Flooding in a grassland diversity experiment: response of microorganisms, microarthropods and predator   prey interactions

Flooding in a grassland diversity experiment: response of microorganisms, microarthropods and predator prey interactions

Odette Gonzalez Mace

Doctoral thesis

Date of Examination: 2018-05-04

Date of issue: 2018-06-26

Advisor: Scheu, Stefan Prof. Dr.

Referee: Maraun, Mark Prof. Dr.

Referee: Eisenhauer, Nico Prof. Dr.

Persistent Address: http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-1735-0000-002E-E431-6

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Abstract

English

Flooding frequency is predicted to increase during the next decades. This will need a better understanding of flood impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and the development of strategies to mitigate potential damage. Plant diversity is expected to buffer flooding effects by providing a broad range of species responses. However, little effort has been made to synthesize soil responses to disturbances by flooding and the majority are simulated floods under greenhouse or field conditions. In contrast to these limited investigations I collected data information from a major natural flood occurred in 2013 to investigate the soil food web responses to flooding. My study took place in the context of one of the longest-running biodiversity experiments worldwide. I investigated three compartments of the aboveground-belowground food web: microorganisms (Chapter 2), microarthropods (Chapter 3) and predator-prey interactions (Chapter 4).

Keywords: Climate change, inundation, plant diversity, mesofauna, soil arthropods