JAEPRE23 - EdAFoBio: Global Survey of Edaphic Arthropod Forest Biodiversity

This thesis aims to advance scientific knowledge on the biodiversity of soil arthropods in Mediterranean, tropical, and subtropical forests. It will investigate the eco-evolutionary processes behind this biodiversity, testing for general patterns from the local to the global scale, and including a focus on the recent introduction of species due to human activities. Integrated within the EdAFoBio project, funded by the National Science Plan, it focuses on obtaining genetic data on soil arthropod communities to study biogeographic patterns and eco-evolutionary processes. Leveraging over a decade of advancements in DNA metabarcoding techniques, the project will use geographically explicit sampling to generate detailed genetic data. This will enhance our understanding of soil biodiversity at various scales, from small areas to entire biomes, including species richness and biogeographic distribution. The candidate will have the opportunity to develop skills related to various areas of scientific research, including transversal (independence, adaptability, teamwork, professional ethics, communication, among others) and specific skills, mainly associated with the study of ecology and biodiversity evolution through high-throughput DNA sequencing, and including the opportunity to perform field work in several countries. Overall, it represents an innovative, multidisciplinary effort that will significantly impact doctoral training and fill key knowledge gaps in soil biodiversity.