Obiettivo To test the hypothesis that river margin wetlands are more sensitive to environmental change than the adjacent aquatic or terrestrial systems.River margin ecosystems are a dynamic interface between the terrestrial and aquatic environment where biological processes and biodiversity tend to be maximised. This is because river margins share the properties of the terrestrial and aquatic systems which results in high biogeochemical and physical diversity. Therefore it is currently thought that river margin wetlands will be among the first systems to react to landscape alteration due to global change.The ERMAS project will test the hypothesis that river margin ecosystems are more sensitive to environmental change than the adjacent aquatic or terrestrial systems. The hypothesis will be tested by comparing the rates of three biological processes occurring in the terrestrial, river margin and aquatic habitats of 5 rivers along a latitudinal gradient from northern Sweden at 64°N latitude to Southern France at 43°N. These processes are plant colonisation, litter decomposition and denitrification. The comparison will be based on the local temperature, soil moisture, and flooding variation that occurs during the annual cycle typical for the 5 rivers. If global change is occurring, the range of physical parameters observed along this gradient, and their effect on biological processes, should allow an understanding of the possible environmental impact due to those changes.Each of the five project partners will carry out a set of standardized research protocols on the 3 processes. For each river, measurements will be taken along a transect from within the river, through the margin wetland, into the terrestrial system. Additional studies, such as regarding hydrology, hyporheic processes, biodiversity, ecoregions, landscape, and socio-economic considerations will complement the core investigations. These studies will add information to the understanding of the overall comparison.On this basis, the ERMAS project will provide the base line on biogeochemical processes occurring in river margin habitats as well as for recommendations on river margin wetland management at the European level. Campo scientifico natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeochemistrybiogeochemistry Programma(i) FP3-ENV 1C - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of the environment, 1990-1994 Argomento(i) 0106 - Biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinatore Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 29 rue Jeanne Marvig 31055 Toulouse Francia Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (4) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto Loughborough University Regno Unito Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Martin Hall Epinal Way LE11 3TU Loughborough Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato Lunds Universitet Svezia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo 221 00 Lund Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato MUSEO TRIDENTINO DI SCIENZE NATURALI Italia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo VIA CALEPINA 14 393 TRENTO Mostra sulla mappa Collegamenti Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato Umeå Universitet Svezia Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Universitetsomradet, Hus L 901 87 Umeå Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato
