H2020Индивидуална стипендия2016–2018

ECOTRAIT · Understanding the links between functional traits and ecological processes in lake Arcellinida (testate amoebae) (‘ECOTRAIT’)

„Хоризонт 2020“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“

Период: 2016-10-01 → 2018-09-30
Финансиране от ЕС: 183 455 €
Участници: 1
Схема: MSCA-IF-EF-ST

Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.

Накратко на български

Едноклетъчните амеби Arcellinida и формата на техните черупки се анализират чрез 3D изображения и генетичен анализ. Това помага да се разбере как тези организми реагират на промени в околната среда и как влияят върху хранителните мрежи в езерата.

Този кратък обзор е генериран от изкуствен интелект

Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.

Резултати накратко

Understanding the links between functional traits and ecological processes in lake Arcellinida (testate amoebae) (‘ECOTRAIT’)

Arcellinida, shelled unicellular eukaryotes, are common in freshwater environments (Fig 1). Their shells (tests) preserve well in the fossil record and species assemblages are sensitive indicators of water quality change. Taxonomic uncertainties hamper the determination of their role in specific ecosystem processes. As the living cell quickly decays after death, taxonomic divisions have relied on shell morphology. This approach is problematic as genetic analysis has shown that some species display morphological plasticity, partially in response to environment, whilst other specimens with similar morphologies have been demonstrated to be distinct ‘cryptic’ species. The ECOTRAIT project used techniques from a range of research disciplines to develop methodologies to characterize Arcellinida test morphology. Providing a powerful new framework for understanding microbial food-webs and community responses to ecological stressors over multiple time-scales. Specifically, the ECOTRAIT project applied interdisciplinary methodologies to examine the controls on morphology in Arcellinida to: 1. Examine the character and causes of Arcellinida test morphological trait variability in modern settings and palaeolimnological settings. 2. Develop novel morphometric approaches including 3D imaging software to aid in trait delimitation. 3. Test the hypothesis that variations in Arcellinida test morphology are a response to environment through genetic sequencing of select ‘morphospecies’ 4. Foster development of the researcher, thereby enhancing future career opportunities, and expand the network and skills of the host institution.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз

Цел на проекта

Testate amoebae, shelled unicellular eukaryotes, are common in freshwater and moist terrestrial environments. Their shells preserve well in the fossil record and species assemblages have been shown to be sensitive indicators of water quality change, and thus useful in environmental monitoring. Whilst the ecology of the group is reasonably well understood, a determination of their role in specific ecosystem processes has been hampered by taxonomic uncertainties. As the living cell quickly decays after death, taxonomic divisions have relied on shell morphology. This approach is problematic as genetic analysis has shown that some species display morphological plasticity, partially in response to environment, whilst other specimens with similar morphologies have been demonstrated to be distinct ‘cryptic’ species. This project will utilise techniques used by the two research communities to develop more refined methodologies to characterize test morphology (e.g., notably functional trait analysis) to provide a powerful new framework for understanding microbial food-webs and community responses to ecological stressors over multiple time-scales. Specifically, the project will apply these interdisciplinary methodologies to examine the controls on morphology in Arcellenida, the dominant testate amoebae found in lakes to: 1. examine causes of functional trait variability in modern and palaeolimnological settings; 2. develop novel biometric trait delimitation approaches using SEM imagery and 3D imaging software; 3. use genetic sequencing on select morphospecies, to test the hypothesis that variations in shell morphology are a response to environment; 4. evaluate the significance of trait-based approaches for understanding temporal changes in species composition. This research will significantly contribute to the training of the researcher, enhancing future career opportunities, as well as expanding the collaborative research network and skills of the host.

Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).

Участници

THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST · BELFASTКоординаторОбединеното кралство