Project description
Unlocking cliff biodiversity through drones, AI and genomics
Cliff ecosystems are highly inaccessible habitats that support high levels of plant endemism and specialised pollinator communities. However, little is known about their biodiversity due to the difficulties involved in conducting research in such environments, which are becoming increasingly endangered as a result of climate change, habitat destruction and anthropogenic activities. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CRUX project aims to create a holistic unmanned aerial vehicle-AI-genomic approach to the study of cliff biodiversity in Macaronesia, particularly the Canary Islands, one of the world’s global hotspots of biodiversity. The project’s goal is to deliver scalable tools and scientific insights that support biodiversity conservation efforts and contribute to key EU and global sustainability goals.
Objective
Cliff ecosystems are ecological frontiers where extreme vertical habitats harbor exceptionally high levels of plant endemism and unique pollinator communities. In Europe, more than 2,000 plant taxa are restricted to cliffs, yet these ecosystems remain poorly studied due to their inaccessibility and fieldwork risks. At the same time, cliff species face intensifying threats from climate change, habitat degradation, and recreational pressures, with extinction rates on islands already exceeding global averages. Understanding and safeguarding these fragile systems requires disruptive approaches that go beyond the limits of conventional field research.
The CRUX project pioneers an integrated UAV–AI–genomic framework to unlock the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of cliff ecosystems. Focusing on Macaronesia, and especially the Canary Islands - one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots -CRUX will: (1) map cliff habitats and endemic species using drone-based imaging, (2) develop AI pipelines to automate species recognition and monitor pollinator activity, (3) validate UAV-based sampling protocols, (4) apply genomics and metabarcoding to assess genetic connectivity and pollination networks, and (5) synthesize outputs into transferable conservation guidelines, FAIR datasets, and open-access publications.
Beyond advancing biodiversity science, CRUX delivers high-impact, transferable tools for conservation and EU policy. The fellow will gain cutting-edge expertise at the intersection of ecology, engineering, and genomics, emerging as a leader in technology-enabled conservation. In doing so, CRUX directly contributes to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and MSCA Green Charter, reinforcing European leadership in ecological innovation.
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 biological sciences genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering robotics autonomous robots drones
- 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)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
28006 Madrid
Spain
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