Emre Keskin

The Biodiversity Genomics Europe plus (BGE+) Project builds on a pan-European collaboration to scale up the production and uptake of genomic evidence for taxonomy, monitoring, and policy. It widens participation, standardises methods, and prepares a distributed European system for biodiversity genomics that links molecules to ecosystems. The BGE+ consortium unites the International Barcode of Life in Europe (iBOL Europe, barcoding), the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA, reference genomes) and the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF, taxonomic research and natural history collections) to align end-to-end workflows from field sampling to application. This publication is an abridged version of the successful grant proposal developed jointly by iBOL Europe, ERGA, and CETAF in response to the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-BIODIV-03. BGE+ has four overarching objectives: (1) broaden participation and capacity; (2) make distributed genomic data production interoperable and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) by design; (3) translate evidence into practice through co-designed use-case roadmaps; and (4) define the service portfolio and assess the financial and technical feasibility of a future European research infrastructure in biodiversity genomics. Through targeted cascade grants (Financial Support to Third Parties) and hands-on training, BGE+ enlarges community capacity while converging on shared protocols and standard practices, improving data interoperability and consolidating community efforts. Building on previous work, BGE+ carries forward the communities’ long-term vision: turning fragmented efforts into a coherent, scalable system that delivers reliable genomic evidence for taxonomy and policy.

The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) initiative is building a globally accessible DNA-based system for species identification and discovery. This paper outlines the mission and strategic priorities for the iBOL community in Europe (iBOL Europe), set in a global context. The mission of iBOL Europe is to produce, curate, and provide access to a complete DNA barcode reference library of European eukaryotic biodiversity, catalyzing species discovery and enabling comprehensive, harmonized species identification and biomonitoring, and supporting the global iBOL program. Immediate objectives include completing reference libraries for priority taxa, democratizing access to sequencing technologies, and strengthening a distributed community of practice. Key actions identified span five thematic areas: community building, sample collection and taxonomic verification, sequencing infrastructure, data management, and mainstreaming DNA-based approaches to meet societal needs. The strategy emphasizes integration with European research infrastructures to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience for biodiversity genomics in Europe.

DNA barcoding has become a cornerstone for species identification and biodiversity monitoring, enabling applications from ecological research to conservation and environmental policy. The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) provides global coordination, but national nodes are essential for implementing barcoding at scale, building local capacity and translating scientific advances into practice. This paper synthesises experiences from 20 countries (17 in Europe), drawing on a survey and a workshop conducted under the Horizon Europe Biodiversity Genomics Europe project. We examine how national nodes are initiated, governed and sustained and identify common challenges, such as defining scope, securing funding, harmonising methods and engaging stakeholders. Most nodes were initiated by research communities and operate as informal networks with heterogeneous governance and staffing models. Key priorities include constructing comprehensive DNA barcode reference libraries, aligning activities with biomonitoring needs and promoting FAIR and CARE data principles. We highlight strategies for capacity building, methodological standardisation and stakeholder engagement, alongside approaches for diversifying funding and strengthening communication. Based on these insights, we present ten practical recommendations to guide the establishment and long-term success of national DNA barcoding nodes. Strengthening these infrastructures will enhance Europe’s ability to deliver robust DNA-based biodiversity monitoring, underpin metabarcoding and metagenomic studies and contribute to global efforts in species discovery, conservation and environmental management.

Freshwater fish biodiversity is undergoing a rapid decline worldwide due to habitat fragmentation, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation and pollution. Yet, for many regions, including biodiversity‐rich but underrepresented areas such as Türkiye, large‐scale assessments of species diversity and distribution remain limited. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers a powerful, non‐invasive and scalable tool for biodiversity assessment, capable of detecting both common and cryptic taxa. Here, we present the first nationwide, basin‐scale eDNA metabarcoding survey of freshwater fishes across Türkiye's major river systems, spanning a transect of more than 6000 km and encompassing 29 sampling sites across seven principal basins. Triplicate water samples were analysed using high‐throughput sequencing of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, generating 351,392 high‐quality reads (after filtration) and detecting 52 fish species, including native, invasive and several taxa previously unrecorded in their respective basins. The Eastern Mediterranean basin exhibited the highest species richness (28 species) and diversity ( H ′ = 2.35; 1 – D = 0.88), whereas beta‐diversity analyses revealed marked spatial structuring among basins (Jaccard similarity 0.17–0.58) and a clear biogeographic separation in principal co‐ordinates analysis (PCoA) ordination. Importantly, eDNA metabarcoding uncovered cryptic and low‐abundance taxa not detected by conventional surveys, demonstrating its complementary value and sensitivity. By providing the first comprehensive molecular baseline of Turkish freshwater ichthyofauna, this study illustrates the potential of large‐scale eDNA approaches to transform biodiversity monitoring, inform conservation strategies and support management decisions in freshwater ecosystems facing accelerating environmental change.

Understanding genetic diversity and population structure is essential for the sustainable management of widely stocked freshwater species such as common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ). In this study, we conducted a comprehensive genetic assessment of C. carpio populations across Türkiye using mitochondrial (COI), nuclear (RAG1), and microsatellite markers. A total of 464 individuals from 29 sampling locations, including one hatchery population, were analyzed. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (RAG1) markers showed low to moderate haplotype diversity, with star‐like haplotype networks dominated by a few common haplotypes, consistent with demographic expansion and widespread gene flow. Microsatellite data revealed reduced genetic diversity, with mean observed heterozygosity of 0.37 and a broad range of inbreeding coefficients ( F _IS = −0.765 to 1). Analysis of molecular variance indicated that most genetic variation occurred within populations (64.12%), with comparatively weaker differentiation among populations ( F _ST = 0.17). Bayesian clustering and multivariate analyses showed no clear population sub‐structuring, and Mantel tests detected no significant correlation between geographic and genetic distances. Overall, the genetic patterns observed are consistent with long‐term stocking practices, repeated use of limited broodstock, and anthropogenic translocations, which may contribute to genetic homogenization across populations. Although common carp is not currently considered threatened in Türkiye, maintaining genetic diversity remains important for sustainable aquaculture, fishery productivity, and long‐term population resilience. These findings highlight the need for continued genetic monitoring and more informed broodstock management to support the long‐term genetic integrity of wild and cultured C. carpio populations.

The round sardinella (Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847) is a widely distributed migratory pelagic fish inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic coasts. The species is heavily exploited and represents a valuable resource for global fisheries. In the Mediterranean area, uptakes of round sardinella are particularly high in the Ionian and Levant regions, where landings have shown fluctuating yet significant peaks in recent decades. Given its migratory nature, understanding the connectivity among populations is crucial for delineating appropriate fishery management units. Previous studies employing morphometric, meristic, and molecular analyses have yielded mixed results regarding population structuring. Here, the genetic differentiation among Eastern Mediterranean S. aurita populations was investigated using a multi-marker approach: the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), cytochrome b (CytB), control region (CR), and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), and seven species-specific nuclear simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Overall, the results indicate high genetic diversity coupled with weak population structuring across the Eastern Mediterranean. These analyses aim at clarifying stock boundaries towards supporting sustainable management strategies at a regional scale for this ecologically and economically important species.