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Picture: The photo shows a meadow with a female scientist and a male scientist kneeling on the ground and laying down markers. Both persons are smiling into the camera, in the background a climate measuring station and a forest can be seen.

The major aims of this project are:

1. to assess the effect of land use on the diversity of plants and lichens in grassland and forest as well as on plant pathogenic fungi in grassland,

2. to measure functional and phylogenetic diversity of grassland plants cultivated under standardized conditions,

3. to monitor above- and belowground grassland productivity and nitrogen content as important ecosystem processes, and

4. to manipulate plant diversity experimentally by seeding, disturbance, or plant removal to test the consequences of changed plant diversity for ecosystem processes and how these depend on land use.

The repeated monitoring of diversities and ecosystem processes will further allow us to estimate the stability and resilience of communities, and to relate changes in plant diversity and composition to changes in other taxa. In addition, our project will provide important baseline information for other projects and allow assessing the effect of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic plant diversity, and grassland productivity on ecosystem processes and the diversity of other taxa.

MethodsGrid plots (1000 plots)Experimental plots (100 plots)
Plant Diversity
Forest vegetationone releve in spring and autumn, 20 x 20 mx
yearly repeatedx
Grassland vegetationone releve in summer, 4 x 4 mx
yearly repeated
Vegetation heightx
Biomassx
species number-Areal-relationx
Seed bankx
Functional Diversity traits from BIOLFLOR-Database, Morphological traits, dispersal traits, pollination traits
Genetic Diversity AFLP and microsatellites of selected speciesx
Seeding experiment Seeding of grassland species from the regional species pool to test dispersal limitationx
Seeding of selected tree species in fenced and unfenced subplots of EPs to test dispersal limitation (planned)x
biomass and SLA measurement to study the effect of diversity on productivityx
Green house studygermination success
Parasites and Herbivoresidentification of parasites and Herbivore damage on thistlesx
Disturbance experiment in grassland and forestSimulation of trapping and dryness in different intensities to study the effect of disturbance on the stability of ecosystem with varying diversityx
Population biology of selected speciesQuantifying population density, herbivory, pathogen load and pollinator limitation on selected plant speciex

