DNA barcoding and impact assessment of non-native insects on Cyprus

Project Title: DPLPS005: DNA barcoding and impact assessment of non-native insects on Cyprus

Aim: Cyprus currently hosts approximately 1,300 non-native species, one quarter of which are invertebrates. Their high biodiversity and lack of taxonomic experts hamper swift identification, while their impacts on the UK Sovereign Base Areas as well as Cyprus as a whole, are mostly unknown. This project aims to construct a DNA barcoding library of the non-native insects of Cyprus and assess their impacts on native biodiversity, human-health and socioeconomic parameters, assisting rapid identification, monitoring efforts and informing national policies.

Goals:

1. Construct a DNA barcoding library of non-native insect species on the island of Cyprus, with an initial goal of 100 species.
2. Supplement and expand the checklist of non-native insects of Cyprus
3. Assess the impacts of non-native insect species on the island on native biodiversity and ecosystem functions, human health, the society and the economy. 

Duration: 1st October 2025 – 30th September 2027

Location: Cyprus, Western Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri

Funded by: Darwin Plus – https://darwinplus.org.uk/project/DPLPS005

Coordinating partner: Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre

Direct partners: Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre; Joint Services Health Unit Akrotiri SBA; Faculty of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (NKUA); UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology; Department of Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, United Kingdom; Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Thessaloniki, Greece.