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Shifting perspectives: from macrophyte collapses (tipping element) to global environmental change mitigation agents

Project description

How macrophytes can mitigate the impact of climate change

Human action alters global environmental conditions at unprecedented rates, including ocean acidification and warming. Marine macrophytes contribute to climate regulation but information concerning their capacity to mitigate environmental change is still limited. The EU-funded SHIFT2SOLVE project addresses this knowledge gap by quantifying macrophytes' capacity to buffer environmental change in the present and in the future. The project forecasts the resilience of macrophytes as a tipping element by studying species acclimatisation to future environmental conditions. Additionally, drones and machine learning will be used to identify ecosystem contractions. This interdisciplinary project mixes surveys along natural gradients of temperature and ocean acidification (CO2 vents), manipulative experiments, genetic analyses and mathematical modelling to understand and preserve the resilience of the Earth System.

Objective

Environmental conditions in the Anthropocene are rapidly changing triggering important ecological shifts in the Earth system and approaching tipping-point levels faster than previously expected. Macrophytes are an important tipping element in the ocean, disproportionally contributing to climate regulation and in under global decline given the coexistence of multiple anthropogenic impacts. To date, most of the studies on macrophytes have focused on understanding their performance in relation to certain disturbances, but still few information exists about their overall capacity to mitigate global environmental change and their capacity to continue doing so in the future. This interdisciplinary project (SHIFT2SOLVE) comes timely at this aim addressing societal priorities for climate action and the efficiency of natural resources. The main objectives of the action are: 1) quantifying macrophytes’ capacity to buffer environmental change, 2) assessing macrophytes acclimatization and adaptive capacity, 3) forecast the resilience and mitigation capacity of macrophytes in the future based on IPCC climate scenarios and 4) use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and machine learning to early identify ecosystem contractions at a landscape scale. These objectives will be accomplished by mixing surveys along natural gradients of temperature and ocean acidification (i.e. latitudinal gradients in the Western Mediterranean and natural CO2 vents), manipulative experiments in the field and in the laboratory, genetic analyses and mechanistic mathematical models based on ecophysiological processes. This project will importantly contribute to my career development and professional maturity increasing my independence as a researcher and the oportunities to continuing my research in Europe. Overall, the outcomes of the project will contribute to securing the maximum mitigation capacity possible associated with marine macrophytes, essential to preserve the resilience of the Earth System.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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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.

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.

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.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

SORBONNE UNIVERSITE
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 196 707,84
Address
21 RUE DE L'ECOLE DE MEDECINE
75006 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

€ 196 707,84
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