Photosynthesis In A Changing World

Informations

Funding country

Europe

Acronym

PHOTOCHANGE

URL

-

Start date

5/23/2003

End date

6/2/2003

Budget

-

Fundings

Abstract

By bringing together leading scientists working at the edge between biology and environmental science, PHOTOCHANGE aim is to disseminate our current knowledge, and to enhance our understanding of how plant photosynthesis and carbon metabolism will be affected and will respond to environmental changes driven by anthropic activities or by the climate. The global change is affecting the environment at a pace faster and to an extent bigger than it was predictable. The consequence of global change on plant life (whether positive or negative) need to be assessed timely, and the negative effects need to be mitigated especially in environmentally fragile areas. In Europe many areas share these characteristics.%L%LAmong these areas is the Mediterranean, where the climatic conditions (water scarcity, increasing soil salinity, extreme summer temperatures) and the anthropogenic pressure (bringing to soil and water over-exploitation for agricultural and industrial practices, and polluting the environment) led to an increasing menace of desertiflcation with potentially catastrophic consequences for plant biodiversity, agricultural and forestry activities, and the whole environment. Photosynthesis is the cornerstone on which plant life is built and this biological process is very sensitive to the environmental changes. It is necessary to learn as much details as possible on how photosynthesis is and will be affected by the predicted environmental changes. At the end of PHOTOCHANGE, the attendees will have a thorough picture of the currently known responses of photosynthesis to virtually each environmental factor influenced by global changes, and will hopefully perceive the steps necessaryto optimise or sustain photosynthesis, and plant life and productivity.