Descripción del proyecto
Sembrar las semillas de un nuevo marco de fertilidad edáfica
La degradación edáfica es generalizada y diversa. La baja fertilidad del suelo es consecuencia del aumento de la producción vegetal y de las deficientes prácticas en materia de nutrientes, además de constituir un gran reto tanto dentro como fuera de Europa. Los investigadores estudian la capacidad del suelo para sustentar el crecimiento de las plantaciones mediante el suministro de nutrientes esenciales a las plantas y características químicas, físicas y biológicas favorables. Se trata de la señal sobre la fertilidad del suelo. El equipo del proyecto RE-NOURISH de las Acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie estudiará las implicaciones que tiene la carga antropogénica de nutrientes o la dinámica animal durante los proyectos para la restauración de ecosistemas. Desarrollará un marco que cuantifique la redistribución de múltiples nutrientes a lo largo de los territorios por parte de diferentes grupos de grandes mamíferos. Asimismo, pondrá a prueba el modelo en entornos deficientes y contaminados por nutrientes.
Objetivo
Declining soil fertility represents one of humanity’s major challenges in the 21st century. In the past, large vertebrate animals played a crucial role in transporting nutrients between ecosystems, supporting a more fertile planet. Today, however, species extinctions, diminished population abundances and constraints on animal movement have reduced animal-mediated nutrient transport by >90% compared to the late-Pleistocene. In contrast, anthropogenic use of certain nutrients (nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P] and potassium [K]) vastly exceeds planetary boundaries. Consequently, some areas of the world experience excessive nutrient pollution and others nutrient depletion.
Agricultural abandonment trajectories provide opportunities for large-scale ecosystem restoration, including rewilding of large vertebrates. However, where humans have altered nutrient geographies, redistribution by wild animals may have unintended consequences for nearby ecosystems, including to plant productivity, carrying capacity, carbon storage and endemic competitive advantages. Consequently, changes to either anthropogenic nutrient loading or to animal dynamics during ecosystem restoration projects can have far-reaching implications.
RE-NOURISH will develop an agent-based modelling framework that quantifies the redistribution of multiple nutrients across landscapes by different guilds of large mammals. Crucially, this model will include the direct and indirect influences of predators – an essential, but often overlooked aspect of nutrient redistribution in terrestrial landscapes. The RE-NOURISH framework will then be applied to two restoration case studies in (i) nutrient-deficient and (ii) nutrient-polluted environments. This transformative approach will directly help conservation practitioners achieve goals of ecological integrity and contribution to climate stability. Results will be disseminated via published papers, interactive workshops, conference presentations and popular articles.
Ámbito científico
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkali metals
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogy
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-AG-UN - HORIZON Unit GrantCoordinador
8000 Aarhus C
Dinamarca