As part of the SoilMATs satellite project within the TETTRIs Project framework, the Future Local Trainers (FLTs) exchanged knowledge and expertise on the taxonomy of several soil fauna taxa and received training to teach the SoilMATs course to 20 new scholars. The activities were conducted under the guidance of project coordinator Roberto Guidetti (Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), along with project partners Miloslav Devetter (Institute of Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry, Czech Republic, Biologické Centrum, CAS) and Karin Hohberg (Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz), as well as TETTRIs consultants Iasmi Stathi and Lefteris Bitzilekis (Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete).
The training included two days of fieldwork in two protected areas: Parco dei Sassi di Roccamalatina and Parco Fluviale di Marano sul Panaro (Parchi Emilia Centrale, Italy). During this time, several samples were collected using a variety of techniques, including pitfall traps, hand collecting (for macrofauna), and soil and litter sampling (for meso-, meio-, and microfauna). The samples were processed at the Evolutionary Zoology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences (University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), where the specimens were extracted, observed, and identified under stereomicroscopes and microscopes. Meanwhile, DNA was extracted, and some individuals were prepared for observation using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM).
Various integrative taxonomy techniques were applied to identify species of macrofauna (slugs, snails, earthworms, arthropods), mesofauna (pseudoscorpions, springtails, mites, pauropods, symphylans, etc.), microfauna (springtails, mites, etc.), and meiofauna (nematodes, rotifers, tardigrades) in soil.
It was astonishing to realize how many tiny creatures inhabit just one spoonful of soil! For example, it was amazing to observe a 0.3 mm parthenogenetic tardigrade laying eggs while molting, shedding its old cuticle to protect the eggs. These remarkable creatures are also capable of repairing their DNA if it becomes damaged! The diversity of life is truly incredible, and so much remains unknown.
The SoilMATs Satellite is giving a significant contribution to the taxonomic capacity of the soil fauna in the TETTRIs project – as the other Satellites are strongly enriching the scientific knwoledge of the whole project.
