Flooding in a grassland diversity experiment: response of microorganisms, microarthropods and predator prey interactions
by Odette Gonzalez Mace
Date of Examination:2018-05-04
Date of issue:2018-06-26
Advisor:Prof. Dr. Stefan Scheu
Referee:Prof. Dr. Mark Maraun
Referee:Prof. Dr. Nico Eisenhauer
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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