Project description
Analysing recent changes in biodiversity through both species and community lenses
Human activity has had such an important impact on the climate and the environment in recent years that scientists have begun using the term 'Anthropocene' to define a sub-epoch within the current officially recognised epoch, Holocene, to reflect the significance. Biodiversity and its decline during the Anthropocene is an important field of research. We know very little about the characteristics (traits) and environmental drivers associated with incoming and outgoing species from various biomes and taxonomic groups. The EU-funded TraChange project is developing models of both species-level and community-level changes to get a better handle on what is happening to whom and why. The models will have a significant effect on our ability to mitigate the impact of human activity on biodiversity for a healthier planet.
Objective
Global concern about human impact on biological diversity has triggered an intense research agenda on drivers and consequences of biodiversity change in the Anthropocene. Recent evidence across biomes and taxonomic groups has revealed variable spatial patterns of losses and gains. However, little is known about the characteristics (i.e. traits) of the outgoing and incoming species in local assemblages undergoing rapid compositional turnover. Nor is it known how the magnitude of the different environmental drivers (e.g. climate change, land use change) influence such patterns. This points to a clear need for a deeper understanding of (I) identities and traits of incoming and outgoing species, (II) spatio-temporal differences in community trait distributions, and (III) the possible drivers behind such differences. The project aims to tackle this knowledge gap by determining whether there are consistent and directional changes in community traits unfolding in the Anthropocene. I will conduct in-depth studies at two different levels of ecological organization (species and community), using a range of modelling approaches to further our understanding of large-scale trait changes and test key assemblage trait distributions hypotheses. This will require the integration of research from diverse disciplines, including the development of new methods and tools. The research is proposed as a 2-year EF. USTAN will be the beneficiary host, while UoN will host me for two 2-month-long secondments. This MSCA will allow me to build a novel scientific profile, consolidate my position in the field, and progress towards achieving professional maturity. This research has great potential for scientific advancement and it will open up the best career possibilities for my career and new collaboration opportunities for me and the host organisations.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
KY16 9AJ St Andrews
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.