(E)merging directions on air pollution and climate change research in Mediterranean Basin ecosystems

It is becoming clear that there is a growing need to extend these investigations within a common and integrated network. A possible future direction could be the development of a network of coordinated manipulation experiments in different Mediterranean countries and/or studies along wide environmental and air pollution gradients. Particular consideration should also be dedicated to multiple stresses simultaneously and their interaction, moving from the study of the effects on single species to the effects at ecosystem level (including competition, biodiversity, biogeochemical cycles). This network could be the basis of a collaborative project aimed at the adoption of common, innovative methodologies for monitoring and assessment of climate change and air pollution effects in the Mediterranean ecosystems. Moreover, projects aimed at raising people awareness on these problems through educational and outreach activities are advisable. These topics will be the subject of the next CAPERmed meeting that will be held in Pamplona (Spain) in June 2018. For further information and updates, please visit the webpage