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Vascular plant diversity in experimental forest canopy gaps with deadwood enrichment
Zurbuchen N. D. (2022): Vascular plant diversity in experimental forest canopy gaps with deadwood enrichment. Master thesis, University of Bern
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Bae S., Heidrich L., Levick S. R., Gossner M. M., Seibold S., Weisser W. W., Magdon P., Serebryanyk A., Bässler C., Schäfer D., Schulze E.-D., Doerfler I., Müller J., Jung K., Heurich M., Fischer M., Roth N., Schall P., Boch S., Wöllauer S., Renner S. C., Müller J. (2021): Dispersal ability, trophic position and body size mediate species turnover processes: Insights from a multi‐taxa and multi‐scale approach. Diversity and Distributions 27 (3), 439-453. doi: 10.1111/ddi.13204
More information:  doi.org
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Kirsch J.-J., Sermon J., Jonker M., Asbeck T., Gossner M. M., Petermann J. S., Basile M. (2021): The use of water-filled tree holes by vertebrates in temperate forests. Wildlife Biology 1: wlb.00786. doi: 10.2981/wlb.00786
More information:  doi.org
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Direkte und indirekte Auswirkungen von Bewirtschaftungsintensität und Umweltfaktoren auf die funktionelle Diversität von Flechten in mitteleuropäischen Wäldern
Boch S., Saiz H., Allan E., Schall P., Prati D., Schulze E.-D., Hessenmöller D., Sparrius L., Fischer M. (2021): Direct and indirect effects of management intensity and environmental factors on functional diversity of lichens in Central European forests. Microorganisms 9 (2), 463. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9020463
More information:  doi.org
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Werde ich bleiben oder werde ich gehen? Artspezifische Reaktionen und Toleranzen von Pflanzen auf und gegenüber hoher Landnutzungsintensitäten in temperaten Grünland-Ökosystemen
Busch V., Klaus V. H., Schäfer D., Prati D., Boch S., Müller J., Socher S. A., Chisté M., Mody K., Blüthgen N., Fischer M., Hölzel N., Kleinebecker T. (2019): Will I stay or will I go? Plant species‐specific response and tolerance to high land‐use intensity in temperate grassland ecosystems. Journal of Vegetation Science 30 (4), 674-686. doi: 10.1111/jvs.12749
More information:  doi.org
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Erholung von Ökosystemfunktionen nach experimenteller Störung in 73 Grünlandflächen mit unterschiedlicher Landnutzungsintensität, Artenvielfalt und Zusammensetzung der Pflanzengesellschaft
Schäfer D., Klaus V. H., Kleinebecker T., Boeddinghaus R. S., Hinderling J., Kandeler E., Marhan S., Nowak S., Sonnemann I., Wurst S., Fischer M., Hölzel N., Hamer U., Prati D. (2019): Recovery of ecosystem functions after experimental disturbance in 73 grasslands differing in land‐use intensity, plant species richness and community composition. Journal of Ecology 107 (6), 2635-2649. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.13211
More information:  doi.org
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Müller J., Boch S., Prati D., Socher S., Pommer U., Hessenmöller D., Schall P., Schulze E. D., Fischer M. (2019): Effects of forest management on bryophyte species richness in Central European forests. Forest Ecology and Management 432, 850-859. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2018.10.019
More information:  doi.org
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Wildausschluss beeinflusst Strauchvegetation stärker als Krautvegetation in 147 Waldflächen dreier deutscher Regionen
Schäfer D., Prati D., Schall P., Ammer C., Fischer M. (2019): Exclusion of large herbivores affects understorey shrub vegetation more than herb vegetation across 147 forest sites in three German regions. PLoS ONE 14(7): e0218741. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218741
More information:  doi.org
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Mischungen unterschiedlicher Reinbestände auf Landschaftsebene sind effektiver für die Biodiversität von Gefäßpflanzen, Moosen und Flechten als Mischbestände
Heinrichs S., Ammer C., Mund M., Boch S., Budde S., Fischer M., Müller J., Schöning I., Schulze E.-D., Schmidt W., Weckesser M., Schall P. (2019): Landscape-Scale Mixtures of Tree Species are More Effective than Stand-Scale Mixtures for Biodiversity of Vascular Plants, Bryophytes and Lichens. Forests 10 (1), 73. doi: 10.3390/f10010073
More information:  doi.org
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Eine Radarsicht bei der Kartierung der biologischen Vielfalt von Wäldern aus dem Weltraum
Bae S., Levick S. R., Heidrich L., Magdon P., Leutner B. F., Wöllauer S., Serebryanyk A., Nauss T., Krzystek P., Gossner M. M., Schall P., Heibl C., Bässler C., Doerfler I. , Schulze E.-D., Krah F.-S., Culmsee H., Jung K., Heurich M., Fischer M., Seibold S., Thorn S., Gerlach T., Hothorn T., Weisser W. W., Müller J. (2019): Radar vision in the mapping of forest biodiversity from space. Nature Communications 10:4757. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-12737-x
More information:  doi.org
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Pflanzen als Indikatoren für regional vorherrschende meteorologische Verhältnisse
Wyss P. (2019): Pflanzen als Indikatoren für regional vorherrschende meteorologische Verhältnisse. Bachelor thesis, University Freiburg
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Direkte und indirekte Grünlandnutzungseffekte auf Moosdiversität
