Pioneer species experience strong environmental gradients across European coastal ecosystems, and populations may differ substantially in their functional traits across these gradients. However, it remains unclear whether patterns of trait variation are consistent across species and ecosystems, and whether trait variation changes predictably along large-scale environmental gradients.

This project will conduct a meta-analysis of published and available datasets on functional trait variation in dune and salt marsh pioneer species across European latitudinal gradients. The student will investigate how trait characteristics vary across populations and environmental conditions and assess whether similar patterns emerge across different pioneer species and ecosystems. The analysis will contribute to identifying general patterns of trait variation across spatial scales and provide a basis for testing whether adaptive trait variation follows common ecological principles across pioneer ecosystems.

·       Compilation of published and available trait data for dune and salt marsh pioneer species across Europe

·       Analysis of trait variation across European latitudinal and environmental gradients

·       Comparison of patterns among species and between dune and salt marsh ecosystems

·       Identification of general patterns and potential drivers of trait variation across spatial scales

The student can be employed at 50% FTE for five and a half months to conduct this work as part of the larger research project. The resulting dataset and analyses can subsequently provide the basis for the student’s Master thesis.