FOR 456: The role of biodiversity for element cycling and trophic interactions: An experimental approach in a grassland community
A long-term experiment has been established in order to study the interactions between plant diversity and ecosystem processes, focussing on element cycling and trophic interactions. 60 plant species, native and common to the Central European Arrhenatherum grasslands serve as species pool. Mixtures of one to 60 plant species and of one to four plant functional groups have been seeded as newly established communities on plots of 20 x 20 m. The experiment is carried out on a former agricultural field with alluvial loam as substrate. The species assemblages serve as basis to study interactions not only among plant individuals and plant species, but also between different trophic levels. Emphasis will be on the ecosystem carbon balance and the turnover and losses of nutrients.
Total budget:
Coordinating Institution:
Institute of Ecology Details of Institute of Ecology
Work package leader:
- Institute of Ecology
Details of Institute of Ecology
Invertebrates - Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
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Genes - Humboldt University of Berlin
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Roots - Technical University Darmstadt
Details of Technical University Darmstadt
Soil Fauna - Institute of Geography
Details of Institute of Geography
Soil Nutrients - Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
Details of Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
Soil Carbon - Institute for Geopraphy
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Hydrology - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
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Pop. Biology - University of Leipzig
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Mycorrhiza