A5034755193- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Seed Germination and Physiology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Bryophyte Studies and Records
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Botanical Studies and Applications
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
2016-2025
Luther University
2002-2025
German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
2016-2025
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
2010
Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
2010
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
2010
Senckenberg Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz
2010
Halle Zoo
2005
Freie Universität Berlin
1996-2001
Interactions between resource and consumer species are organized in ecological networks. Species interactions these networks influenced by the functional traits of interacting partners, but generality trait‐based interaction rules relationship a species’ specialization on specific partners not yet understood. Here we combine data eight fleshy‐fruited plants frugivorous birds sampled across tropical subtropical Andean range. We test which combinations morphological plant animal determine...
Phenology has emerged as key indicator of the biological impacts climate change, yet role functional traits constraining variation in herbaceous species' phenology received little attention. Botanical gardens are ideal places which to investigate large numbers species growing under common conditions. We ask whether interspecific plant is influenced by differences traits. recorded onset, end, duration and intensity initial growth, leafing out, leaf senescence, flowering fruiting for 212...
ABSTRACT Altitudinal gradients are expected to heavily influence the general performance of mountain tree species. For this study we evaluated vitality, radial growth and reproductive efficiency in Polylepis australis (Rosaceae) throughout its complete altitudinal range central Argentina. We selected seven forest fragments ranging from 900 2700 m a.s.l. In field, subjectively assigned vitality seed productivity indexes 12 P. trees per fragment. addition, cored assessed for 10–18 level....
Abstract Whereas temporal variability of plant phenology in response to climate change has already been well studied, the spatial is not understood. Given that phenological shifts may affect biotic interactions, there a need investigate how environmental factors relates herbaceous species’ by at same time considering their functional traits predict general and species-specific responses future change. In this project, we analysed records 148 species, which were observed for single year...
Abstract Evolution can occur over contemporary timescales, which may be crucial for the invasive success of non-native plant species. Many studies have shown rapid evolution by comparing native and populations in common gardens. However, our understanding mechanisms underpinning is still incomplete. Here, we identify progress, applications, limitations on plants with respect to sampling, experimental design methods. To encompass broad variation within between ranges, recommend sampling...
Abstract Aim To determine whether the cover and growth habit of main forest forming species ( Polylepis australis BITT.) in a mountain range with low human population density is mainly affected by anthropogenic activities or environmental influences. Location Central Argentina. Methods Using GIS field surveys we established 146 plots 30 × m located five river basins differing impact. We measured P. cover, each individual (number basal ramifications), index long term impact (percentage rock...
Abstract Mountain forests and their soils provide ecological services such as maintenance of biodiversity, provision clean water, carbon capture forage for livestock rearing, which is one the principal economic activities in mountain areas. However, surprisingly little known about impact South American forest soils. With aim understanding how topography influence patterns cover, soil compaction, loss chemical properties, we analysed these parameters 100 Polylepis australis woodland plots...
Intraspecific genetic variation is essential for the performance and evolution of species. Populations at a species' geographic range periphery receive considerable attention in biogeography conservation because they are smaller spatially more isolated than central populations, pattern expected to lead higher differentiation lower within-population diversity. We tested these predictions peripheral populations Eurasian steppe grass Stipa capillata.We analyzed AFLP fingerprint patterns 319...
Abstract Aims The high plant species diversity of tropical mountain forests is coupled with habitat heterogeneity along gradients in elevation and topography. We quantified the effects elevation, topography forest edge on conditions woody montane fragments. Location Tropical fragments, ‘ Y ungas’, B olivia. Methods measured microclimate sampled soil properties vegetation at edges interior ridges gorges an elevational gradient 600 m. analysed (i.e. microclimate, structure), richness, evenness...
Interactions between resource and consumer species result in complex ecological networks. The overall structure of these networks is often stable space time, but little known about the temporal stability functional roles We used a trait-based approach to investigate whether consumers (frugivorous birds) show similar degrees specialisation on resources (plants) across seasons. additionally tested closely related bird have birds that are functionally specialised specific types within season...
