Objective Climate change and invasive species are widely recognized to be pervasive aspects of global change. However, in aquatic systems a synthetic approach that specifically addresses their important interactive and synergistic effects is missing. CHAOS aims at filling this gap in knowledge by strengthening the scientific basis also needed to formulate management recommendations and to develop integrated policies. Specifically, the project will: (1) synthesize historical records on the climate of inland waters, transitional waters, and coastal areas in the Mid-Atlantic Region of North America and in the Mediterranean Europe, identify the animal species introduced to these systems, and analyze these data in conjunction with geographical, ecological, and socio-economic variables; (2) detail, by collecting in situ first-hand information, the synergistic effects of climate change and targeted invasive species on a range of ecosystems and their services for a selected area in North America; and (3) explore, through laboratory-based experiments, the influence of temperature and salinity on biological traits of an invasive crustacean of particular concern for both North America and Europe, the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. During the 2-year outgoing phase, the fellow researcher will be hosted by the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University (USA). In this prestigious institution, she will acquire new knowledge in the field of global change and complementary skills that will be conveyed to the home country upon her return to the Department of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Florence (Italy). The IO Fellowship will help the proponent reach professional maturity and independence, and ultimately will allow her to reinforce the profile of the European contribution to the current debate around the many factors responsible of global change. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyinvasive speciesnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FIRENZE EU contribution € 197 431,10 Address Piazza San Marco 4 50121 Florence Italy See on map Region Centro (IT) Toscana Firenze Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Massimo Benedetti (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
