Objective
The characteristics of stream ecosystems in arctic, alpine and mountain streams are determined primarily by their water balance, that is the relative contributions of glacier-melt, snowmelt, rainfall runoff and spring flow (groundwater). Each of these sources generates a seasonal hydrological signature and runoff of different physical (temperature and suspended sediment load) and chemical quality. Thus, stream catchments comprise a complex spatial pattern reflecting the water balance from various sources. This pattern is highly sensitive to climatic change.
From a synthesis of European and Alaskan literature, Milner and Petts (1994) proposed a conceptual model to predict the gradient of macroinvertebrate benthic communities in streams downstream of glacial margins. This model suggested that two principle variables, water temperature and channel stability, determine the occurrence of certain key macroinvertebrate taxa. One of the objectives of the proposal is thus to validate the Milner and Petts conceptual model and then to quantify the parameters of the model. These objectives are only possible by using a latitudinal and climatic transect of sites across Europe to undertake a functional analysis of the sensitivity of cold stream ecosystems to variations in water balance. The proposal encompasses a wide range of sites, from the Alps and Pyrenees in the south to Arctic areas on Iceland and Svalbard in the north. Their climates range from strongly oceanic to continental. In some of these areas the glaciers are retreating, in some they are advancing, while in others they are more or less stable.
This project will enable the development of aquatic macroinverebrates as a predictive tool for sustainable management of such ecosystems and enable the sensitivity of arctic and alpine stream ecosystems to be assessed in relation to (I) climate change, (II) human impacts and (III) nature conservation objectives.
KEYWORDS: stream ecosystems, functional model, arctic, alpine, macroinverte brates, hydrological change
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 mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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
0562 Oslo
Norway
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.