Project description
How weather patterns affect agricultural grasslands
A recent indicator of climate change is the increasing persistence of weather patterns, resulting in prolonged dry or wet periods. Research in this area remains limited and often concentrates solely on extended dry spells. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the AMFAGPW project will examine how persistent weather patterns affect agricultural grasslands in Flanders. It will evaluate how sequences of dry, wet, or alternating growing seasons influence grassland ecosystems, and whether the composition of plant communities shapes these responses. The project will also explore the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in buffering the effects of changing precipitation, with a focus on AMF colonisation and its impact on plant performance.
Objective
A recent fingerprint of climate change is the increasing persistence of weather patterns, which
implies that average weather is making way for anomalously long periods of dry or wet
meteorological conditions. This shift in climate regimes is likely to negative affect ecosystem
functioning, yet scientific knowledge on this is still scarce as much research has focused on
unidirectional changes (e.g. only an increase in dry periods). In the current project, we will fill part of
this knowledge gap by studying impacts of increasingly persistent weather in agricultural grasslands.
Using a state-of-the-art experimental platform, we will test how a sequence of dry, wet, or
alternating dry and wet growing seasons affects grasslands relevant in Flanders, and whether plant
community composition (which grasses are present in which numbers) can modulate the outcome.
Furthermore, we will evaluate the importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in potentially
altering impacts of increasingly persistent precipitation regimes, identifying AMF colonization in
relation to plant performance and how AMF regulate biochemical and molecular pathways in different
grassland species. The UN has recently called for more attention for nature-based solutions in the
fight against negative climate change impacts. This project contributes to that by elucidating the
importance of plant community composition and AMF in safeguarding grassland ecosystem
functioning under increasingly persistent weather.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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-2023-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.
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium
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.