Objectif THE PROPOSAL REPRESENTS PHASE II OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROJECT WHICH HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE SIENCE BASE FOR THE FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF EUROPEAN WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS (FAEWE) UNDER STEP. ACHIEVEMENTS IN PHASE I HAVE LED TO A SIGNIFICANT UNDERSTANDING OF THE KEY PROCESSES WHICH DETERMINE THE FUNCTIONING OF RIVER MARGINAL WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS. PHASE II WILL NOW CAPITALISE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL METHODOLOGIES AND THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT KEY PROCESSES AT "FLAGSHIP" REFERENCE SITES ALONG A DISTINCT CLIMATE GRADIENT RANGING FROM THE HYPEROCEANIC CONDITIONS IN IRELAND (SHANNON), THROUGH THE EUOCEANITY OF s.w. ENGLAND (TORRIDGE) TO THE MORE CONIINENTAL CONDITTONS OF FRANCE (LOIRE) AND THE SEMI-ARID ENVIRONMENT OF CENTRAL SPAIN (GUADIANA). IT IS PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE REFERENCE GRADIENT TO INCLUDE SITES ON THE LOWER DANUBE RIVER AND DELTA IN ROMANIA. THIS WILL EXPAND THE CONTINENTAL COVERAGE, INCLUDE SITES EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF POLLUTION IMPACT AND REPRESENTING A FOCUS FOR POSSIBLE REHABILITATION. PHASE II WILL (I) INVESTIGATE SPECIFICALLY THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE ON PROCESSES OPERATING IN RIVER MARGINAL WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS; (2) EVALUATE POSSIBLE INDICATORS AS PREDICTORS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE; (3) INTEGRATE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE INTO THE PROCEDURES FOR FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS; (4) DEVELOP OPTIMAL STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE RIVER MIARGINAL WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF BIODIVERSITY BASED ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC AS WELL AS SCIENTIFIC CRITERIA WITHIN THE CATCHMENT SCALE; (5) ESTABLISH A GIS FORMAT FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF WETLAND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING. INVESTIGATIONS ARE GROUPED INTO THREE MAIN AREAS AND ORGANISATIONAL TEAMS: (i) NUTRIENT DYNAMICS; (ii) HABITAT SUPPORT; SUCCESSION AND RECOVERY; AND (iii) MODELLING AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS . REFERENCE SITES ARE PAIRED TO STUDY THE IMPACTS OF HYDROLOGICAL AND GROUNDWATER CHANGES, ALTERATION OF SEDIMENTATION PATTERN, AND CHANGES IN NUTRIENT LEVELS. COLLABORATIVE FIELD CAMPAIGNS WILL OPTIMISE INTERDISCIPLINARY AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTISE TO TACKLE KEY QUESTIONS OF BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLING ALONG HYDROGEOMORPHIC GRADIENTS, TRANSFERS TO THE RIVER CHANNEL AND SPATIAL VARIABILITY. STUDIES ARE EXTENDED TO THE CATCHMENT SCALE AND MODELS DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT MDDIFICATIONS OF FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS PROCEDURES ACCOMODATING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE SCENARIOS. Programme(s) IC-PECO/COPERNICUS - Scientific and technological cooperation between the European Community and European non-member countries, 1992- Thème(s) 01 - CEEC participation in ENVIRONMENT programme Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur Royal Holloway and Bedford New College Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Egham Hill TW20 0EX Egham Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire University of Bucharest Roumanie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 91-95,Spl. Independentei 76201 Bucharest 5 Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée
