该项目将针对未来几十年可能发生的极端条件下的组装反应。同时，还将分析传播程序库提供受影响程序集恢复机制的潜力。随后，将评估繁殖体库作为物种库的显著能力。在这种情况下，实验繁殖体方法将首次被遗传分析（条形码和元条形码）所补充。

Benthic foraminifera have become increasingly important as bioindicators, especially in shallow-water and coastal environments. Due to their ubiquity, high abundances, and short generation times, they are able to react quickly to various environmental changes. Changes in assemblage compositions as well as the presence or absence of indicator taxa are frequently used in biomonitoring or ecological change studies. In the last few years, a new approach has been developed to complement conventional field and laboratory studies on foraminiferal ecology: The Propagule Method. This experimental approach targets propagule banks – assemblages of tiny foraminiferal juveniles that occur in the fine fraction of the sediment. Propagules can be easily dispersed and are able to settle outside of their natural distribution ranges. Isolating the propagule bank and exposing it to different environmental conditions in the laboratory allows the evaluation of possible faunal reactions to the environmental variations in question. By targeting the growth of juvenile specimens under specific conditions, it becomes possible to better understand and evaluate the potential of the propagule bank as a species pool.The aim of this research project is to study assemblage reactions of foraminiferal propagule banks from Corfu (Greece) to changes in oceanic variables that will become increasingly important in coming decades: temperature extremes and decreasing pH values. The Mediterranean Sea is particularly impacted by these environmental changes. Ongoing ocean warming will lead to seasonal temperature peaks in the summer months that will create particularly stressful conditions for shallow-water faunas and floras. Additionally, ocean acidification and the subsequent drop in pH poses a threat to calcifying organisms – including foraminifera. With the application of the Propagule Method, the project will target assemblage reactions to extreme conditions that might occur in the coming decades. At the same time, the potential of the propagule bank to provide recovery mechanisms of impacted assemblages will be analyzed. Subsequently, the remarkable capacity of the propagule bank as a species pool will be evaluated. In this context, the experimental Propagule Method will, for the first time, be complemented by genetic analyses (barcoding and metabarcoding).