The work was organized in different working packages addressing the main aims and reseaerch questions of the project
Work Package 1: Global Approach (Q1)
The project examined the influence of functional and phylogenetic relatedness on temporal synchrony in plant communities using a global dataset of permanent plots. Results indicated a negative relationship between synchrony and relatedness, suggesting that similar species tend to fluctuate more synchronously. This study, conducted during a secondment in France, contributes to ecological theory and enhances understanding of compensatory dynamics in response to climatic fluctuations.
Work Package 2: Experimental Approach (Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5)
Originally focused on community assembly rules, this package expanded to explore Functional Redundancy (FR), design Trait-Based-Biodiversity-Experiments, and investigate the impact of plant community structure on ecosystem multifunctionality stability. Notable outcomes include a conceptual model for community assembly, a published manuscript on FR, ongoing work on experiment design tools, and a dataset on a greenhouse experiment assessing the stability of diverse plant communities during extreme drought.
Work Package 3 focused on communication and dissemination, primarily achieved through event organization. Two key events were hosted: a special session at the 65th IAVS symposium in Madrid and a thematic retreat on temporal dynamics in ecology. Efforts to translate the symposium session into a special issue faced challenges. The communication plan, including plain-language articles and posts, experienced delays due to the unpublished status of project manuscripts. Visibility efforts towards supporting early-career scientists were performed within the International Association for Vegetation Science.
Work Package 4: Training and Knowledge Exchange
Computational and statistical framework training occurred during a secondment in Montpellier, connecting data from various sources and involving collaboration with the University of South Bohemia. Training on Mediterranean plants and drought physiology aimed to expand the researcher's expertise. Knowledge transfer in soil microorganisms involved interdisciplinary collaboration with partners from the host institution and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Spain. Event organization, dissemination, and communication of scientific results were realized through various activities, such as teaching courses and presenting seminars.
Exploitation and Dissemination Plan Overview
The exploitation and dissemination plan outlined intentions to publish high-impact papers. While some publications are pending, the researcher actively participated in conferences, presenting results and organizing special sessions. Seminars were conducted at various institutions, sharing insights and findings. The dissemination plan, including plain-language articles and news releases, faced delays but remains a future goal. Overall, the researcher's active engagement in conferences and collaborative events demonstrates a commitment to sharing project outcomes and fostering knowledge exchange.
