Multi-Site Research
Multi-Site Research (MSR)
Since its foundation, ALTER-Net has been dedicated to investing in European research infrastructure and integrating the research capacity of our diverse partner institutes. The MSR initiative is aimed at helping to achieve this end by supporting multi-site research projects that take advantage of our pan-European range of research sites.
The MSR initiative invites research projects on fundamental ecological questions and socio-ecological issues. Potential subjects range from ecosystem functioning to eco-political issues and research techniques of all varieties are encouraged, from field surveys and lab analysis to interviews and citizen science. With ALTER-Net's wide spanning distribution of partners, MSR projects may include the majority of bio-geographical and socio-economic regions in Europe.
Contact for further information:
MSR Projects
| Call | Activity period | Project | Lead partner | Status | ALTER-Net Partners | Outputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (5b) MSR-3 | 2018-2020 |
Roadmap for a European multi-site Wildlife Research Infrastructure using camera traps |
INBO |
Ongoing |
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| (5a) MSR-2 | 2018-2020 |
Multi-Lake Research of Fish Ecology and Management using High-Resolution 3D Telemetry Systems |
BC-CAS |
Ongoing |
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| (4) MSR-1 | 2016-2018 | The advantage of teatime at your home field |
SLU |
Complete |
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| (3) MSE-3 | 2014-2016 |
The impact of dung beetle assemblages on dung and seed disperal |
INBO | Complete |
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| (2) MSE-2 | 2009-2012 | The impact of nutrients and climate on litter decomposition | UFZ | Complete |
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| (1) MSE-1 | 2006-2009 | The effects of trampling on plant assemblages | UFZ | Complete |
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Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Gray, A., Vanbergen, A.J., Bergès, L., Bohner, A., Brooker, R.W., De Bruyn, L., De Cinti, B., Dirnböck, T., Grandin, U., et al. 2011. Functional traits and local environment predict vegetation responses to disturbance: a pan-European multi-site experiment. Journal of Ecology. 99:777-787. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01794.x
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Calls
1: 2006-09 | 2: 2009-12 | 3: 2014-16 | 4: 2016-18 | 5a: 2018-20 | 5b: 2018-20
From 2006 to 2016, ALTER-Net coordinated three multi-site experiments (MSEs) in order to demonstrate that simple field experiments can be conducted across Europe. Reports of the first two experiments are available.
In May 2016, ALTER-Net broadened its activity to encompass more forms of multi-site research (MSR), i.e. not restricted to experimental studies. The first MSR call was in June 2016.
Previous Multi-Site Research projects
MSR-2: Lake Fish Telemetry Group (2018-2019)
Lead Partner: Ivan Jaric, BC-CAS, Czech Republic
The Lake Fish Telemetry Group brings together international groups of researchers performing acoustic fish positioning studies in lakes. Through collaborative workshops, this project has initiated joint work on as many as eight project output papers aimed at high-profile journals.
MSR-1 (2016-17): The advantage of teatime at your home field
Lead PI: Prof. Hjalmar Laudon, SLU, Sweden
This project concerns the Tea Bag Index method of studying decomposition in soils. The aim is to test decomposition using a very simple method, and determine the microbial community that is responsible for decomposition across a large climatic gradient, in particular, investigating the often observed 'home field advantage'.
Previous Multi-Site Experiments
2006 - 2016
MSE-III: The impact of dung beetle assemblages on dung and seed dispersal
In this multi-site experiment we investigate whether the functional composition of dung beetle assemblages has an impact on dung decomposition and secondary seed dispersal processes. The added value of working at the multi-site level is the wide bioclimatic range of sites; for this reason, sites throughout the entire Western Palaearctic zone are included. This allows also us to investigate whether predicted climate change will have an impact on these processes through the changes it induces in dung beetle assemblage composition. In 2014, the experiment was run at 12 study sites in eight European countries.
MSE-II: The impact of nutrients and climate on litter decomposition
Our second multi-site experiment addressed the variation of litter decomposition across a European gradient. Specifically, the study investigated the impact of nutrient availability along a broad climatic gradient to explore the impact of nutrients and climate on decomposition. This MSE involved 20 experimental sites in 10 countries, with 8 grassland sites and 12 in forested ecosystems.
MSE-I: Effects of trampling on plant assemblages
This experiment looked at vegetation responses to disturbance by trampling, which is an important factor controlling the assemblage of plants. We established 39 experimental sites in 10 European countries. 17 sites were in grassland, 22 in forest ecosystems.
