Projet GYPWORLD (Horizon 2020, appel à projets 2017)
Action : Staff Exchanges
Panel : Environment and Geosciences
Statut du projet : SIGNED

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

Mots clés : gypsum ecosystems, evolution, conservation, ecological restoration, ecophysiology, functional ecology, community ecology, plant plant interactions, plants, lichens, endemic flora

Participants :
- University of Almería (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 135000.0 €
- Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Iran) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Tarbiat Modares University (Iran) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- National University of La Pampa (Argentine) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Government of Western Australia (Australie) — Partner, organization partner, Recherche, subvention : 0.0 €
- Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (Chypre) — Partner, beneficiary, Organismes publics (hors enseignement & recherche), subvention : 4500.0 €
- Ankara University (Turquie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 63000.0 €
- University of Coimbra (Portugal) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 9000.0 €
- University of Concepción (Chili) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- North-West University (Afrique du Sud) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Oberlin College (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Reggio Calabria (Italie) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 27000.0 €
- King Juan Carlos University (Espagne) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 225000.0 €
- Open University of Cyprus (Chypre) — Partner, beneficiary, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 13500.0 €
- John Carroll University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- University of Tehran (Iran) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Spanish National Research Council (Espagne) — Coordinator, beneficiary, Recherche, subvention : 247500.0 €
- New Mexico State University (Etats-Unis) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexique) — Partner, organization partner, Enseignement supérieur ou secondaire, subvention : 0.0 €