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Content archived on 2024-05-27

Using next generation DNA sequencing to link soil fungal diversity to ecosystem function

Objective

"This Fellowship is a partnership between the University of California, Berkeley, USA (outgoing host) and Newcastle University, UK (return host) and focuses on fungal molecular ecology. Fungi play vital roles in natural and agricultural soil systems but are extremely diverse and difficult to study. New molecular based techniques e.g. next generation DNA sequencing technology (NGST) are beginning to reveal the complexity of fungal communities. However, enumeration of species diversity reveals little about how community structure affects key ecosystem functions and the power of NGST must be harnessed to link fungal taxonomic diversity to function. Given the unique status of fungi in soil systems this project aims to utilise NGST to answer fundamental ecological questions relating to fungi. The first objective is to compare and optimise DNA and RNA extraction methods from soil to provide information on fungal taxonomic and functional diversity. Nucleic acid extraction methods will be optimised for ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) in a globally unique Californian pine forest ecosystem. Despite the importance of EMF little is known how their diversity relates to function and in particular, there is current debate over contribution of EMF to soil saprophytic activities. Hence the second objective is to use NGST to examine the contribution of EMF to soil organic matter transformation. Finally, given the lack of knowledge on fungal diversity and function it is extremely difficult to assess how abiotic stress may affect essential soil fungal diversity and function. Hence the third and final objective of this project is to assess the effect of increased atmospheric ozone levels (a model system) on soil fungal diversity and function. The project is designed to provide state of the art training in fungal molecular ecology and analysis of complex data thereby providing excellent career development potential for the Fellow."

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

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Call for proposal

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

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-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.

MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
EU contribution
€ 280 443,66
Address
KINGS GATE
NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne
United Kingdom

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Region
North East (England) Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Tyneside
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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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.

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