Dr. Sebastian Meyer ist Postdoctoral Research Associate for synthesis in the Jena Experiment an der Technischen Universität München, Department für Ökologie und Ökosystemmanagemen.
Abstract:
Ecosystem services, such as supply of clean water, soil erosion control, or pollination, depend on ecosystem functions that are controlled by the species living in an ecosystem. Provisioning of these services can be threatened by an ongoing loss of species worldwide, driven largely by land-use change and overexploitation of natural populations. The relationship between the diversity of species in an ecosystem and the functioning of the system are investigated in biodiversity experiments. I will present synthesis results from the Jena Experiment, one of the largest and longest running biodiversity experiments in the world. Transferring results from biodiversity experiments into real world settings is an example for many basic and applied ecological questions where a lack of available data quantifying ecosystem functions hinders scientific progress. I will present the rapid ecosystem function assessment (REFA) approach as a way forward in closing this data gap. Finally, I will conclude with a short outlook how results from research on ecosystem functioning can be relevant for nature conservation.
 

After the seminar (ca. 16:00h), everybody is welcome to join us for drinks and munchies in the „coffee corner on the second floor“.