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The interacting roles of plant pathogens, plant genetic variation,
and individual plant fitness for the biodiversity-ecosystem
functioning relationship
People
Markus Fischer, Project P.I.
Volker Kummer, Project P.I.
Tanja Rottstock, Ph.D.-student
Andrea Schmidtke, Ph.D.-student
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Rationale
In the Jena Experiment we will study the effect of plant species richness and composition on
- the diversity, composition, and abundance of plant pathogens,
- genetic plant diversity of selected plant species,
- individual plant fitness of originally sown and additionally planted target plants (phytometers),
the interaction between these three variables, and their feed back effects on community diversity and composition. Such studies so far have not been integrated in experimental biodiversity research although they are potentially highly important components of mechanisms mediating the relationship between plant species diversity and ecosystem functioning. The project will involve the 82 large diversity plots ranging from monocultures to 60-species mixtures and smaller additional monoculture plots. Pathogen communities will be recorded in all plots. Pathogen infection and individual plant fitness will be studied for target plants (phytometers) of selected species in all plots. The phytometers will include individuals of 15 originally sown resident and 7 additionally transplanted species. Genetic variation of parent and offspring will be assessed with isoenzymes and quantitative genetic methods for two of the phytometer species.
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GERMAN