Objective
Biological invasions are the second most important threat to biodiversity, after habitat loss and habitat transformation. However, knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the success of species invasions is limited by the lack of information about the pre-invasion state of the community and the lack of experimental approaches to studying invader impacts. Considering that invasive species are driving native species extinctions and changing the functioning of ecosystems, modern experimental approaches are urgently needed to understand and to mitigate invasive species impacts. The Galápagos archipelago is renowned for its endemic species, yet this unique ecosystem is undergoing profound alterations as a result of plant and animal invasions, especially caused by the red quinine tree Cinchona pubescens. Cinchona was introduced to Santa Cruz Island and is now in the process of transforming the formerly treeless highlands into a forest habitat. Previous descriptive studies suggested that Cinchona had significant negative effects on species richness and cover and that it altered the microclimate. However, the mechanisms underlying these impacts are completely unknown since experimental manipulations have not been conducted. Therefore, the central objective of my study is to elucidate the ecological mechanisms that result in the extraordinary success of Cinchona pubescens as an invader. By forging a collaboration principally between scientists at Brown University, Technische Universität Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, and the Technische Universität München, I will learn techniques in experimental ecology and molecular biology and apply to them to test mechanistic hypotheses about the impacts of Cinchona on the native vegetation of the Galapagos highlands and the role of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in facilitating this massive species invasion.
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 ecology invasive species
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF
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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
10623 Berlin
Germany
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.