Speaker
Description
Soil, Earth's vital thin skin, sustains life beyond water and forms the foundation of terrestrial ecosystems. Our project “Soil Multistability” aims to deepen our understanding of soil stability and its crucial role in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF). Specifically, we focus on multidimensional soil stability, including temporal stability, resistance, and recovery, by examining the biological, chemical, and physical dimensions essential for soil functioning.
This research is conducted within the framework of the renowned Jena Experiment, where we explore the short- and long-term effects of plant diversity on the stability of soil microbial properties. Additionally, in the DrY greenhouse experiment, we investigate whether the effects of plant diversity on the magnitude and stability of soil properties intensify with increased abiotic and biotic stress. The ResCUE Experiment further extends this investigation by examining how plant diversity influences the stability of multiple soil properties under extreme drought conditions.
Our innovative approach addresses how biotic interactions at the plant-soil interface drive BEF relationships, extending this inquiry to the abiotic level. By analyzing aggregate formation and microbial properties along a plant diversity gradient, we elucidate the interplay between biological and physical dimensions of soil stability and investigate how community assembly influences BEF relationships.
This comprehensive study integrates data from long-term and new experiments, utilizing both simple, high-throughput methods like bait-lamina tests and sophisticated analyses of extracellular polymeric substances. By doing so, we aim to reveal the stabilizing mechanisms of soil properties over the long term and under climate extremes, ultimately contributing valuable insights into the resilience and functionality of ecosystems in the face of biodiversity and global changes.
| Status Group | Doctoral Researcher |
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