Project description
Animal personality differences and their role in ecosystems
The behavioural variation between individuals of the same animal species is a significant yet unexplored factor of influence on trophic interactions and ecosystem dynamics. Using as a study subject the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), an invasive fish in the Baltic Sea and European inlet waters, the EU-funded PinCER project will study animal personality and its impact on evolutionary and ecological processes. PinCER will focus on quantifying the links between personality and diet, trophic position and body condition in individual animals. Moreover, the project's aim is to produce data for a more sustainable ecosystem management.
Objective
Consistent behavioural variation between individuals of the same species (i.e. animal personality) is very common in animals, from mammals to fish and insects. Personality types like boldness/shyness can change how the individual interacts with its environment, e.g. the outcome of predator-prey interactions. However, the effects of widespread personality variability on ecosystems is relatively unexplored. Recent work shows that personality variability can alter the nature of trophic interactions between species and potentially contribute to ecosystem stability. Therefore, PinCER will investigate animal personality as a functional trait, quantifying links between personality (e.g. boldness, exploration etc.) and diet, trophic position and body condition in individual animals. By quantifying the degree that personality variability translates to functional diversity in food webs, PinCER will provide unprecedented insights into the effects of personality on ecosystems. Building on the experimental work, a review paper will also investigate existing empirical literature on behavioural variability’s role in species interactions.
Experimental work will focus on the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), analysing the links between personality and trophic interactions across an ecological invasion gradient. The round goby is an invasive fish in the Baltic Sea and European inlet waters and a proven study subject for behavioural research. Results will also have management implications, giving highly focused individual data on the species’ impacts on Baltic Sea communities. A full-time secondment in the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (Helsinki Commission) will focus on invasive species policy (management of ship-mediated introductions of non-indigenous species, e.g. the round goby) enhancing my training and career prospects. As such, PinCER will advance behavioural and community ecology, meet my skill acquisition needs and produce data for ecosystem management.
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.
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology entomology
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology invasive species
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
- engineering and technology environmental engineering ecosystem-based management
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
2800 KONGENS LYNGBY
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.