![Dictmanus albus [(c) Christian Ristok]](/im/1401451667_284_0.jpg "Dictmanus albus [(c) Christian Ristok]")
Germination and seedling ecology
The first days after germination are among the most vulnerable days of plant life but knowledge on the ecology and evolution of seedling functional traits (SFTs) is very limited. Progress in SFT research is, however, urgently needed to predict how populations and communities respond to global change and to develop successful restoration strategies in the Anthropocene. We study biogeographical patterns in SFTs between native vs. non-native grassland communities around the globe. Moreover, we investigate intraspecific variation in SFTs for the following model species: Conyza canadensis, Centaurea stoebe and Plantago lanceolata. In a global network of SFT researchers, we furthermore work towards a unifying methodology how to measure and interpret SFTs which should help extending the existing ecological theory (e.g. community assembly) by incorporating SFTs.
Related projects:
- iConnect
- PlantPopNet (add-on study "Among-population variation in germination and seedling establishment traits of Plantago lanceolata")