Integrated Assessment of Vulnerable Ecosystems under Global Change

A Concerted Action funded by the 5th Framework Programme of the European Commission «Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development»; Life time 2002 - 2005

AVEC members

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) - Germany
The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) is the coordinating institute of the concerted action of AVEC. It is a government-funded research institute with the main role of targeting problems related to global change. Current projects address questions of the overall stability of the Earth System, vulnerability of ecological and social systems to possible change and the interactions between natural and social spheres. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Cramer - AVEC project leader: head of the department of Global Change and Natural Systems at PIK; Dr. Sabine Lütkemeier - scientific coordinator of the AVEC project; Dr. Gerhard Petschel-Held Dr. Dagmar Schröter
Wageningen University Department of Environmental Sciences - Environmental Systems Analysis Group	University of Basel Section Ecology - Switzerland
Systems Analysis is a quantitative and multidisciplinary research field aimed at combining, interpreting and communicating knowledge from natural and social sciences and technology. The Group is applying this approach to the environment in order to improve concepts and methods for environmental systems analysis. Special emphasis is on: the behaviour of large-scale models, methods for uncertainty analysis, upscaling of scientific findings from small to large scales, integrative assessment and further development and operationalisation of environmental functions and critical natural capital. Dr. Rik Leemans	The Botanical Institute of the University of Basel has great experience in ecophysiological studies on the effect of global change issues on plant and plant community responses, in particular to elevated CO² and increased temperature. A major emphasis is put on studies of plant growing under as natural as possible growth conditions, and accounting for complex biotic interactions and ecophysiological studies with a research crane in Panama. Currently, a new initiative is centered around the Swiss canopy crane (SCC) in a mixed hardwood forest Switzerland. Prof. Dr. Christian Körner
Environmental Research Centre (ERC) University of Durham - United Kingdom	Risø National Laboratory Plant Biology and Biogeochemistry Department, Roskilde - Denmark
The Department of Biological Science of the Environmental Research Center (ERC) is carrying out research in ecology and environmental science. The centre has an established expertise in a range of key areas of ecosystem research; notably in spatial ecology of both plant and animal communities, in relation to climate change, habitat fragmentation and disease ecology. Dr. Robert Baxter	The Plant Biology and Biogeochemistry department has many years of experience in soil chemistry, decomposition and plant nutrition. Furthermore it has great expertise in the use of stable and radioactive isotopes in research projects. The department has great knowledge and skills in plant physiological measurements and gas exchange between the ecosystem and the atmosphere. Dr. Claus Beier
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) University of Oxford - United Kingdom	Université Joseph Fourier Laboratoire d´Ecologie Alpine (LECA), Grenoble - France
The Oxford Office of the Stockholm Environment Insititute (SEI) specialises in climate risk management, including agriculture, water and natural resources. They take as their starting point current vulnerability, and look to pathways of risk and sustainability through socio-institutional and agent-based social simulation approaches. They work closely with the SEI network and maintain links with the University of Oxford. . Dr. Thomas Downing	The Laboratory for Alpine Ecology is dedicated to fundamental research to improve our understanding of the functioning of populations, communities and ecosystems in the alpine region. This will help in better managing these ecosystems at the interface with anthropogenic activities. Biodiversity and its influence on the functioning of ecosystems is studied taking global environmental changes into account. Especially spatial gradients are of main interest. Dr. Sandra Lavorel
Universitá di Napoli Portici - Italy	Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen - Germany
The Department of Arboriculture, Botany and Plant Pathology of the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Napoli »Frederico II« is a along established Institution with expertise in the fields of traditional botany, plant ecology and applied plant science. Prof. Stefano Mazzoleni	The Animal Ecology Group has long-term expertise in invertebrate diversity, landscape ecology, conservation ecology, food web modelling, ecosystem analysis and global change research. They run several ecosystem scale experiments across Europe and in Germany, focusing on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Prof. Dr. Volkmar Wolters
Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory (BCL) University of Aegean, Department of Environmental Studies, Mytilini - Greece	Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Monks Wood and Edinburgh Research Stations - United Kingdom
The Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory (BCL) carries out work at the University of Aegean (UAG). The Department of Environmental Studies (DES) studies ecological processes in plant and animal populations to understand the mechanisms controlling the commonness and rarity of species. Furthermore the DES develops methodologies, protocols and techniques for conservation planning. Prof. Andreas Troumbis	The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) is one of the Centres and Surveys of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It is the leading UK body for research, survey and monitoring in terrestrial and freshwater environments. Prof. Barry Wyatt Dr. Mark Sutton

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