ECO-MOUNTAIN · Environmental connectivity as the keystone to ecological restoration of degraded European mountains
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31
- EU contribution
- €196,708
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Environmental connectivity as the keystone to ecological restoration of degraded European mountains
The Pyrenees comprise many fragile ecosystems with a host of plant and animal species, but are subject to severe anthropogenic pressure, exacerbated by extreme weather events, making them vulnerable to hydro-climatological risks. Hotspots of degraded soil exist, but are difficult to locate in a complex and often inaccessible landscape. If not mitigated, pockets of soil erosion can rapidly become a danger to downslope human communities and infrastructure. ECO-MOUNTAIN aims at developing a novel methodology using the environmental DNA (eDNA) signature of vascular plants in sediments, to identify the origin of eroding soil. In collaboration with local stakeholders, we will test our method on a degraded catchment that is partially undergoing ecological restoration using diverse local plant ecotypes. Results should enable to propose an innovative method for tracing soil erosion and help devise restoration scenarios using local species mixtures. The project provides evidence that plant eDNA can be used to identify sources of erosion in a watershed. Managers can then focus on restoring the most fragile areas, working with the appropriate land owners.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Mountains in Europe are highly valued as they provide diverse living and recreational opportunities and unique landscape sceneries, are key economic assets, and because they are treasures of unique flora and fauna. Their vulnerable environment is, however, threatened by the frequent occurrence of shallow landslides and water erosion which produce large amounts of sediment during floods. The urgency to mitigate natural hazards calls for an improved understanding of how physical and biological dimensions of ecological restoration interact. Hence, the ECO-MOUNTAIN project proses an environmental connectivity framework as the keystone to the ecological restoration degraded mountains. A study area was selected in the Pyrenees, where I will benefit from the support of local stakeholders engaged the restoring degraded mountain slopes. Special focus is given to developing a novel sediment source fingerprinting method using environmental DNA (eDNA). As strong interrelations exist between vegetation, soils and geomorphology, plants leave an eDNA signature on sediments which reflects the degradation status of the area. It will allow to define erosion hotspots at unprecedented precisions and serve as a tool to monitor the impact of ecological restoration schemes in large catchments. The validity of the novel eDNA fingerprint methods will be evaluated against conventional fingerprinting method (carbon/nitrogen) and soil mineralogy. I will be hosted by Dr. Stokes at the AMAP joint research group in Montpellier (France). Having access to excellent training and laboratory facilities at AMAP, I will be able to grow as a multiskilled soil restoration scientist. Guidance will also be given by Prof. Cammeraat (geomorphologist) and Dr. Evrard (geochemist) and they will host me in their state-of-the art laboratories during short research stays. From this fellowship project, I expect to grow as an independent scientist and reap the rewards for years to come in my future career.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT · ParisCoordinatorFrance
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/893975
- https://www.researchgate.net/project/ECO-MOUNTAIN-Environmental-connectivity-as-the-keystone-to-ecological-restoration-of-degraded-European-mountains
Data: CORDIS, © European Union