An international team of scientists has started the EuroWorm project to create an open-access genomic database of European marine annelids, aiming to discover species before they vanish. Led by the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis, the initiative focuses on these vital segmented worms that support ocean ecosystems. The effort combines museum collections with modern genomics to accelerate global biodiversity research.
Species worldwide, including many marine worms, are disappearing rapidly due to climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species, often before scientists can identify them. To counter this, researchers from the University of Göttingen, the Leibniz Institute for Biodiversity Change Analysis (LIB), and the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research have launched the EuroWorm project, formally titled 'EuroWorm: Accelerating Global Marine Annelid Biodiversity Research with Open Genomic Data for European Species.' Funded by the Leibniz Association and led by LIB, the project targets European marine annelids—segmented sea worms found in diverse ocean environments. These creatures play key roles in mixing sediments, recycling nutrients, indicating pollution, and sustaining food webs. The team will collect samples from European sites where species were first described, identify them morphologically, take high-resolution photos, and apply genomic analysis to map evolutionary relationships, traits, reproduction, and lifestyles. Specimens, images, and genetic data will join collections at the Museum of Natural History Hamburg and the Senckenberg Natural History Museum, accessible worldwide via platforms like GBIF. Dr. Jenna Moore of LIB stated, 'By comparing data on European species, we hope to accelerate the discovery of new species and biodiversity research worldwide - and thus counteract the 'silent extinction' of marine species.' Dr. Maria Teresa Aguado Molina from Göttingen University's Animal Evolution and Biodiversity group described museum collections as 'scientific time capsules,' noting that combining them with genomics unlocks hidden biodiversity. Professor Christoph Bleidorn expressed delight at advancing annelid evolution studies through the funding, while Dr. Conrad Helm highlighted the project's interdisciplinary approach for defining future research priorities.