Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Microclimate, the hidden driver of species distributions

Project description

Analysing microclimate to explain delays in species distribution responses

Species and community distributions have not been following climate change as expected. Instead, researchers have reported delays in species distribution responses and shifts towards the equator. One explanation is that species distributions are more prone to microclimate bounds set by local ground temperatures. To substantiate this, however, requires analysis of the relevant baseline climate change data. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the TrueClim project will leverage the global SoilTemp database, with over 100 000 in situ measured microclimate time series, to reasonably predict the rate of microclimate change over time. It then aims to use these new global microclimate data products to optimise field-based estimates of the pace of plant species distribution range shifts.

Objective

Recent research has increasingly highlighted that species and community distributions are not simply tracking climate change. Indeed, significant delays in species distribution responses, and even unexpected downward or equator-ward shifts have all been observed. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain these mismatches, such as slow population dynamics, habitat fragmentation or spread-limiting biotic interactions. Yet, the hypothesis forwarded here is that we first need the relevant baseline climate change data before we can accurately answer this question. Indeed, organisms respond to microclimate change, which can be strongly disconnected from macroclimate change. It is the local temperatures near the ground or below the vegetation - often tens of degrees different from weather station data - that set the bounds of organisms range limits. In this project, we will take advantage of the SoilTemp-database, a global database of more than 100,000 in-situ measured microclimate time series. I will use it to make global predictions of the rate of microclimate change over time. These new global microclimate data products will then be used to improve field-based estimates of the velocity of plant species distribution range shifts. These improved estimates of species reactions to climate change are critically needed to adjust biodiversity management to a rapidly changing world.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

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.

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.

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT
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.

€ 232 916,16
Address
HEIDELBERGLAAN 8
3584 CS Utrecht
Netherlands

See on map

Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
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.

No data
My booklet 0 0