Objectivo
In this project, we propose a trans-national research project between the small islands of La Réunion (Mascarenes), Guadeloupe, Pico (Azores), La Palma (Canaries) and Tahiti (French Polynesia) by using bryophytes and ferns as bioindicators of global change.
The project aims to:
- Characterize the biodiversity of poorly known but rich groups of plants (bryophytes and ferns),
- Elucidate the processes which govern species richness and distribution along altitudinal transects (from the gene to community structuring), and relate them to life history and functional traits of species,
- Link richness patterns to environmental and spatial predictors along elevational gradients between the islands,
- Model the shift of species range with temperature and precipitation
- Establish permanent plots for long-term monitoring, managing responses for vegetation and raising new conservation directions for decision making.