Objective The replacement of successive tree generations is a fundamental process which shapes the structure and dynamics offorest ecosystems and essential ecosystem services. Conditioning this process are the complex relationships between thespatial and temporal patterns of tree death (i.e. gap formation) and the recruitment and growth of young individuals. In thisproject, Magdalena Żywiec (hereinafter: MŻ) will investigate natural forest regeneration in an exceptionally well preservedarea of Europe – the subalpine spruce forest of Mt. Babia Góra (Western Carpathians, Poland) – which remains in a nearlyprimeval state. MŻ will investigate the natural regeneration of two phylogenetically distant tree species which differ in anumber of ecological and functional traits, making the results from this project generalisable to a range of European treespecies. To address our general objective (i.e. to comprehensively understand the replacement of tree speciesgenerations), an inclusive evaluation of the spatio-temporal relationships between canopy gaps and natural treeregeneration must employ sophisticated state-of-the-art ecological models based on rigorous empirical data. This requires astrong background in point pattern analysis in addition to deep knowledge of the natural history of the studied system. MŻwill acquire comprehensive skills in aspects of different modelling disciplines such as spatial point pattern analysis, markedpoint pattern analysis and generalised linear mixed models. This project presents an excellent opportunity to integrate recentadvances in spatial point pattern analysis (SPPA) with field data exhaustively collected during the last several decades.Finally, the novel approach to be applied and the long-term series of ecological data to be used make this proposal unique inEurope and the fellowship will lead directly to original results of huge significance for European forests preservation. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresocial sciencessociologydemographymortalityagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturehorticulturefruit growingnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2015-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator INSTITUTO SUPERIOR DE AGRONOMIA Net EU contribution € 148 635,60 Address TAPADA DA AJUDA 1349 017 Lisboa Portugal See on map Region Continente Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Área Metropolitana de Lisboa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 148 635,60
