Arthropods represent the largest and most diverse eukaryotic group on Earth. Since hundreds of millions of years, they have played a key role in the evolution of many biological species in different ecosystems all over the world. Today, they continue to play a crucial role for a large number of biological species in different ways - positively (different kinds of ecosystem service), as well as negatively (disease, parasitism, damage). However, since decades, the arthropods have also been exposed to different kinds of threats (e.g., change in numbers and diversity, novel diseases) due to environmental pollution, loss of habitats, climate change, etc. As predicted already by the world leading insect researcher and the father of the concept of biodiversity, Edward O. Wilson, this will most likely have a dramatic impact on life on Earth in general, and above all on our society. Finally, yet importantly, with the escalating loss of the diversity of arthropods, unique model systems and biological properties potentially valuable for fundamental research and biotechnology may get lost forever.
In Umeå, excellent research is performed on a broad selection of arthropods in different science fields (e.g. in ecology, environmental archaeology, microbiology, virology, molecular biology, medical science), using different model species such as flies, mosquitos, pollinating insects, ticks and spiders). However, this research is often performed within highly specialized fields with minimal interaction with other local researchers interested in other species of arthropods. Furthermore, like many universities worldwide, Umeå University lacks an advanced and unified education and research program on this field. We therefore suggest to form the network “Arthropodum” (from Arthropods and Umeå) to initiate a more efficient exchange of mutual interests and to develop novel research collaborations and education programs on different aspects on arthropods. We intend to organize joint lecture series between the two universities in Umeå with local and invited guest speakers, different kinds of events for the public (citizen science projects etc.) and to collaborate with different organizations and institutions to reach a wider audience.
