Contact:

Markus Fischer , Project P.I.
Christian Wirth, Project P.I.

Rationale

Subproject focuses modeling biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relations in grasslands with special reference to mechanisms related to plasticity. The focus of this project is to represent the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a common modeling framework. This model will serve as a research tool to integrate the diverse information assembled in the various subprojects and to understand and predict patterns of coexistence and successional trajectories of species and plant functional types. Hypotheses will be tested with two novel modeling approaches. The analysis of plasticity will be complemented by numerical experiments identifying parameter combinations that simultaneously optimize several ecosystem functions. In addition, this project will also contribute significantly to the modeling components within the subprojects on carbon storage and nutrient cycling. In conclusion, this project will largely contribute to the overall data synthesis of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships and at the same time to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of diversity.

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