This is a database for vegetation data from West Africa, i.e. phytosociological and dendrometric relevés as well as floristic inventories. The West African Vegetation Database has been developed in the framework of the projects “SUN - Sustainable Use of Natural Vegetation in West Africa” and “Biodiversity Transect Analysis in Africa” (BIOTA, https://www.biota-africa.org/).
RESPECT aims to unveil for the mountain rain forest in South Ecuador how major ecosystem functions, (i) ecosystem biomass production, and (ii) water fluxes, are affected by ongoing and future environmental changes through alterations in response and effect traits of relevant biota. The research question is addressed with two approaches: (i) A newest generation Land Surface Model (LSM) and (ii) a statistical response–effect framework (REF). By including (i) specific Plant Functional Types (PFTs) for the megadiverse biodiversity hotspot, (ii) introducing trait diversity, (iii) new modules for tree hydraulics and (iv) new modules of focal biological processes (seed dispersal and PFT establishment, herbivory) we will conduct a biodiversification of LSMs.
The Biological Collection Access Service for Europe, BioCASE, is a transnational network of biological collections of all kinds. BioCASE enables widespread unified access to distributed and heterogeneous European collection and observational databases using open-source, system-independent software and open data standards and protocols.