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
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
31055 Toulouse
France