Project description
Arctic animal vulnerability in the changing environment
The Arctic is currently experiencing the effects of global warming, which are impacting its unique ecosystem. The muskox, an animal that has survived since the Pleistocene era and represents this diminishing biome, could serve as an indicator of these changes. Their limited genetic variability may pose challenges in adapting to rapid environmental shifts, including metabolic stress and the northward spread of infectious diseases and vegetation changes. The EU-funded BAVA project will investigate how muskox populations react to varying levels of environmental stress resulting from past, present and future Arctic climates. Utilising metabolomics within a space-for-time experimental framework, it will offer insights into the ecophysiological responses of four wild muskox populations.
Objective
The Arctic is experiencing the effects of global heating at an accelerated rate, with unprecedented consequences to this unique
ecosystem. As a Pleistocene survivor, the muskox (Ovibos moschatus) is an iconic representative of this shrinking biome. Given their
key role in tundra ecosystems and their circumpolar distribution, it may act as a sentinel species indicative of biotic change in Arctic
ecosystems. Due to experiencing multiple bottlenecks historically, genetic variability in the muskox is low and populations may thus
be poorly equipped to adapt to rapid environmental change. Increasing temperatures not only facilitate changing environmental
conditions via a northward shift of infectious diseases, pathogens and vegetation but may also push the limits of the upper
thermoneutral zone of muskoxen, causing metabolic stress.
BAVA will investigate the vulnerability of muskox populations facing different degrees of environmental stress across its circumpolar
range. Integrating metabolomics in a space-for-time experimental design allows for the examination of the ecophysiological
response of four wild muskox populations to environmental conditions across a vast gradient of environments representing past,
present and future Arctic climates, and thus contrasting levels of environmental stress, for a species that is highly adapted to cold and
dry Arctic climate.
By using a state-of-the-art biomolecular approach, BAVA will identify biomarkers linked to metabolic pathways, describe their
spatiotemporal patterns of variability and utilise this information to inform population-level modelling of population resilience to
climate change. In doing so, BAVA elucidates individual- and population-level metabolic responses to contemporary and future
environmental change. Eventually, BAVA will not only push my career as a leading scientist but also foster international collaboration
and subject excellency by providing a better understanding of Arctic ecosystem vulnerability.
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 atmospheric sciences climatology climatic zones
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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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.
8000 Aarhus C
Denmark
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.