Objectif Lichen symbioses are stable mutualistic associations in which photoautotrophic algae and/or cyanobacteria provide carbohydrates for heterotrophic fungi. Lichens represent a highly successful nutritional strategy, which allows the symbiotic organisms to greatly expand their ecological range. In contrast to the macrolichens of boreal and temperate regions, tropical lichens are still fairly poorly known, and the application of molecular biology methods has recently revealed unprecedented diversity in Neotropical lichens. In Africa, however, even the basic descriptive work is just beginning. With this proposal we wish to initiate a major new research collaboration focusing on the lichens in East African mountains. In addition to biodiversity, in this proposal we concentrate in the effects of ecosystem disturbance to the symbiotic organisms. By using state-of-the-art molecular methods and comprehensive data analysis we aim to give a major contribution to a previously practically untouched field. This is done in the unique environmental setting in montane East Africa with expected high biodiversity and various ecosystems with established study plots in known conditions. The approach enables the unravelling of possible correlations between the environmental variables and the complex symbiotic associations, revealing the effects of ecosystem disturbance to lichen diversity and symbiotic associations, an issue of growing importance in the world of constantly diminishing natural habitats and global climate change. The results will greatly contribute to the known biodiversity, especially in Africa but even globally, since it is concentrated in the yet vastly understudied tropical lichens. The results are expected to be widely applicable also to other tropical montane forest ecosystems and advance our current understanding of the lichen symbiosis as a whole. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycologyethnolichenologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculescarbohydratesnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactionsnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Thème(s) MSCA-IF-2015-GF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-GF) Appel à propositions H2020-MSCA-IF-2015 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinateur HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO Contribution nette de l'UE € 169 842,60 Adresse YLIOPISTONKATU 3 00014 Helsingin Yliopisto Finlande Voir sur la carte Région Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 169 842,60 Partenaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution nette de l'UE Tout développer Tout réduire Partenaire Les organisations partenaires contribuent à la mise en œuvre de l’action, mais ne signent pas la convention de subvention. NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA Kenya Contribution nette de l'UE € 0,00 Adresse Museum Hill 20 00100 Nairobi Voir sur la carte Type d’activité Research Organisations Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 74 179,80