Experiments, Traits, Synthesis: Using knowledge from global ecological experiments to validate, assess, and improve trait-based theory

As the impacts of climate and environmental change take place at an increasing pace, we urgently need tools for understanding, planning, managing, and communicating the future of biodiversity and the future of our world. ExperTS is motivated by the realisation that more powerful tests of biodiversity theories need to move beyond species richness and explicitly focus on mechanisms that generate diversity. Trait-based approaches offer a range of powerful tools and approaches towards this end, grounded in ecological and evolutionary theory. To make progress in testing, developing and applying theory, however, these tools and approaches should be applied to and combined with the rich resource of empirical biodiversity and ecosystem data now available from global networks of climate change change experiments. ExperTS will (i) increase the recognition and use of the theoretical, conceptual frameworks and experimental methods in biological research, (ii) develop theoretical expertise and comparative research between different ecosystems and academic cultures, (iii) offer unique student opportunities for courses and international research experiences that support the students in integrating theory and experimentation, and (iv) strengthen institutional collaboration over student-active research and research-based education in the interface between ecological theory and global change biology. ExperTS supports a partnership between nine institutions in five countries. Together, we will train students, do research, and devellop knowledge on the impact of international internship experience on student motivation and learning. The project will inform how global change influences biodiversity and ecosystem services important to society, and how we can manage and mitigate those impacts. Outcomes will be implemented in research and education at all partner institutions, and findings will be communicated to the scientific and educational community and to the public. In 2021, we continued focusing on digital resources, regional internships, and research on student learning experiences. We have developed training systems and practical online and field systems as a framework for implementing Open Science (OS) in undergraduate research, including standardised data and transparent and reproducible workflows. The framework is intended for sharing with other higher education institutions allowing for i) dissemination and ii) potential collaboration on shared research questions that involve interoperable study systems and selected plant species. Further, we hosted 17 interns (11 in Norway, all from within Europe), 2 in China and 4 in the US (all from the Americas). These worked on field and digital research projects, and got experience in field work on carbon flux, functional trait and vegetation analyses, data management and project collaboration. They also participated in lab meetings and research workshops and participated in publications and data analyses. The internships were conducted in collaboration with other research and educational projects. We continued the development of digital tools for student research experiences, including leading a workshop at the third Living Norway Colloquium. We developed material for open science and reproducibility in science and education. The postdocs applied for and obtained funding for the project ?Impacts of Seeding Spatial Arrangement and Diversity on Dryland Ecosystem Restoration? together with a former plant functional traits course student. We presented at conferences, and as invited presentations.

Based on a strong track record in research and educational collaboration on ecosystem responses to climate change, ExperTS will support a partnership between five Norwegian institutions (UiB, NMBU, BCCR, NINA, MF) and four INTPART priority countries (USA, Canada, South Africa, China). ExperTS is motivated by the realisation that more powerful tests of biodiversity theories need to move beyond species richness and explicitly focus on mechanisms that generate diversity via trait composition. As the effects of climate and environmental change take place at an increasing pace, we urgently need tools for communicating and planning for the future of biodiversity and the future of our world. The proposed synthesis of theory and experimental data will inform how global change influences ecosystem services important to society. ExperTS will offer (i) a greater recognition and use of the theoretical, conceptual frameworks and experimental methods in biological research, (ii) development of theoretical expertise and comparative research between different ecosystems and academic cultures, (iii) unique student opportunities for courses and international research experiences that support the students in integrating theory and experimentation, and (iv) institutional collaboration over student-active research and research-based education in the interface between ecological theory and global change biology. Outcomes will be implemented in research and education at all partner institutions, and findings will be communicated to the scientific and educational community and to the public.