With this project, we plan taxonomical, faunistic, ecological and genetic investigations of soil nematodes (Nematoda), oribatid mites (Oribatida), collembolans (Collembola), spiders (Araneae) and insects (Insecta): ants and beetles of Machakhela National Park and adjacent buffer zone. During the taxonomical investigations species, determinations of sampled invertebrates will be carried out, annotated lists will be created and the new species for Science will be described and illustrated. Faunistic analysis provides the comparative statistical analysis of soil invertebrates’ biodiversity in different habitats of Machakhela National Park and its adjacent buffer zone. Based on ecological analysis dependence of soil invertebrates’ faunal structure on the environmental factors (temperature, humidity, dew point, pressure, pH, etc.) will be studied. By using DNA-barcoding species delimitation of soil invertebrates will be carried out. Conservation status of sampled rare invertebrates will be determined according to the IUCN categoria and criteria as well. Based on collected materials, collections of relevant animal groups will be created. Information about the collections will be uploaded on the web-page of Ilia State University, which gives the opportunity of the specialists and students to familiarize our collections, establish business communications with our foreign colleagues and outline future relationship ways and plans.

Principal investigator: Nana Gratiashvili