Project Details
Projekt
SP6 Volatiles - the invisible heterogeneity of forests
Subject Area
Ecology of Land Use
Forestry
Organismic Interactions, Chemical Ecology and Microbiomes of Plant Systems
Forestry
Organismic Interactions, Chemical Ecology and Microbiomes of Plant Systems
Term
since 2026
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 459717468
Robert MacArthur laid the foundation for the habitat-heterogeneity-hypothesis, using birds in forests, and showed a monotonous positive heterogeneity-diversity relationship between bird diversity and vertical tree heterogeneity. However, the linear relationship has been questioned, according to the area-heterogeneity trade-off hypothesis. However, further gradients of forest heterogeneity relevant for biodiversity, beyond vertical structure have been identified recently. In Phase 1 we identified a new habitat heterogeneity gradient, the invisible heterogeneity by volatiles. Using the VOC profiles and various insect communities in our RU creates the opportunity for testing first time the habitat-heterogeneity and the area-heterogeneity trade-off hypotheses for environmental-VOC-insect diversity relationships. Furthermore, we aims on testing several hypotheses within ephemeral patch concept. Here organism dependent on short-living ephemeral resources to insect communities should be more affected by volatile profiles than organism dependent more stable and long-living resources. Data will be extracted from environmental VOC and overall insect communities, as well as from several ephemeral resources of varying longevity (dung, carrion, two types of fungi and deadwood). For the latter we will track the colonization by insect communities and the change in volatile composition in cooperation with another project to test the role of volatiles in priority effects of deadwood communities. Overall we will further develop the concept of an invisible habitat heterogeneity gradient confirmed as affected by our experimental treatments in BETA-FOR, particularly by deadwood.
DFG Programme
Research Units
