SpatialSAVE · Spatial patterns in savannas may increase ecosystem resilience and reverse biome transitions
„Хоризонт 2020“ — Действия „Мария Склодовска-Кюри“
- Период
- 2021-08-01 → 2023-07-31
- Финансиране от ЕС
- 175 572 €
- Участници
- 1
- Схема
- MSCA-IF
Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.
Накратко на български
Пространствените модели на растителността в саваните и механизмите за тяхното образуване се анализират, за да се разбере дали те предотвратяват внезапното превръщане на саваната в гора. Това помага да се разбере как тези екосистеми реагират на климатичните промени.
Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.
Резултати накратко
Spatial patterns in savannas may increase ecosystem resilience and reverse biome transitions
Savannas ecosystems cover almost one-eighth of the earth’s surface and is inhabited by millions of people whose livelihood depend on it. Hence, it is important to understand how the savannas will respond to the ongoing climate change. Spatial vegetation patterns is often deemed important to understand how changing environment will impact ecosystems. However, spatial patterns in the savannas had been largely overlooked. The project addresses this problem by studying the different mechanisms of pattern formation in the savannas and investigates their role in ecosystem resilience. In the humid region, the savanna-forest boundary is widely believed to be prone to tipping which refers to an abrupt transition of an ecosystem state to another alternative stable state. The project studies how spatial patterns observed in this region may challenge this notion. It also aims to understand the vegetation patterns across the whole rainfall gradient in the savannas and the resilience of the those patterned states. The results from the project helps to advance fundamental understanding of how the savannas may respond to ongoing climate change. They provide fresh impetus to examine more carefully the conditions under which the ecosystem might undergo tipping.
Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз
Цел на проекта
Savannas occupy about one-eighth of the land surface worldwide but the vegetation distribution in this biome is not properly understood. Furthermore, land use and climate change are propelling shifts in vegetation characteristics and their spatial distribution. Also, at the savanna-forest boundary, where the two biomes are known to exist as alternative states for same climatic conditions, the importance of spatial heterogeneity has been recognized but not well understood. This project will study how the dynamic interaction of vegetation with its environment leads to spatial organization of vegetation in the savannas including at the savanna-forest transition zone. Motivated by recent findings, it will further explore the significance of these patterned structures in increasing ecosystem resilience and reversing transition of ecosystem states. The research will use multidisciplinary knowledge from ecology and applied mathematics. The fellow, Mr. Swarnendu Banerjee, being from a mathematical background but with experience in ecological modelling has the most appropriate foundations to carry out the proposed research. This project will aptly complement his skills by training him in tropical ecology, spatial modelling and state-of-the-art mathematical methods, which will help him grow as an independent scientist in the field. During this project, he will also develop his transferrable skills in terms of writing and communication, project management, language acquisition and networking. The research that will be carried out will provide fundamental insights into the savanna dynamics potentially opening up novel avenues in savanna conservation research. The results generated from the project will be disseminated to the scientific community via scientific conferences and journal publications. Various means like popular science articles, animated videos and social media platforms will be used to communicate the ideas to the general public.
Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).
Участници
- UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT · UtrechtКоординаторНидерландия
Връзки
Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз