Biogeography

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The Thematic Services Working Groups

The LifeWatch ERIC Thematic Services, co-developed by the LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities and National Distributed Centres, are a key component of the 2022-2026 Infrastructure Strategic Working Plan (SWP). They represent the main priority areas of e-Service construction in LifeWatch ERIC proposed by the National Distributed Centres.

Activities, developments and physical outcomes of the LifeWatch ERIC Thematic Services, as e-Services, Virtual Labs (vLabs) and more complex and complete Virtual Research Environments (VREs), are planned to be implemented by Thematic Service Working Groups participated by scientists from both the National Distributed Centres and the Common Facilities, with an overall coordination of the LifeWatch ERIC Service Centre.

Biogeography: Species assemblages across space and time

Resources

A. Basset, C. Arvanitidis, P. van Tienderen, L. de Moncuit

Introduction to LifeWatch Thematic Core Services

Michele Lussu

Developing databases with orchids as target group

Ole R. Vetaas

Conservation biogeography; migration, isolation, and barriers in changing climate.

Carl Beierkuhnlein & Christopher Shatto

Linking Earth Observation with Emerging Risks of Wildfires in European Temperate Forests

Alessandro Chiarucci

Plant diversity in Italy across biogeographical gradients and human history

Borja Jiménez-Alfaro

Diversity and distribution of alpine ecosystems

Organisms and biological communities vary along geographic space both in relation to the gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area. In addition, the species composition of the local or regional assemblages varies across space and time depending on evolutionary and ecological pressures. This makes biodiversity not evenly distributed in space, with some regions hosting significantly more species than others. Climatic and land use changes affect species’ biogeographical distribution and abundance. Often, these changes determine the reduction of the number of individuals and range size of species, but opposite patterns are typically observed for alien invasive species. The changes in abundance and distribution of species determine a continuous transformation of species assemblages. This is very interesting for establishing basic studies of general conservation strategies and species conservation planning actions.

In this workshop organised with LifeWatch Italy, we intend to explore the role of LifeWatch ERIC in developing a suite of tools and services on data curation, data analysis and modelling to better understand biogeographical gradients in space and time and to model future changes in response to climate change or conservation strategies.

Agenda (updating)

4th April (14.30-19.00)

     

      • Opening by prof. Alessandro Chiarucci (University of Bologna);

      • Introduction to LifeWatch Thematic Service Workshop by prof. Alberto Basset (Università del Salento);

      • Presentations: Present and future challenges in Biogeography:

      • Prof. Ole Reidar Vetaas (University of Bergen): Conservation biogeography; migration, isolation, and barriers in changing climate;

      • Prof. Borja Jimenez-Alfaro (University of Oviedo): Diversity and distribution of alpine ecosystems;
    •  
      • Linking Earth Observation with Emerging Risks of Wildfires in European Temperate Forests by Prof. Carl Beierkuhnlein (University of Bayreuth)

      • Open discussion

    5th April (9.00-12.00)

       

        • Discussion on research-related development policies and strategies;

        • Establishment and development of working groups on biodiversity;

        • The role of the scientific community in LifeWatch ERIC;

       
      Bulgaria

      The Bulgarian National Distributed Centre is represented by the  Agricultural University-Plovdiv.

      To know more about how Bulgaria contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

      Spain

      The Spanish National Distributed Centre is supported by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Regional Government of Andalusia and the Guadalquivir River Basin Authority (Ministry for Ecological Transition-MITECO). Moreover, Spain is the hosting Member State of LifeWatch ERIC, the location of its Statutory Seat & ICT e-Infrastructure Technical Office (LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities). 

      To know more about how Spain contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

      Slovenia

      The Slovenian National Distributed Centre is led by the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (ZRC SAZU). It focuses on the development of technological solutions in the field of biodiversity and socio-ecosystem research.

      To know more about how Slovenia contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

      Portugal

      The Portuguese National Distributed Centre is managed by PORBIOTA, the Portuguese e-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity. Led by BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, PORBIOTA connects the principal Portuguese research institutions working in biodiversity.

      To know more about how Portugal contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

      Netherlands

      The Dutch National Distributed Centre is hosted by the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam. Moreover, The Netherlands hosts one of the LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities, the Virtual Laboratory and Innovation Centre.

      To know more about how The Netherlands contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

      Italy

      The Italian National Distributed Centre is led and managed by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and is coordinated by a Joint Research Unit, currently comprising 35 members. Moreover, Italy hosts one of the LifeWatch ERIC Common Facilities, the Service Centre.

      To know more about how Italy contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

      Greece

      The Greek National Distributed Centre is funded by the Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology and is coordinated by the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, in conjunction with 47 associated partner institutions.

      To know more about how Greece contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.

      Belgium

      The Belgian National Distributed Centre makes varied and complementary in-kind contributions to LifeWatch ERIC. These are implemented in the form of long-lasting projects by various research centres and universities distributed throughout the country and supported by each respective political authority.

      To know more about how Belgium contributes to LifeWatch ERIC, please visit our dedicated webpage.