The major aim of the proposal is to obtain novel insights into the ability of plant species to adapt to changing climatic conditions by exploring their functional differentiation along natural gradients. Specifically, I propose to elucidate adaptive strategies of long-lived shrub-line forming species with contrasting strategies to changing climatic conditions (in natural experimental settings). The study will allow disentangling the independent and combined effects of temperature and water availability on functional traits (morphological and biochemical) without confounding effects of other factors. The study will also enable to analyse the direction and magnitude of shift in trait values (as per trait driver theory) along climatic gradients and elucidate the relative role of various factors (e.g. climatic, spatial, organisational) causing functional trait variability (e.g. intra-individual to inter-population). We will get insights into specific traits that are favoured at particular climate (e.g. at colder and drier, colder and wet etc.). Further, combination gradients and virtual transplant experiment will allow to verify the direct link between species traits and climatic conditions, at short and long temporal scales, respectively. In addition, the project will allow to test if the functional responses of single species to climatic variability can be generalized to whole communities. This fellowship will be a perfect stepping stone in achieving my career goal to become a researcher at the top of the interdisciplinary field of population and community ecology in climatically heterogenous and diverse high elevation ecosystems. My quality as a researcher will be improved by the new skills and deepened knowledge that I will acquire at the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Germany.

One of the greatest challenges in the EU and worldwide is the reduction of negative environmental impact of modern agriculture. One often overlooked aspect here is the negative impact of intensive chemical inputs on the key ecophysiological features of terrestrial plants, symbioses with mycorrhizal fungi and endophytic microorganisms. The use of environmentally friendly products such as plant biostimulants generated from waste products may hold the key to new sustainable crop production systems. Aim of this project is the development of a new biostimulant based on feather protein hydrolyzate, a waste product that would otherwise be disposed with the negative impact on the environment, which can enhance plant growth and/or stress resistance, and act in synergy with symbiotic microbes and/or promote their growth/functioning. Synergistic effects of tested biostimulant and the symbiotic microbes on the growth promotion of wheat will be studied at the level of plant biometric parameters, biomass yield, nutrients and photosynthetic apparatus. The indirect plant mediated effects of biostimulant foliar treatments on root colonization by symbiotic microbes, their functional enzymatic activities and community structure will be determined. This project will enable the Researcher to acquire professional maturity in the sector of plant-microbe interactions related to biostimulants’ research. The involvement of the private sector by a secondment will facilitate the commercial exploitation of the results. The new biostimulant product, which contributes to synergistic or growth promoting action of certain mycorrhizal fungi, would be the complete novelty on the market with biostimulants. The project will increase the awareness of the society on the necessity of development of eco-friendly agricultural products for sustainable crop management, and on the need of biostimulants’ regulation by EU laws.

The overarching objective of OneSTOP is to pioneer an innovative and joined-up approach to biosecurity for terrestrial invasive alien species, strengthening the interconnections between animal, plant, human and environmental health. OneSTOP aims to harness current technologies and citizen science, while overcoming challenges posed by dispersed and fragmentary processes, policies, and knowledge, to deliver methods for identification, early detection and surveillance of invasive alien species. OneSTOP aims to achieve transformative results to minimise the introduction, establishment and spread of invasive alien species by integrating cutting-edge detection methods, underpinned by prioritisation and robust models, alongside stakeholder engagement to inform harmonised policies and facilitate knowledge exchange. The outcomes will be relevant for invasive alien species policy, noting the importance of enhancing collaboration and coordination across local, national, and regional scales, recognising that geographic boundaries do not confine the impact of these species. By adopting a holistic and interconnected approach, OneSTOP seeks to establish a strategy to achieve rapid and transformative progress in detecting, eradicating and controlling invasive alien animals and plants, ultimately contributing to a more secure and resilient environment. Throughout, OneSTOP is based upon the strategic actions recommended for integrated governance of biological invasions in the recently published IPBES Thematic assessment report on invasive alien species and their control (IPBES 2023).

The botanical gardens (further only BG) in Europe have similar historical, cultural and social roots but country-specific conditions of their origin, similar mission but different development. The BGs located in different countries have different, country and locally-specific climate, soil, resources, maintenance, pests and diseases. But, after all, they grow the same plants. BGs have various economic and marketing strategies depending on the founder and specific law and economy conditions in the country, within various organizations participating in the project (Academy of Sciences, universities and municipality or private entity). BGs deal with different financial resources and organizational issues related to their history. They deal with marketing at different levels or aim at different target groups of visitors. Educators, placement mentors and research students work in every botanical garden and they can focus on a range of research at local and international levels. BGs offer season-specific jobs and initial training for a new full-time and temporary staff. Working in botanic garden has many levels and it can offer many ways of informal learning. Every botanic garden is a unique location for education students, young people and the public.Objectives of the B-Ardent! project laid fundamentally in communication with each other, in reflecting own practices in comparison with others and in finding similarities, inspirations and mutual understanding of the historical, cultural, social and educational, economic and horticultural characteristics and practices of botanical gardens in different European countries. And it’s been kept in mind during the project.Persons engaged in the project used their hands and brains to share the good practices and co-operated together in the creation of summary outputs for education and training for target groups. Finally we received many positive feedbacks from outside the project for out outputs / booklets.Specific objectives in relation to needs and expectations of target groups are: The new international network of BGs has been created for communication, reflection, exchange of practices, collaborative learning and sharing of new knowledge. Many friendships have formed as well and people will keep in touch professionally in future.A significant success has been the creating of innovative educational and training materials for workers (incl. young employees) and students in BGs. The B-Ardent! comparative methodology booklets are a great tool to get closer insight into problematics of ornamental plant collections and cultural heritage of BGs.Number and type/profile of participants: Altogether 25 participants took part in the project. Moreover people have co-operated on creating the outputs. They were specialists from botanical gardens, who have had a great deal in rising the standard of publication up. In general the team consisted of 13 curators of plant collections, 3 university students and 3 directors of BGs participating along with 6 other staff related to partners’ botanical gardens. Plus 4 external specialist have been asked to elaborate expert review of the outputs.Description of the implemented activities: 1.International network of BGs from four countries proved to be efficient tool for sharing knowledge and good practices2.Methodology – set of 4 booklets. Presentation of collections of historical ornamental plants (genera iris, daylily and peony), history and traditions of growing them in culture, introduction of gardens’ assortments, breeding development national and international, maintenance of the collections in terms of scientific significance. Most important results are lists of recommended garden varieties for each genera and summary and recommendation of basic garden maintenance. (For details see Intellectual Outputs)3.Exhibitions introducing the B-Ardent! project, which has been presented separately in each BG in local languages. Guided walks accompanying exhibition took part as planned.Achieved Impact: a) Local - local communities have been addressed with garden expositions and guided walks as well as garden visitors who learn about cultural heritage also in foreign countries, they also educate in term of horticulture and scientific research.b) Regional and national – visitors from one region/country have had chance to visit exhibition, national horticulture societies took part in guided walks and their representatives received booklets, regional universities and libraries obtained copies of project booklet, too.c) International/European level - there are partners from four EU countries involved in the project, who cooperated also with international societies dealing with ornamental plants and with specialized organizations. This way we reached for instance American Iris Society, American Daylily Society, American Peony Society, Middle European Iris Society, German Society of Perennial Friends and more specialized companies and societies. Long term benefits:The project established international partnership of BGs workers and students for life-long learning and research in the field of botanical gardens. Many friendships have formed and we get to know the right people to ask while looking for professional answers to work questions.