INCREASE

An Integrated Network on Climate Change REsearch Activities on Shrubland Ecosystems

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The network INCREASE consists of 6 infrastructures (large-scale field sites) with experimental manipulation of climate e.g night time warming and extended summer drought. Within INCREASE we will improve the technology and methodology for studies of climate change effects on European shrublands. The main objectives of INCREASE are: 1. To optimize technologies and methodologies for non-intrusive field manipulation of climate change in shrubland ecosystems by development, testing and application of new technology and methods i) to optimize the field manipulations of warming to 3-4 °C (in agreement with the newest predictions of global warming by the IPCC (2007)), ii) to develop, test and apply the combination of warming and drought and the combination with CO2. 2. To improve and develop non-destructive techniques and methods for measurements of physical, chemical and biological effects of climate. 3. To stimulate collaboration within the scientific community around climate manipulation experiments i) within the infrastructure by means of e.g. common research, common protocols, test of equipment, data syntheses, ii) between the infrastructure and related infrastructures beyond the proposal, and iii) scientists within relevant fields 4. To provide access to a unique set of large scale climate change experiment for European scientists. 5. To develop and provide access to a comprehensive data base of experimental data. 6. To develop and provide access to a dynamic ecosystem model for scrubland ecosystems 7. To test and apply non-destructive methods for ecosystem carbon assessment and important underlying processes of root dynamics and carbon transformations in the soil.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU-funded initiative used non-intrusive, non-destructive yet effective methods to help shrublands resist the negative impact of climate change. The work will help maintain healthier ecosystems and encourage biodiversity while contributing to future research.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Valuable shrublands with their rich biodiversity could be under threat from climate change. This was addressed by the http://increase.ku.dk/ (INCREASE) (An integrated network on climate change research activities on shrubland ecosystems) project. The initiative developed sustainable non-destructive techniques for long-term sampling at experimental field sites.

Bringing together seven research infrastructures to conduct extensive field experiments, the project developed non-intrusive technology for field manipulation of climate change in shrubland ecosystems. The manipulations included elevated carbon dioxide levels, increased temperature, and changes in precipitation amounts or patterns.

Project partners also improved and developed safe techniques and methods to measure the physical, chemical and biological effects of the climate on shrublands. This involved testing and applying better methods for assessing carbon content in ecosystems and for analysing root dynamics and carbon transformation in the soil.

Furthermore, the consortium studied existing technology for ecosystem warming and developed a prototype automated chamber for net ecosystem exchange (NEE) measurements. Project partners conducted field studies and laboratory tests to validate or improve upon existing knowledge in the field, producing detailed reports on climate change manipulation technologies. Different technologies under evaluation included passive night-time warming, rain collection, optimum moisture systems and clean rain irrigation.

Measuring the response of shrublands to climate change over a period of several years gave researchers a unique opportunity to compare short- and long-term responses. This allowed scientists to determine to what extent short-term experiments provide sufficient and suitable information regarding the long-term consequences of climate change.

In addition, the consortium developed models and databases related to different ecosystems. These were used for water balance models, to improve fire risk assessment tools, and to develop and test dynamic ecosystem simulation models by projecting long-term responses based on short-term experiments.

INCREASE provided more realistic results of climate change impacts on shrublands, such as changes in soil erosion, fire risk, water chemistry and carbon sequestration. It also provided data regarding the value of shrublands as habitats for biodiversity and realistic climate change manipulation experiments.

Reports, scientific papers and tools arising from the INCREASE project will also give valuable support to policymakers in mitigating the effects of climate change in sensitive shrubland areas, preserving biodiversity and supporting nearby communities.