Project description
Secrets of speciation in fragile Asian mountains
Asian mountain ranges are vital biodiversity hotspots, housing 25 % of global terrestrial species, yet they remain vulnerable to climate change and habitat loss. Despite their importance, the evolutionary history behind this rich plant life is still poorly understood. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ASIA project aims to study the Rhododendron genus, a widespread plant group across these mountains. By combining advanced DNA sequencing with geological and ecological data, the project will reconstruct the evolutionary paths that allowed these plants to thrive. The project will focus on uncovering how functional traits and environmental factors shaped such high diversity. Ultimately, the project will provide crucial data to guide conservation efforts for these fragile ecosystems by identifying areas of intense speciation.
Objective
Mountain ranges support about 25% of all terrestrial species in the world and are hotspots of biodiversity and endemism with high conservation value. Despite mountains being among the most species-rich regions in Asia, they are one of the world's most fragile ecosystems due to habitat destruction and global climate change. Little is known about the historical (evolutionary) processes underpinning the unique plant diversity in Asian mountains. So far, most studies have focused on the Himalayan and Hengduan mountains, suggesting the elevated plant diversity results from the interaction between the Asian monsoon, geological history, and high immigration. However, existing studies in the Malay Archipelago suggest that species richness results from long-distance dispersal, immigration of lineages from local lowland ancestors, and complex geological history. Therefore, an integrated hypothesis-driven framework to test the relative importance of such drivers, including how functional traits innovations may have contributed to such radiations in the Asian mountains, is needed. The overarching aim of ASIA is to understand the evolutionary and biogeographical processes that govern the plant biodiversity of the tropical Asian mountains using the model plant group Rhododendron (heather family, or Ericaceae). This species-rich lineage is widely represented across almost all Asian biodiversity hotspots. The ASIA project will unravel the most important drivers of high plant diversity in Asian mountains by developing a well-resolved phylogenetic hypothesis using high-throughput sequencing technologies, biogeography, macroevolutionary models, geological history, and species ecology. ASIA will provide insights onthe adaptability of a widespread plant clade and identify areas of high extant speciation rates and species richness with potential conservation applications.
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.
- humanities history and archaeology history
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- social sciences sociology demography human migrations
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences physical geography
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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.
2333 CR Leiden
Netherlands
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.