Objective
This project will investigate the role of ericoid mycorrhiza (ErM) as a driver of carbon dynamics in natural ericaceous ecosystems, which has never been done before. The urgent need to address the role of ErM in soil carbon sequestration and decomposition was called for by Read et al. (2004) and therefore this project is timely. A substantial amount of the carbon allocated by plants to the fungi is subsequently incorporated into the soil organic matter when the fungi decompose. In WP I the rate of carbon allocation to ErM will be quantified using mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal seedlings grown on Petri dishes under laboratory conditions. This will test the hypothesis that approximately 10% of net assimilated carbon is transported to the ErM. The effects of global change factors on long-term ecosystem partitioning of carbon to different soil carbon fractions, such as lignins and soluble phenolics, will be investigated in WP IV using a full factorial open top chamber experiment simulating global change factors. This will contribute to an improved understanding of the sensitivity of soil biochemical processes to environmental change. ErM are also strongly believed to have a key role in the decomposition of soil carbon in arctic and boreal ecosystems. In WP II and III it will be determined how ErM colonisation of host roots and temperature interact to affect the decomposition rate of lignin and soluble phenolics both under laboratory and field conditions. It is hypothesised that both increased temperature and higher ErM colonisation will increase decomposition rates with implications for the long-term carbon storage in soil. Altogether this project is designed to produce new and unique results on how ErM affect the main processes involved in carbon dynamics in boreal and arctic ecosystems. This has a potential to greatly improve the mechanistic understanding of carbon cycling in regions that store approximately 30% of the world soil carbon pool.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology mycology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geochemistry biogeochemistry
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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.
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.
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.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
COPENHAGEN
Denmark
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.