Fons van der Plas
A5010435511- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Forest Management and Policy
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Biocrusts and Microbial Ecology
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Tree-ring climate responses
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
Leipzig University
2017-2025
Wageningen University & Research
2021-2024
University of Bern
2014-2023
Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre
2016-2023
Senckenberg Society for Nature Research
2016-2023
University of Minnesota
2018
University of Groningen
2009-2016
Collaboration broadens the “root economics space” ranging from “do-it-yourself” to “outsourcing” mycorrhizal partners.
Abstract The importance of biodiversity in supporting ecosystem functioning is generally well accepted. However, most evidence comes from small‐scale studies, and scaling‐up patterns biodiversity–ecosystem (B‐EF) remains challenging, part because the environmental factors shaping B‐EF relations poorly understood. Using a forest research platform which 26 functions were measured along gradients tree species richness six regions across Europe, we investigated extent potential drivers context...
Trade-offs and synergies in the supply of forest ecosystem services are common but drivers these relationships poorly understood. To guide management that seeks to promote multiple services, we investigated between 12 stand-level attributes, including structure, composition, heterogeneity plant diversity, plus 4 environmental factors, proxies for 14 150 temperate plots. Our results show attributes best predictors most also good several trade-offs services. Environmental factors play an...
Many experiments have shown that local biodiversity loss impairs the ability of ecosystems to maintain multiple ecosystem functions at high levels (multifunctionality). In contrast, role in driving multifunctionality landscape scales remains unresolved. We used a comprehensive pan-European dataset, including 16 measured 209 forest plots across six European countries, and performed simulations investigate how plot-scale richness tree species (α-diversity) their turnover between (β-diversity)...
Abstract There is considerable evidence that biodiversity promotes multiple ecosystem functions (multifunctionality), thus ensuring the delivery of services important for human well-being. However, mechanisms underlying this relationship are poorly understood, especially in natural ecosystems. We develop a novel approach to partition effects on multifunctionality into three and apply European forest data. show throughout Europe, tree diversity positively related with when moderate levels...
Abstract Motivation Trait data are fundamental to the quantitative description of plant form and function. Although root traits capture key dimensions related responses changing environmental conditions effects on ecosystem processes, they have rarely been included in large‐scale comparative studies global models. For instance, remain absent from nearly all that define spectrum Thus, overcome conceptual methodological roadblocks preventing a widespread integration trait into analyses we...
Abstract Land-use intensification is a major driver of biodiversity loss. However, understanding how different components land use drive loss requires the investigation multiple trophic levels across spatial scales. Using data from 150 agricultural grasslands in central Europe, we assess influence local- and landscape-level on more than 4,000 above- belowground taxa, spanning 20 groups. Plot-level land-use intensity strongly negatively associated with aboveground groups, but positively or...
Predation plays a central role in evolutionary processes, but little is known about how predators affect the expression of heritable variation, restricting our ability to predict effects predation. We reared families three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus from two populations-one with history fish predation (predator sympatric) and one without naive)-and experimentally manipulated experience during ontogeny. For suite ecologically relevant behavioural ('personality') morphological...
Plant diversity is an important driver of at other trophic levels, suggesting that cascading extinctions could reduce overall biodiversity. Most evidence for positive effects plant comes from grasslands. Despite the fact forests are hotspots biodiversity, importance tree diversity, in particular its relative compared to management related factors, affecting forest‐associated taxa not well known. To address this, we used data 183 plots, located different forest types, Mediterranean Boreal,...
Biodiversity increases ecosystem functions underpinning a suite of services valued by society, including provided soils. To test whether, and how, future environments alter the relationship between biodiversity multiple functions, we measured grassland plant diversity effects on single soil multifunctionality, compared relationships in four environments: ambient conditions, elevated atmospheric CO2, enriched N supply, CO2 combination. Our results showed that increased three out and,...
Abstract Forest ecosystem functioning generally benefits from higher tree species richness, but variation within richness levels is typically large. This mostly due to the contrasting performances of communities with different compositions. Evidence‐based understanding composition effects on forest productivity, as well multiple other functions will enable managers focus selection that maximize functioning, rather than diversity per se. We used a dataset 30 measured in stands and six...
Abstract Abandonment of agricultural land is widespread in many parts the world, leading to shrub and tree encroachment. The increase flammable plant biomass, that is, fuel load, increases risk intensity wildfires. Fuel reduction by herbivores a promising management strategy avoid build‐up mitigate However, their effectiveness mitigating wildfire damage may depend on range factors, including herbivore type, population density feeding patterns. Here, we review evidence whether with can reduce...
Significance Invasive alien species pose major threats to biodiversity and ecosystems. However, identifying drivers of invasion success has been challenging, in part because can achieve invasiveness different ways, each corresponding aspects demographics distribution. Employing a multidimensional perspective Europe’s flora, we find generally fall along an axis from overall poor invaders super that become abundant, widespread, invade diverse habitats. Some deviate this pattern are recently...