From large-scale distribution patterns to efficient conservation plans

Objective

Distinguishing historical from environmental effects on species' distributions is crucial for effective conservation planning, especially under changing environmental conditions: we need to know how strongly each species responds to the environment. Data sets with explicit information (fossil records, physiological experiments) are rare, and environmental models applied so far have unverified assumptions and often ungrounded conclusions. I aim to improve the efficiency of data analysis and conservation plans by combining chorotypes (groups of species with similar distribution patterns, which can serve as natural units in conservation) with comparative phylogeography (mainly dispersal centres and routes) for European terrestrial vertebrates - mammals, amphibians and reptiles. If species within a chorotype have matching phylogeographic histories and stayed close to a common dispersal centre, their distributions are more stable than if they have disparate histories and concentrate away from their origins. I will quantify the strength of association of each chorotype with its species' dispersal centre(s) and with environmental factors, to infer the responsiveness of each species to environmental change and, thus, the predicted efficacy of environmental models. I will then propose conservation measures accordingly. I will also control the robustness of data and methods at every step of the analysis. This project will generate important insights into the origin and generality of species distribution patterns, and improve the efficacy and efficiency of conservation planning under climate change. It will also provide innovative tools (including software) that can be applied to other species systems and research areas.

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.

• natural sciences computer and information sciences data science
• natural sciences computer and information sciences software
• humanities history and archaeology history
• natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
• natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

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.

• FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
See other projects for this call

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.

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator