
Research Group Mycology, Ghent University
Research Group Mycology, Ghent University
1 Projects, page 1 of 1
assignment_turned_in ProjectFrom 2024Partners:Eötvös Loránd University, CEFE, INEE, UNITO, Montpellier SupAgro +32 partnersEötvös Loránd University,CEFE,INEE,UNITO,Montpellier SupAgro,Polish Mycological Society / Polskie Towarzystwo Mykologiczne,Naturalis Biodiversity Center,University of Cagliari,Research Federal Institute For Forest, Snow And Landscape WSL,UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI,University Innsbruck, Institute of Microbiology,EPHE,ASSOCIACAO BIOPOLIS,CONSORCI CENTRE DE CIENCIA I TECNOLOGIA FORESTAL DE CATALUNYA,Goethe University,UiO,AUA,University of West Bohemia,IRD,UNIBO,SMNS,Helsingin yliopisto [University of Helsinki],MycoKey,Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut vor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek,UT,False,CNRS,Center for macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen,University of South Bohemia,ČVUT,UPVM,CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTÍFICAS,INRAE,Research Group Mycology, Ghent University,Goethe University Frankfurt,UM,Danish Mycological Society / Foreningen til Svampekundskabens Fremme - SvampeforeningenFunder: French National Research Agency (ANR) Project Code: ANR-23-EBIP-0005Funder Contribution: 249,801 EURFungi constitute one of the largest groups of organisms on earth with central importance for ecosystem functioning. Despite their obvious relevance for understanding nature and ecosystem change, they have traditionally been neglected in conservation and monitoring, implying a wide-ranging knowledge gap. This project application has an overarching goal of closing this gap, by bringing fungi firmly on the biodiversity map. It will use existing citizen science data to explore spatiotemporal changes in fungal communities and analyse how well the Habitats Directive captures fungal biodiversity. Further, it will develop and test new tools and methods for fungal biodiversity mapping and monitoring, combining citizen science and standardized sampling of DNA from environmental sampling (eDNA). Finally, an important objective is to consolidate open data resources underlying collaboration on fungal biodiversity, by substantially improving taxonomic identification and data linked to DNA-based fungal occurrences. Overall, the project will hence address all three themes of the open Biodiversa call. The project is structured into clearly delegated, yet interlinked thematic work packages (WPs): 1. Improving identification of and unambiguous communication on fungal species 2. Applying and Improving AI tools for fungal monitoring 3. Involving citizen scientists in biodiversity discovery and monitoring 4. Sampling fungal communities by eDNA and 5. Analysing fungal biodiversity patterns in time and space. The project involves computer scientists, bioinformaticians, ecologists, taxonomists and citizen scientists collaborating to solve questions of societal interest. It is novel and seeking maximal applied impact by combining well-established, but so far isolated, tools in innovative ways. The consortium behind the project has a strong track record of previous collaborations and bridges research traditions in Northern, Central and Southern Europe, securing transfer of knowledge across regions, and a wide geographical scope on the ground for those WPs where this is central, i.e., WPs 1, 3 and 4. The project will not only provide a much-needed insight into the conservation status of fungi in Europe. Due to the critical roles fungi play in ecosystems, and their sensitivity to ecosystem change, improved insights into the fungal dimension of biodiversity will be of huge importance for understanding, more broadly, how global change affect ecosystems and associated ecosystem services mediated by fungi. Finally, we believe that the project will have impact on conservation and monitoring in other organism groups, by showcasing how molecular and AI methods in combination with unambiguous communication on species can be combined to increase credibility and impact of biodiversity data
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