Boch S., Allan E., Humbert J.-Y., Kurtogullari Y., Lessard-Therrien M., Müller J., Prati D., Rieder N. S., Arlettaz R., Fischer M. (2018): Direct and indirect effects of land use on bryophytes in grasslands. Science of The Total Environment 644, 60-67. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.323
More information:  doi.org
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Die Bodensamenbank hilft nicht bei der Renaturierung von artenarmem Wirtschaftsgrünland
Klaus V. H., Hoewer C. J., Fischer M., Hamer U., Kleinebecker T., Mertens D., Schäfer D., Prati D., Hölzel N. (2018): Contribution of the soil seed bank to the restoration of temperate grasslands by mechanical sward disturbance. Restoration Ecology 26 (2), 114-122. doi: 10.1111/rec.12626
More information:  doi.org
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Die Effekte von Düngung, Mahd und Beweidung auf die Bodensamenbank im Grünland
Klaus V. H., Schäfer D., Prati D., Busch V., Hamer U., Hoewer C. J., Kleinebecker T., Mertens D., Fischer M., Hölzel N. (2018): Effects of mowing, grazing and fertilization on soil seed banks in temperate grasslands in Central Europe. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 256, 211-217. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2017.11.008
More information:  doi.org
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Kleinebecker T., Busch V., Hölzel N., Hamer U. , Schäfer D., Prati D., Fischer M., Hemp A., Lauterbach R., Klaus V. (2018): And the winner is …! A test of simple predictors of plant species richness in agricultural grasslands. Ecological Indicators 87, 296–301. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.12.031
More information:  doi.org
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Die Intensivierung der Nutzung und der Umbruch von Grünland steigern das Risiko der Nitratauswaschung
Klaus V. H., Kleinebecker T., Busch V., Fischer M., Hölzel N., Nowak S., Prati D., Schäfer D., Schöning I., Schrumpf M., Hamer U. (2018): Land use intensity, rather than plant species richness, affects the leaching risk of multiple nutrients from permanent grasslands. Global Change Biology 24 (7), 2828-2840. doi: 10.1111/gcb.14123
More information:  doi.org
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Extensive Landnutzung fördert die Moosdiversität im Grünland
Boch S., Müller J., Prati D., Fischer M. (2018): Low-intensity management promotes bryophyte diversity in grasslands. Tuexenia 38, 311–328. doi: 10.14471/2018.38.014
More information:  doi.org
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Diversity-stability relationships in temperate grasslands and forests of differing land-use intensities
Diversitäts-Stabilitäts-Beziehungen in temperaten Grünländern und Wäldern von unterschiedlicher Landnutzungsintensität
Schäfer D. (2018): Diversity-stability relationships in temperate grasslands and forests of differing land-use intensities. Dissertation, University Bern
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Müller J., Rätzel S., Hemp A. (2018): Cirsium rivulare (JACQ.) ALL. Wiederfund für Brandenburg. In "Neuigkeiten zu den Farn- und Samenpflanzen von Berlin und Brandenburg I" Stefan Rätzel, Michael Ristow und Volker Kummer (Hrsg.). Botanischer Verein von Berlin und Brandenburg 150, 149-153
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Dostál P., Fischer M., Chytry M., Prati D. (2017): No evidence for larger leaf trait plasticity in ecological generalists compared to specialists. Journal of Biogeography 44 (3), 511–521. doi: 10.1111/jbi.12881
More information:  doi.org
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Weißklee-Pflanzen erinnern sich an die Landnutzung bei ihrer Elterngeneration
Wang Z., Bossdorf O., Prati D., Fischer M., van Kleunen M. (2016): Transgenerational effects of land use on offspring performance and growth in Trifolium repens. Oecologia 180 (2), 409-420. doi: 10.1007/s00442-015-3480-6
More information:  doi.org
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Der Artenreichtum von Flechten ist am höchsten in extensiven Schafweiden, wo es viele Mikrohabitate gibt und die Konkurrenz mit Gefäßpflanzen niedrig ist
Boch S., Prati D., Schöning I., Fischer M. (2016): Lichen species richness is highest in non-intensively used grasslands promoting suitable microhabitats and low vascular plant competition. Biodiversity and Conservation 25 (2), 225-238. doi: 10.1007/s10531-015-1037-y
More information:  doi.org
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Langsam kriechende Schnecken verhindern schnellen Artenverlust in Flechtengemeinschaften
Boch S., Fischer M., Prati D. (2016): Gastropods slow down succession and maintain diversity in cryptogam communities. Ecology 97 (9), 2184–2191. doi: 10.1002/ecy.1498
More information:  doi.org
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Dostál P., Fischer M., Prati D. (2016): Phenotypic plasticity is a negative, though weak, predictor of the commonness of 105 grassland species. Global Ecology and Biogeography 25 (4), 464–474. doi: 10.1111/geb.12429
More information:  doi.org
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Boch S., Allan E., Birkhofer K., Bossdorf O., Blüthgen N., Christ-Breulmann S., Diekötter T., Dormann C. F., Gossner M. M.,Hallmann C., Hemp A., Hölzel N., Jung K., Klaus V. H., Klein A. M., Kleinebecker T., Lange M., Müller J., Nacke H., Prati D., Renner S. C., Rothenwöhrer C., Schall P., Schulze E.-D., Socher S., Tscharntke T., Türke M., Weiner C. N., Weisser W. W., Westphal C., Wolters W., Wubet T., Fischer M. (2016): Extensive und jährlich wechselnde Nutzungsintensität fördert den Artenreichtum im Grünland. Anliegen Natur 38 (1), 86-95
