Dynamic Trait Variability
Many ecological processes
result from predator-prey interactions. Therefore, it is of considerable
interest to investigate these interactions in order to gain a deeper
understanding of ecosystem dynamics and functions.
Within this project, the
effect of trait variability on the dynamics of a coupled,
bi-trophic plankton – biofilm
system will be investigated. The bacterial species Pseudomonas putida, which can form contrasting phenotypes, i.e. planktonic cells and biofilms
will be used as prey model organism. As predators, we will use Paramecium tetraurelia as specialized plankton predator and Acanthamoeba castellani
as specialized biofilm predator species.
In order
to link the microbial population dynamics to ecosystem structure and
functions, we will investigate how the trait variation in the predator guild
(plankton and biofilm predators) will change the
biomass allocation and the carbon flux efficiency within the microbial food
web.
This project is a cooperation of the Inst. of
Hydrobiology (TU Dresden), the Department
of River Ecology (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ) and the Dept.
Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling (University of Potsdam),
where I'm loosely involved in. Further information on this project can be
found at the homepages of the DFG Priority Programme "DynaTrait"
and the DFG online database GEPRIS.