Project description
Chemical warfare in coral reefs
The decline of coral species is diminishing chemical competition for space on coral reefs. As global warming threatens coral reefs, it is crucial to implement effective measures to assess reef health and sustainability. This project will explore the chemical ecology of sponges and corals to guide restoration projects for healthier, more resilient reefs. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CIRCLE project will study how climate change affects chemical interactions between sponges and corals in reef ecosystems, hypothesising that rising ocean temperatures impact their diversity and growth. By using advanced NMR and omic techniques, the research will identify biochemical markers of health in these species to help local Pacific Island communities protect their reefs and ensure their economic well-being.
Objective
Human activity is predicted to result in a 1.5-4 ºC global warming of air temperature by 2100. The globally averaged ocean surface temperature data shows a mean warming trend of 0.062 ºC/decade since 1900. Since 2010 this has increased to 0.280 ºC/decade. The loss of coral species is decreasing the competitive sponge species chemically fighting for space. Given the imminent threat that global warming has on the future of coral reefs, there is a strong need for robust scientific measures of reef health and future sustainability to improve the survival potential of corals and better inform reef restoration projects, ensuring healthy, diverse, and resilient coral reefs. CIRCLE (ChemIcal waRfare in CoraL rEefs) aims to investigate the influence of climate change on the chemical warfare that occurs in coral reef ecosystems between sponge and coral species, to inform conservation efforts to protect reef ecosystems. We hypothesize that the increasing ocean temperatures are influencing the diversity and distribution of sponge and coral species, where a trade-off is being made between survival and growth. This research will develop critical information for understanding the chemistry and genetic variations required for reef ecosystem growth and (re)-building in response to climate change. It will improve our understanding of future economic and social impacts of global warming on Pacific Island reef ecosystems. CIRCLE will advance the current state of the art application of multi omics techniques to explore the interspecies chemical ecology between sponge and coral species. Through the combined use of omic techniques and chemical natural product experiments we will identify biochemical markers of coral and sponge health. The knowledge gained in this project will empower local Pacific Island communities to enact procedures to monitor and protect the reef and ocean environment, protecting social and economic prosperity.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes remanufacturing
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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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.
H91 Galway
Ireland
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.