Fundamental questions in meiofauna research highlight how small but ubiquitous animals can improve our understanding of Nature

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-025-07888-1
• Publication Date: 2025-03-17T16:56:06Z
• Authors: Alejandro Martínez; Stefano Bonaglia; Maikon Di Domenico; Gustavo Fonseca; Jeroen Ingels; Katharina M. Jörger; Christopher Laumer; Francesca Leasi; Daniela Zeppilli; Elisa Baldrighi; Holly Bik; Diego Cepeda; Marco Curini-Gall...; Asher D. Cutter; Giovanni dos Santos; Simone Fattorini; Dagmar Frisch; Sabine Gollner; Ulf Jondelius; Alexandra Kerbl; Kevin M. Kocot; Nabil Majdi; Stefano Mammola; José M. Martín-Durán; André Menegotto; Paul A. Montagna; Francisco J. A. N...; Nicolas Puillandre; Anne Rognant; Nuria Sánchez; Isaac R. Santos; Andreas Schmidt-R...; Michaela Schratzb...; Federica Semprucci; Mauricio Shimabukuro; Paul J. Sommerfield; Torsten H. Struck; Martin V. Sørensen; Andreas Wallberg; Katrine Worsaae; Hiroshi Yamasaki; Diego Fontaneto
• Keywords: Meiobenthos

This paper identifies the top-50 priority questions for meiofaunal research, highlighting their critical roles in biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity. It calls a balanced research agenda, international cooperation, advances technology to overcome current challenges unlock meiofauna's full potential.