Objective
Gypsum soils occur worldwide and represent natural laboratories of evolution and ecology. The unusual mineral content of gypsum soils is a significant barrier to the growth of most plants, and yet these soils host highly diverse endemic floras that have evolved independently on five continents. Nevertheless, these ecosystems are poorly understood compared to those of other unusual substrates. Little is known about the conservation status of gypsum floras, the potential impact of climate change on them, and their responses to mitigation and restoration. We propose an integrated global study of the ecology and evolution of plant and lichen life on gypsum, including eight gypsum-rich regions from four continents that differ in geological origin, climate, and flora. We will 1) assess the plant and lichen diversity of gypsum; 2) investigate the evolutionary origins and assembly of these floras; 3) evaluate potential adaptive mechanisms on gypsum, the functional structure of gypsum plant and lichen communities, and the processes regulating gypsum ecosystem function; 4) analyse the responses of gypsum communities to global change drivers and explore how gypsum ecosystem restoration/conservation may help mitigate the effects of global change; 5) promote the study of gypsum ecosystems; and 6) communicate the ecological and conservation value of these ecosystems to the public. With the involvement of gypsum experts from 18 academic and non-academic organizations from 11 countries, this project provides an innovative, integrative, and interdisciplinary approach to address key questions in gypsum ecosystem ecology, evolution, and management. The project thus strengthens existing international collaborative networks and consolidates Europe’s leadership in gypsum ecosystem research, including management and conservation plans and the identification of traits for crop improvement on gypsum soils, enhancing its attractiveness as a leading destination for related R&D
Fields of science
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologymycologyethnolichenology
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringecosystem-based managementecological restoration
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
Keywords
Programme(s)
Coordinator
28006 Madrid
Spain
See on map
Participants (7)
28933 Mostoles
See on map
04120 Almeria
See on map
3004-531 Coimbra
See on map
89124 Reggio Calabria
See on map
2220 Lefkosia
See on map
1417 Nicosia
See on map
06100 Tandogan Ankara
See on map
Partners (11)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
14115 175 TEHRAN
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
9177948974 MASHHAD
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
14174 TEHRAN
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
04510 CIUDAD DE MEXICO
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
44118-4581 University Heights
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
44074 Oberlin
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
NM 88003-8001 Las Cruces
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
6300 Santa Rosa
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
4070386 Concepcion
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
6983 Bentley Delivery Centre
See on map
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
2531 Potchefstroom
See on map