Plant functional traits and functional diversity as predictors of ecosystem functioning

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Helge Bruelheide; Dr. Erik Welk
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems
• Term: from 2008 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 35758305

In the first two phases of BEF-China SP3 has measured a wide range of morphological, anatomical, chemical and ecophysiological traits of the tree species in the Comparative Study Plots (CSPs) and in the Main Experiment. We could demonstrate close functional relationships between these trait types as well as between leaf and wood traits. We have analysed which traits are correlated with species richness and/or successional stage in the CSPs and identified which traits and which environmental factors are particularly important for the trait-environment relationship.In the third stage, SP3 will use the whole suite of traits for synthesis work which will be done jointly with SP2. In particular, we will calculate community weighted means (CWM), functional diversity (FD) and phylogenetic diversity (PD), testing the hypothesis that CWM, FD and PD are better predictors for ecosystem functions (EF) than species richness (WP1). In addition, we will analyse the plasticity of key traits as a response to the diversity treatments and the ecoscape in the Main Experiment, testing whether intraspecific and intraindividual trait variation increase with increasing tree species richness (WP2).Finally, we have the objective to expand the existing Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) correlations for traits and to test for inter-relationships and trade-offs between leaf and wood traits (WP3). Together with one of our three Chinese partner projects, we will complement our trait spectrum with root traits.The extensive amount of data already available, the unique experimental set-up of BEFChina and the highly cooperative and interdisciplinary structure of the Research Unit do allow us to address these topics, which we consider crucial to bring functional biodiversity research forward.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 891: The Role of Tree and Shrub Diversity for Production, Erosion Control, Element Cycling and Species Conservation in Chinese Subtropical Forest Ecosystems
• International Connection: China
• Participating Persons: Professor Dr. Dali Guo (†); Professorin Dr. Xiaojuan Liu; Professor Dr. Shouren Zhang