Marine Benthic Ecosystems Biodiversity Assessment through Integrative Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

Marine biodiversity research has increasingly focused on understanding the complexity of benthic habitats through integrative approaches. Integrative taxonomy combines traditional morphological identification with DNA barcoding and metabarcoding, offering a comprehensive approach for species identification and ecosystem assessment. Morphological taxonomy remains crucial for phenotypic identification, while DNA barcoding enables precise species discrimination by considering specific genetic markers. Metabarcoding, in turn, facilitates the assessment of biodiversity from bulk samples, revealing the hidden diversity within complex benthic communities. Moreover, the use of non-destructive methodologies, such as video images, enhances the study of marine communities by providing visual documentation of species in their natural habitats. This multidisciplinary approach is essential for accurately assessing marine biodiversity, monitoring ecosystem health, and informing conservation efforts. By combining different methodologies, researchers can achieve a more detailed and holistic understanding of benthic habitats, ensuring the preservation of marine biodiversity amidst environmental changes and human impacts. This Special Issue will include a collection of papers providing previously unpublished data related to benthic biodiversity identification, from microorganisms to megafauna, by using different approaches, giving readers the opportunity to better understand these organisms and habitats from the coastline to the deep sea.

Dr. Jorge Lobo Arteaga
Dr. Cátia Bartilotti
Dr. Catarina Churro
Guest Editors

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