More information:  www.anl.bayern.de
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Mehr Moose durch mehr Totholz in Wäldern
Müller J., Boch S., Blaser S., Fischer M., Prati D. (2015): Effects of forest management on bryophyte communities on deadwood. Nova Hedwigia 100 (3-4), 423-438. doi: 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2015/0242
More information:  doi.org
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Was der Bauer nicht kennt, das frisst er nicht – Schnecken fressen bevorzugt Flechtenarten, die häufig in ihrem Lebensraum vorkommen
Boch S., Fischer M., Prati D. (2015): To eat or not to eat – Relationship of lichen herbivory by snails with secondary compounds and field frequency of lichens. Journal of Plant Ecology 8 (6), 642-650. doi: 10.1093/jpe/rtv005
More information:  doi.org
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Response of bryophyte diversity to land-use and management in forest and grassland habitats
Müller J.(2015): Response of bryophyte diversity to land-use and management in forest and grassland habitats. Dissertation, University Potsdam
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Plant community assembly in temperate grasslands of different land-use intensity
Schmitt B. (2015): Plant community assembly in temperate grasslands of different land-use intensity. Dissertation, University Bern
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Vom Einfluß experimenteller Bodenstörungen auf die Vielfalt von Pflanzen auf Wiesen und Weiden
Müller J., Heinze J., Joshi J., Boch S., Klaus V. H., Fischer M., Prati D. (2014): Influence of experimental soil disturbances on the diversity of plants in agricultural grasslands. Journal of Plant Ecology 7 (6), 509-517. doi: 10.1093/jpe/rtt062
More information:  doi.org
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Effects of land use on the diversity of fungi in central European forests and grasslands
Blaser S. (2014): Effects of land use on the diversity of fungi in central European forests and grasslands. Dissertation, University Bern
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Neue Ergebnisse aus den Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien
Fischer M., Boch S., Allan E. (2014): Neue Ergebnisse aus den Biodiversitäts-Exploratorien. Senckenberg Natur · Forschung · Museum 144 (3/4), 98-101
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Blaser S., Prati D., Senn-Irlet B., Fischer M. (2013): Effects of forest management on the diversity of deadwood-inhabiting fungi in Central European forests. Forest Ecology and Management 304, 42–48. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2013.04.043
More information:  doi.org
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Hoch oben im Baum – Die übersehene Vielfalt von Moosen und Flechten in Baumkronen
Boch S., Müller J., Prati D., Blaser S., Fischer M. (2013): Up in the Tree – The Overlooked Richness of Bryophytes and Lichens in Tree Crowns. PLoS ONE 8(12): e84913. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084913
More information:  doi.org
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Sind europäische Pflanzen ohne spezialisierte Bestäubungssysteme eher in anderen Regionen der Welt invasiv?
Chrobock T., Weiner C. N., Werner M., Blüthgen N., Fischer M., van Kleunen M. (2013): Effects of native pollinator specialization, self-compatibility and flowering duration of European plant species on their invasiveness elsewhere. Journal of Ecology 101 (4), 916–923. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.12107
More information:  doi.org
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Eine hohe Pflanzenartenvielfalt zeigt nutzungsbedingte Störungen statt den Naturschutzwert eines Waldes an
Boch S., Prati D., Müller J., Socher S., Baumbach H., Buscot F., Gockel S., Hemp A., Hessenmöller D., Kalko E. K. V., Linsenmair K. E., Pfeiffer S., Pommer U., Schöning I., Schulze E-D., Seilwinder C., Weisser W. W., Wells K., Fischer M. (2013): High plant species richness indicates management-related disturbances rather than the conservation status of forests. Basic and Applied Ecology 14 (6), 496–505. doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2013.06.001.
More information:  doi.org
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Die Artenvielfalt von Flechten, besonders jene von gefährdeten Arten, wird durch Bestandeskontinuität sichernde Waldnutzungsmethoden gefördert
Boch S., Prati D., Hessenmöller D., Schulze E.-D., Fischer M. (2013): Richness of Lichen Species, Especially of Threatened Ones, Is Promoted by Management Methods Furthering Stand Continuity. PLoS ONE 8(1): e55461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055461
More information:  doi.org
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Düngung, Mahd und Beweidung beeinflussen die Diversität von Pflanzen im Grasland, eine Untersuchung auf 1.500 Grasland-Flächen
Socher S. A., Prati D., Boch S., Müller J., Baumbach H., Gockel S., Hemp A., Schöning I., Wells K., Buscot F., Kalko E. K. V., Linsenmair K. E., Schulze E.-D., Weisser W. W., Fischer M. (2013): Interacting effects of fertilization, mowing and grazing on plant species diversity of 1500 grasslands in Germany differ between regions. Basic and Applied Ecology 14 (2), 126–136. doi: 10.1016/j.baae.2012.12.003
More information:  doi.org
