Project description
Karst microbiota contribution to the global carbon cycle
Karst ecosystems are considered fast sinks of atmospheric methane (CH4) or alternative sources for CO2. Advanced research suggests that microbial action may play a central role in CO2 and CH4 uptake, fixation or production and also determine alterations of principal budgets of greenhouse gases in karst ecosystems. The EU-funded MIFLUKE project will develop a biogeochemical model of microbial processes to clarify the role of karst microbiota in the principal greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4). The project’s findings will shed new light on the exact contribution of karst ecosystems to the global carbon cycle, thus also addressing the EU priority of climate action established by the Horizon 2020 programme.
Objective
The assessment of carbon cycle in the Earth-climate system is one the highest challenge in science nowadays. It still remains some key knowledge gaps and uncertainties concerning the budgets of greenhouse gases (GHGs) at ecosystem scale and the key role of microbial communities. Karst ecosystems cover up to 25 % of the land surface and they are acting as rapid CH4 sink and as alternately CO2 source or sink. Pioneer results point to microbial action must be playing a crucial role in CO2 and CH4 uptake, fixation or production and maybe determining the strong variations of these major GHGs in karst ecosystems.
MIFLUKE will elucidate, for the first time, the role of karst microbiota in the main GHGs -CO2 and CH4- content and fluxes in underground vadose atmospheres, as a key challenge to clarify the accurate effective contribution of karst ecosystems to the global carbon cycle. By applying an innovative and multidisciplinary combination of a broad suite of advanced tools and cutting-edge technologies from very different research areas -GHGs flux monitoring, isotopic geochemical tracing, biogeochemistry, metagenomics, etc.- a biogeochemical model of microbial processes will be developed. This project will combine the expertise of a multidisciplinary group of leading researchers on ecosystem functioning, GHGs and biogeochemistry modelling, with the extraordinary resources including analytical facilities and training support in PLECO (Univ. Antwerp, Belgium).
The proposal represents an exceptional opportunity the candidate to acquire the essential skills that will open new career avenues and will convert her into a highly competitive European researcher. In turn, the fellow will bring specific expertise to PLECO that will open a new and promising research field.
This proposal directly addresses the cross-cutting priority of climate action established by H2020 Work Programme and will reinforce the already large European competitiveness in GHGs research and 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.
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- 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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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
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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.
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium
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.