Abstract Exotic plant invasions are thought to alter productivity and species richness, yet these patterns typically correlative. Few studies have experimentally invaded sites asked how addition of novel influences ecosystem function community structure examined the role competitors and/or consumers in mediating patterns. We disturbed undisturbed subplots out rodent exclosures with seeds native or exotic grasslands Montana, California Germany. Seed enhanced aboveground biomass richness...
Abstract Climate change forces many species to move their ranges higher latitudes or elevations. Resulting immigration emigration of might lead functional changes, e . g ., in the trait distribution and composition ecological assemblages. Here, we combined approaches from biogeography (species models; SDMs) community ecology (functional diversity) investigate potential effects climate-driven range changes on frugivorous bird assemblages along a 3000 m elevational gradient tropical Andes. We...
Abstract Changes in phenology induced by climate change occur across the globe with important implications for ecosystem functioning and services, species performance trophic interactions. Much of work on phenology, especially leaf out flowering, has been conducted woody plant species. Less is known about responses herbaceous global even though they represent a large part biodiversity worldwide. A globally coordinated research effort needed to understand drivers such changes predict effects...
Ecuador belongs to the megadiverse countries of world. However, high diversity in species, ecosystems and their services are under threat by land use changes, invasive overexploitation, pollution climate change. There is a need monitor, manage, protect improve biodiversity ecosystem (BES) Ecuador; however, marginally represented international policy-science interface for protection BES. We analyzed 266 peer-reviewed papers that were published between 2000 2020 assess current impact human...
Abstract Background and Aims Habitat degradation landscape fragmentation dramatically lower population sizes of rare plant species. Decreasing may, in turn, negatively affect genetic diversity reproductive fitness, which can ultimately lead to local extinction populations. Although such vortex dynamics have been postulated theory modelling for decades, empirical evidence from extinctions populations is scarce. In particular, comparisons between current vs. historical differentiation are...
Empirical invasion ecology is laden with high context dependency. If general mechanisms underlying success exist, they should be detectable in species that share biological and ecological characteristics. We carried out a growth experiment Agropyron cristatum , Bromus inermis Poa pratensis (subsp. angustifolia ), to better understand the of cool‐season grasses northern prairie grasslands North America. By using home–away approach, we tested whether 1) non‐native plants have higher...
Phenological shifts due to changing climate are often highly species and context specific. Land-use practices such as mowing or grazing directly affect the phenology of grassland species, but it is unclear if plants similarly affected by change in differently managed systems meadows pastures. Functional traits have a high potential explain phenological might help understand species-specific land-use-specific responses changes climate. In large-scale field experiment
Understanding how widespread species adapt to variation in abiotic conditions across their ranges is fundamental ecology. Insight may come from studying among-population (APV) the common garden corresponds with environmental of source populations. However, there are no such studies comparing native vs non-native populations multiple life stages. We examined APV performance and functional traits 59 Conyza canadensis populations, response drought, large aridity gradients (North America)...
Abstract Plant functional ecology research has primarily focused on juvenile and adult plants even though regeneration from seed can be the most consequential life‐history bottleneck with cascading influence later stages of growth reproduction. Understandings relationships among phenology, morphology growth‐related traits have improved our knowledge plant strategies adaptive responses to changing climate. However, whether phenological morpho‐physiological exist during is unknown. We also...
Abstract Interspecific plant-soil feedback (PSF)—the influence of soil conditioned by one plant species on another—are key to ecosystem processes but remain challenging predict due complex factors like origin and phylogenetic relatedness. These aspects are underexplored, limiting our understanding the mechanisms driving PSFs their broader implications for functioning coexistence. To shed light role distance in interspecific PSFs, we conducted a greenhouse experiment with 10 native responding...