As a precondition for input into the COST Action’s database, existing data sets on assemblage structure of soil-dwelling potworms (Annelida: Clitellata: Enchytraeidae) and other microannelids in Central Europe, with focus on Czechia and Slovakia, shall be collated and validated. This will include the collation of data on site characteristics, their validation and complementation by additionally collected data, including data on microannelid assemblages (re-sampling of sites where required and sampling of new sites to cover habitat types not well covered so far). Molecular barcoding of critical taxa will clarify species identity and discriminate taxonomically difficult or even cryptic species. Taxonomic and trait-based classifications shall be used to explore the effect of variables, such as chemical and physical soil characteristics, vegetation and land use, on species composition and structure of assemblages. Sufficiently reliable old data (i.e. ca 20-30 years old) shall be compared with new data from the same sites to disentangle the effect of changing habitat conditions from changes in taxonomic insight.

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