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Socher S. A., Prati D., Boch S., Müller J., Klaus V. H., Hölzel N., Fischer M. (2012): Direct and productivity-mediated indirect effects of fertilization, mowing and grazing on grassland species richness Journal of Ecology 100 (6), 1391–1399. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.02020.x
More information:  doi.org
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Auswirkungen intensiver Landnutzung auf Moosartenreichtum im Grünland
Müller J., Klaus V. H., Kleinebecker T., Prati D., Hölzel N., Fischer M. (2012): Impact of Land-Use Intensity and Productivity on Bryophyte Diversity in Agricultural Grasslands. PLoS ONE 7(12): e51520. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051520
More information:  doi.org
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Local adaptation of Plantago lanceolata to different land use regimes
Keller S. (2011): Local adaptation of Plantago lanceolata to different land use regimes. Master Thesis, University Bern
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Effects of land use on plant diversity and productivity and the population age of Cirsium oleraceum
Brandenburger A. (2011): Effects of land use on plant diversity and productivity and the population age of Cirsium oleraceum. Thesis, University Potsdam
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Flechten-Endozoochorie durch Schnecken
Boch S, Prati D, Werth S, Rüetschi J, Fischer M (2011): Lichen Endozoochory by Snails. PLoS ONE 6(4): e18770. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0018770
More information:  doi.org
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Schmidt M., Culmsee H., Boch S., Heinken T., Müller J., Schmiedel I.: Anwendungsmöglichkeiten von Waldartenlisten für Gefäßpflanzen, Moose und Flechten in : Schmidt M., Kriebitzsch W-U., Ewald J. (Hrsg.) (2011): Waldartenlisten der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen, Moose und Flechten Deutschlands. - BfN-Skripten 299
More information:  www.bfn.de
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Drivers of vascular plant and lichen diversity in Central European forests
Boch S.(2011): Drivers of vascular plant and lichen diversity in Central European forests. Dissertation, University Bern
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Effects of land use on the diversity of grassland plants
Socher S.A. (2011): Effects of land use on the diversity of grassland plants. Dissertation, University Bern
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Preussing M., Drehwald U., Koperski M., Thiel H., Waesch G., Baumann M., Berg C., Dierschke H., Dolnik C., Dürhammer O., Ewald J. , Fischer A., Grünberg H. , Heinken T., Jansen F., Kison H.-U., Klawitter J., Kriebitzsch W.-U., Loos G.H. , Manthey M., Müller J., Paul A., Reimann M., Schmidt M., Schmidt W., Stetzka K.M., Teuber D., Teuber U., Wagner I., Wagner A., Weckesser M., Winter S., Wolf T., Wulf M.: : Waldartenliste der Moose Deutschlands in : Schmidt M., Kriebitzsch W-U., Ewald J. (Hrsg.) (2011): Waldartenlisten der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen, Moose und Flechten Deutschlands. - BfN-Skripten 299
More information:  www.bfn.de
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Bültmann H., Scholz P., Teuber D., Feuerer T. , Fischer P., Boch S., Bradtka J.H., Cezanne R. , Dolnik C., Drehwald U., Eichler M., Ewald J. , Heinken T., Hobohm C., Jansen F., Kriebitzsch W.-U. , Loos G.U. , Otte V. , Paul A., Printzen C., Schmidt M., Sparrius L., Waesch G..: Waldartenliste der Flechten Deutschlands in : Schmidt M., Kriebitzsch W-U., Ewald J. (Hrsg.) (2011): Waldartenlisten der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen, Moose und Flechten Deutschlands. - BfN-Skripten 299
More information:  www.bfn.de
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Impacts of disturbance, productivity and soil microorganisms on plant-diversity
Heinze J. (2010): Impacts of disturbance, productivity and soil microorganisms on plant-diversity. Thesis, University Potsdam
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The influence of land use on plant science diversity in the biosphere area “Schwäbische Alb”, southwest Germany
Wuchter K. M. (2009): The influence of land use on plant science diversity in the biosphere area "Schwäbische Alb", southwest Germany. Master thesis, Humboldt University Berlin

The so-called core projects of the BE emerged from the site selection project and the establishment of the exploratories (2006-2008). Since 2008, they have been providing the infrastructure and collecting important basic information on land use, diversity and ecosystem processes (long-term monitoring) for all projects. In addition, they coordinate project-wide activities such as various large-scale experiments.

Project in other funding periods

Picture: The photo shows a meadow with a female scientist and a male scientist kneeling on the ground and laying down markers. Both persons are smiling into the camera, in the background a climate measuring station and a forest can be seen.
Botany (Core project)
#Plants  #BEF  #Plants  #REX/LUX  #2023 – 2026  #2020 – 2023  #Plant diversity […]

Scientific assistants

Prof. Dr. Markus Fischer
Project manager
Prof. Dr. Markus Fischer
Universität Bern
Dr. Daniel Prati
Project manager
Dr. Daniel Prati
Universität Bern
Judith Hinderling
Alumni
Judith Hinderling
Ralph Bolliger
Alumni
Ralph Bolliger
Christoph Zwahlen
Employee
Christoph Zwahlen
Universität Bern
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