Objectif The importance of below-ground organisms for plant growth, plant community dynamics and ecosystem processes is widelyrecognised. Among them, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses are key elements as they mediate plant resource acquisition.The effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant fitness have been extensively studied in sexually monomorphic plants,but plant populations with separate sexes are relatively common in nature. Usually sexes differ in their resource needs andallocation patterns. Because arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses mediate resource acquisition and allocation patternsthrough imposing both costs and benefits to the plants, it is not surprising that sex-specific interactions between arbuscularmycorrhizal fungi and sexually dimorphic plants occur. This is an extremely novel field of research. Most available studieson this topic have been exclusively focused on two trophic levels, neglecting the fact that plants live in complex multi-trophicscenarios, where both mutualistic and antagonistic relationships interact both above- and below-ground.The aim of this research project is to explore and understand plant – arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal interactions in a morerealistic multi-trophic context. The essence of the project lies in the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach as it willcover plant and insect ecology, fungal ecology and genetics, and chemical ecology. Implementation of this project hasscientific importance for the improvement of our understanding of complex multi-trophic interactions in plants and haspotentially enormous economic significance for agriculture as it includes pollination ecology and herbivory.Besides the scientific importance of the proposed project itself, this project will significantly enhance the applicant’s careerby acquiring up-to-date techniques and other significant skills and provide expertise on mycorrhizal research for the hostinstitution. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactionsnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Thème(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Appel à propositions H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinateur UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN Contribution nette de l'UE € 183 454,80 Adresse Brayford Pool LN6 7TS Lincoln Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Région East Midlands (England) Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 183 454,80