Soil Biodiversity and Functioning

Work program 1

Soil Biodiversity And Functioning

Work program 2

Functional diversity of soil microorganisms

Work program 3

Belowground multifunctionality

Work program 4

Time series analysis

Team

Dr. Simone Cesarz

University Leipzig
German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig

Prof. Dr. Nico Eisenhauer

German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig

Rike Lena Schwarz

University Leipzig
German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig

PhD

Objectives

In this project, we are investigating how the increase in structural beta complexity (ESBC) at the patch level (50x50m) influences the α, β, and γ diversity of soil-dwelling nematodes. Additionally, we are examining soil functionality at both individual functions and soil multifunctionality on these three levels. We expect that ESBC enhances the multifunctionality of soil ecosystems. Specifically, we assume that ESBC increases habitat complexity/heterogeneity, leading to higher taxonomic and consequently functional diversity, resulting in an overall increase in multifunctionality.

Three complementary work packages (WPs) will explore these relationships, while a fourth AP focuses on the time-series analysis of microbial soil properties, including measurements that began in 2018 to prepare for this project.

Extensive collaboration and data exchange with the other subprojects within the research group will provide unique mechanistic insights into the generality and underlying mechanisms of the relationships between structural complexity, soil biodiversity, and ecosystem functions at different spatial scales.