Shaping functional ecosystems of the future

Introduction

Accelerating climate change is moving ecosystems rapidly beyond the bounds of historical variability. Many of the traditional conservation approaches trying to maintain a status quo are no longer effective. Rather than resisting change, we need to guide transforming ecosystems towards preferred ecological outcomes.

Assisted Migration

Assisted migration, the active translocation of species to mimic range expansion under climate change, is a widely proposed adaptive management strategy. However, it is also controversial, as it disrupts long-held views on biological conservation.

Challenges in Conservation

Focusing on risks and ignoring benefits has hampered scientific research on assisted migration and halted necessary conservation innovation. Yet, the costs of inaction are too high and time is running out.

Project Overview

In FUTURENATURE, I will approach the assisted migration of plant species from an innovative functional perspective. This will involve shifting the focus from minimizing the impact of translocated species to maximizing their contribution to the functioning of novel communities.

Research Objectives

I will advance our understanding of how assisted migration can safeguard functioning ecosystems by combining:

1. The wealth of large observational databases
2. State-of-the-art joint species distribution models
3. A cutting-edge climate change experiment

Specifically, I will:

1. Study the contribution of non-invasive alien species to ecosystem functioning.
2. Incorporate species interactions and traits into species distribution modeling to simulate novel grassland communities.
3. Experimentally test the functionality of the best performing communities under future climate scenarios.

Expected Outcomes

With the knowledge gained, we will be able to shape ecosystems that will not only survive but thrive under climate change. FUTURENATURE will provide a “greenprint” to study assisted migration across species groups and ecosystems. Ideally, it will enable a paradigm shift in conservation thinking by lifting the psychological barriers preventing changes in natural ecosystems.