Objective
To test the hypothesis that river margin wetlands are more sensitive to environmental change than the adjacent aquatic or terrestrial systems.
River margin ecosystems are a dynamic interface between the terrestrial and aquatic environment where biological processes and biodiversity tend to be maximised. This is because river margins share the properties of the terrestrial and aquatic systems which results in high biogeochemical and physical diversity. Therefore it is currently thought that river margin wetlands will be among the first systems to react to landscape alteration due to global change.
The ERMAS project will test the hypothesis that river margin ecosystems are more sensitive to environmental change than the adjacent aquatic or terrestrial systems. The hypothesis will be tested by comparing the rates of three biological processes occurring in the terrestrial, river margin and aquatic habitats of 5 rivers along a latitudinal gradient from northern Sweden at 64°N latitude to Southern France at 43°N. These processes are plant colonisation, litter decomposition and denitrification. The comparison will be based on the local temperature, soil moisture, and flooding variation that occurs during the annual cycle typical for the 5 rivers. If global change is occurring, the range of physical parameters observed along this gradient, and their effect on biological processes, should allow an understanding of the possible environmental impact due to those changes.
Each of the five project partners will carry out a set of standardized research protocols on the 3 processes. For each river, measurements will be taken along a transect from within the river, through the margin wetland, into the terrestrial system. Additional studies, such as regarding hydrology, hyporheic processes, biodiversity, ecoregions, landscape, and socio-economic considerations will complement the core investigations. These studies will add information to the understanding of the overall comparison.
On this basis, the ERMAS project will provide the base line on biogeochemical processes occurring in river margin habitats as well as for recommendations on river margin wetland management at the European level.
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 earth and related environmental sciences hydrology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences geochemistry biogeochemistry
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
31055 Toulouse
France
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.