Evolution of trees as drivers of terrestrial biodiveristy (EVOLTREE)

Description:

EVOLTREE 4-year project supported by the European Commission linked four major disciplines: genomics, genetics, ecology and evolutionary studies to improve understanding of forest ecosystems structures, dynamics and processes. The EVOLTREE Network investigated the adaptive diversity of forests, their role in structuring the diversity of associated species (insects and mycorrhizal fungi) and their evolution in response to environmental changes. Large data sets have been compiled and made accessible for the analysis of geographic and temporal distribution of genetic diversity. The main project objectives were: - Contribute to understanding adaptive diversity in trees and associated organisms (mycorrhizal fungi and insects); - Assemble and integrate the complementary disciplines in the field of ecological genetics and genomics (ecosystem genomics); - Establish and implement a European research platform in this field in the form of “laboratory without walls”; - Install common infrastructures (repository centre), field experimental sites, data management systems; - Spread a high level excellence to the scientific community, end-users and to the public. EVOLTREE contributed to spreading knowledge and expertise for the purpose of education, biodiversity monitoring, and conservation, as well as to the establishment of integrated experimental infrastructures, information systems and bioinformatics resources for common use by the partners. The consolidated Network also developed training capacities and facilitates exchange of scientists across Europe. Indeed EVOLTREE’s final objective was to maintain and make available to the scientific community those facilities and resources established by the EVOLTREE Network of Excellence during the project implementation. The maintenance of the resources established is possible through the financial and in-kind contribution provided by the members of the EVOLTREE Network.

Project information

Lead

French National Institute for Agricultural Research (FR)

Partners

Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (AT), Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla (FI), University of Oulu (FI), Georg-August-University Göttingen (DE), Phillips University of Marburg (DE), Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institut (DE), University of West Hungary (HU), European Forest Institute (FI), Bioversity International (IT), National Research Council (IT), University of Udine (IT), Alterra B.V. (NL), Polish Academy of Science, Institute of Dendrology (PL), The Forest Research Institute (PL), University of Bydgoszcz (PL), Technical University in Zvolen (SK), National Institute for Agriculture, Food Research and Technology (ES), Umea Plant Science Centre (SE), Uppsala University (SE), Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (CH), Natural Environment Research Council (UK), University of Southampton (UK)

Source of funding

FP6