DIVERSA

Insect diversity

DIVERSA SP4 - Effects of natural disturbances on dynamics and ecological functions of insect communities

Subproject 4 studies how disturbances affect moth diversity and associated ecosystem functions in forests, using field and citizen data to inform conservation and management from local to regional scales.

Moth on leafMoth on leaf
Moths, such as the brown bear (Arctia caja) shown here, are a species-rich group of high interest for nature conservation in forests.
© Andreas Schuldt

Higher trophic level diversity is key to forest functioning and thus may be critical for ecosystem stability under environmental change. Natural disturbances affect higher trophic level diversity and functioning differently in different forest management types. However, strategies for biodiversity conservation and forest stability require a better understanding of how recent changes in disturbance regimes affect i) the reorganisation of biodiversity and ii) the regulation of pests and pathogens. Subproject 4 (SP4) addresses these knowledge gaps by quantifying disturbance effects on insect diversity and associated ecosystem functions at local and regional scales. SP4 uses moths (Lepidoptera) as a highly diverse insect group that plays key roles as prey, pollinators and pests. Many species are also declining across Europe and are therefore of interest to conservationists. SP4 focuses on light trapping to study local dynamics in moth communities and established field protocols to quantify biotic control and pest/pathogen resistance. For a regional perspective, existing citizen science data are used and standardised and predictive spatio-temporal models of disturbance effects on abundance and distribution across Lower Saxony and Germany are applied.

Contact person

Prof. Dr. Andreas SchuldtProf. Dr. Andreas Schuldt
Prof. Dr. Andreas Schuldt
University of Göttingen, Department of Forest Nature Conservation
T0551 39 24486

Blog

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  • With the laser scanner in her hand, Dr. Sandra Peters slowly walks across the study area.With the laser scanner in her hand, Dr. Sandra Peters slowly walks across the study area.

    Laser scans in the forest: measuring CO₂ between red beeches and deadwood

    What a windless morning, 1,000 square meters of forest, and a laser scanner reveal about carbon storage.

    4 min. Reading time
  • Job openingJob opening

    Job opening at DIVERSA

    PhD position in the Vegetation Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation working group

    1 min. Reading time
  • Portraitpicture of Prof. Dr. Andreas Schuldt, Head of the Department of Forest Nature Conservation at Georg August University of Göttingen and sub-project lead at the Climate Future Lab DIVERSAPortraitpicture of Prof. Dr. Andreas Schuldt, Head of the Department of Forest Nature Conservation at Georg August University of Göttingen and sub-project lead at the Climate Future Lab DIVERSA

    1.5 – one scientist, five questions with Prof. Dr. Andreas Schuldt

    Head of the Department of Forest Nature Conservation at Georg August University of Göttingen and sub-project lead at the Climate Future Lab DIVERSA

    7 min. Reading time