A group of 7 scientists
with expertise in different fields of plant ecology (ecophysiology,
phenology, and reproductive biology) has established a consortium
with 4 enterprises (3 small and medium enterprises, SMEs,
and one big enterprise) to achieve these goals.
The consortium has arranged the following 6 groups of activities
(G):
G 1) Creation of a data base with functional grouping,
functional morphology, ecophysiology and phenology of 55
woody Mediterranean species.
G 2) and 4) Experiments of phenotypic plasticity and ecophysiology
to determine the relative vulnerability of the species to
environmental changes, and the influence of the different
water, nutrient and light treatments on both the quality
of the plant produced and the success of the transplant
performance in the field.
G 3) Experiments of root growth (phenology, influence of
abiotic and internal factors) to understand its influence
in the success of the field plantation and to elucidate
the optimal timing for planting.
G 5) Reproductive biology and multiplication of difficult
species in the nursery.
G 6) Dissemination of the scientific results and general
achievements of the project.
The 8 most innovative aspects of the project are:
1) Multidisciplinary approach to the effect of global change
on vegetation
2) Study of species not included in revegetation projects
to date
3) Co-ordination of Public Research Institutions and enterprises,
which ensures high standards on both the basic and the applied
sides of the project
4) Addressing specific technical problems
5) A combined study of both the aerial and the underground
parts of the plant
6) Application of the concept of phenotypic plasticity to
evaluate the relative vulnerability to global change
7) Combination of nursery with field plantations
8) Involvement of a SME specialised in the dissemination
of the information beyond the academic environment.
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