Adaptive trait dynamics of lake phytoplankton at short time scales

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Bernd Blasius
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Animals and Ecosystems, Organismic Interactions ; Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems
• Term: from 2014 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 257510010

Our proposed project is designed to improve our understanding of the short-term changes of trait diversity in ecological communities in response to the ambient environment and its influence on ecosystem functioning. For this we will use phytoplankton communities in freshwater lakes as a model system. Recent advances in monitoring techniques by flow cytometry allow to simultaneous access a multitude of phytoplankton traits at an unprecedented temporal resolution. Using these methods we will monitor the trait diversity of phytoplankton communities at Lake Greifensee (Switzerland) at short time scales and at different depth and different seasons. Based on the obtained data we will extract quantitative characteristics of the trait-composition and -diversity, which will allow us to track the ecological dynamics and the adaptive response (flexibility) of lake phytoplankton to ambient conditions. Using this framework we will test the hypothesis that dynamic trait diversity is a key concept that links the environment to ecosystem functions through mechanisms such as ecological dynamics and adaptive flexibility. Our data-analysis will be complemented by mathematical modeling which provides a mechanistic underpinning of the interaction of external disturbances, the resulting ecological dynamics and adaptive changes in trait-diversity, and the emerging ecosystem functions. The proposed research includes (i) high-resolution sampling of trait-spectra in lake phytoplankton, (ii) quantification of trait diversity, (iii) analysis of the adaptive dynamics of trait diversity, (iv) the effect of trait diversity on ecosystem functioning, and (v) trait-based modeling of phytoplankton diversity. The results of the project have potential impact for effective ecosystem management by providing insights into eco-evolutionary feedbacks between trait-diversity and the ecosystem-flexibility at short time scales. The results will be valuable for predicting the functional consequences of biodiversity loss and environmental change caused by humans.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1704: Flexibility Matters: Interplay Between Trait Diversity and Ecological Dynamics Using Aquatic Communities as Model Systems (DynaTrait)
• International Connection: Denmark, Switzerland
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Ken Haste Andersen; Dr. Francesco Pomati