Plant Conservation and Population Biology
Tobias Ceulemans
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ContactLaboratory of Plant Ecology
E-mail:tobias.ceulemans[at]bio.kuleuven.be |
Research:
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Conservation and restoration of temperate herbaceous ecosystems:
role of phosphorus bioavailability and arbuscular mycorrizhal fungi in patterns of species richness
Increased nutrient availability, through internal or external eutrophication, is responsible for massive species loss in low productive temperate herbaceous ecosystems, many of which are priority NATURA-2000 habitats. As a result, the majority of the typical plant species has become locally extinct or is severely threatened. While both research and environmental policy have mainly targeted nitrogen enrichment through atmospheric deposition, scientific evidence is emerging that phosphorus, rather than nitrogen, is the key nutrient controlling productivity and species richness in this context. Consequently, more research remains necessary to ensure successful conservation and restoration of these habitats.
In this research we study how species richness in low productive grasslands is affected by the availability of phosphorus and which ecological mechanisms could explain the observed variation. The main objectives are:
- To investigate the role of phosphorus-availability relative to other relevant environmental factors (such as nitrogen availability, pH,…) in patterns of species richness
- To deepen our understanding of the role of arbuscular mycorrizhal fungi in patterns of plant phosphorus uptake, productivity and plant competition in order to explore a mechanistic explanation of plant species loss provoked by increased phosphorus availability
- To develop guidelines and techniques for effective management of phosphorus availability, including soil remediation, as a prerequisite for effective conservation and restoration.
This study will mainly target low productive grasslands of the Nardo-Galion and Molinion associations as they are very sensitive to changes in phosphorus availability. We are going to use a highly inter-disciplinary approach, through integrated use of state-of-the-art techniques in plant ecology, soil biogeochemistry and conservation biology. The methodology for each of the objectives is going to be :
- Multi-site assessment of relevant biological and environmental parameters (field sampling and lab analysis)
- Laboratory experiments under controlled conditions
- Field trials using small-scale experimental manipulations
Publications
In press
2011
- Ceulemans, T., Merckx, R., Hens, M. & Honnay, O. (2011) Plant species loss from European semi-natural grasslands following nutrient enrichment - Is it nitrogen or is it phosphorus? Global Ecology and Biogeography, IN PRESS.
- Ceulemans, T., Merckx, R., Hens, M. & Honnay, O. (2011) A trait-based analysis of the role of phosphorus vs. nitrogen enrichment in plant species loss across Northwest European grasslands. Journal of Applied Ecology, 48: 1145-1163.
