Zhang, Yan

Multidimensional traits and trophic structure of Collembola: variation with forest gap and deadwood

My PhD project is a part of the FOrest gap eXperiment (FOX plan) based on the platform of Biodiversity Exploratories. My PhD project focuses on multidimensional traits and trophic structure of Collembla as affected by forest gap formation, deadwood enrichment, and the combination of both in three regions across north, central and south Germany, i.e. the Schorfheide-Chorin, the Hainich and the Swabian Alp.

My objectives are:

• To determine how the Collembola community responds to forest gap formation and placement of deadwood.
  
• To find out the trophic structure of Collembola by analyzing trophic niches using bulk isotope analysis of C and N and its response to gap formation and deadwood.
  
• Using amino acid stable isotope analysis to explore the energy flux from different basal resources to Collembola in forests as affected by gap formation and deadwood.
  
• Exploring the links between multidimensional traits (based on community weighted means) and trophic niches of Collembola as affected by gap formation and deadwood.