What is the MAP Project?
The goal of the MAP Project is to outline the position of freshwater plants along the major functional axes of plant phenotypes. We set out to document how a life in water dictates the form and functions of freshwater plants and when such adaptations break the general rules of trait-trait and trait-environment relationships observed in terrestrial plant species. To achieve this, we are collecting trait data for more than 3300 non-woody aquatic plant species, covering five functional traits representing the major plant forms and functions.
Part one (started in 2021) of the MAP Project is dedicated to the collection of data for plant height, plus four traits representing the leaf economics spectrum (leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen and leaf phosphorus). The collection of this data is ongoing, and so far, has been supported by a network of biologists and naturalists representing more than 10 universities and institutions around the world. As of June 2023, we are actively searching for additional data. Individuals interested in collaborating on the MAP Project must complete the MAP Collaborator Form by December 31, 2024 (see the Contribute page to learn how to join the MAP Project).
The data collected in part one of MAP will be used to:
1/ Quantify the global trait space of freshwater aquatic plants and how it differs from their terrestrial counterparts.
2/ Link functional differences between terrestrial and aquatic species to compare global trait-environment (e.g., climate) relationships.
We are currently welcoming collaborators from around the world with different interests and backgrounds in aquatic plants. Please visit the Contribute page for more details.
Future stages of the MAP Project will advance the general relationships covered in part one of the project, and will focus on key adaptations to life in freshwater. Thus, extending the current data search by adding traits reflecting unique plant adaptations to the freshwater environment. The outline and specific focus of part two will be developed during the 16th International Symposium on Aquatic Plants (November 2023).