BELongDead – Multitrophic functional diversity in deadwood (BLD-MFD-HZG III)

b) BESterile

1. In a new additional experiment, gamma-sterilised and untreated deadwood logs of the two main tree species of Central European forests Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies are laid out next to the existing BELongDead logs and at a precisely defined distance (Fig. 3A). In this way, we want to answer two fundamental research questions:Does a comparison between the unsterilised stems (characterised by the endophyte community) and the sterilised controls show a difference in colonising diversity and, inferentially, in wood decay rate? Are the differences between different tree species mainly caused by the endophyte communities (Fig. 3B, hypothesis H3a) or alternatively by host tree characteristics (e.g., physicochemical properties of the wood, Fig. 3B, hypothesis H3A)?
2. We expect colonisation to depend on the donor pool and thus differences in colonisation patterns between stems directly at BELongDead (stronger on the local species pool) and those further away (stronger on the regional species pool). If the endophytic community determines colonisation, we will observe a more similar species community between all strains (Fig. 3C, hypothesis H3b).