Objective
All living organisms have parasites. Many parasites are host-specific and only infect a few, or even a single, suitable host species. Yet parasites retain a hidden capacity to infect broader host ranges under certain conditions, which may be activated by climate change. Coastal zones are especially vulnerable to climate-driven disturbances but it remains unknown how these changes will influence parasite specificity in intertidal ecosystems. This knowledge gap must be urgently addressed, considering the vital ecosystem services coastal zones provide. The ideal model system for this task is trematodes—parasites with complex life cycles that are exceptionally specific to their first intermediate hosts, yet have experienced multiple host-switching events in their evolution.
The goal of SWITCH is to assess the potential of trematode parasites to colonize new first intermediate hosts in the warming sub-Arctic intertidal. I will start by estimating the current richness of trematode communities in the intermediate (gastropods) and definitive (coastal birds) hosts along the Northern Norwegian coastline. To do so, I will use morphological and DNA identification techniques for trematodes from gastropods (objective 1), and non-invasive faecal sampling and DNA-metabarcoding for trematodes from birds (objective 2). With input from these two objectives, I will experimentally test (objective 3) how and to what extent temperature variation affects the ability of trematodes to establish in alternative first intermediate host species by quantifying infection outcomes under conditions simulating global warming.
Together, this novel approach will provide the first comprehensive assessment of host specificity and host-switching potential in sub-Arctic coastal systems. The findings will advance fundamental understanding of host–parasite interactions under climate change and inform environmental monitoring, biodiversity management, and aquaculture policy in European coastal regions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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.
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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-2025-PF
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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.
9019 Tromso
Norway
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.