In new projects on this topic, I therefore use mesh pots to directly examine the influence of surrounding plant communities on soil conditioning effects of single plants, allowing the establishment of ‘regular’ two-phase plant-soil feedback experiments. (5/5). To be continued!

Although interesting, the results were difficult to interpret (and the project required three experimental phases), especially because legacy effects of individual plants were likely also modified by changing competitive hierarchies with increasing plant diversity. (4/5)

In a new MSc-thesis project, we are examining whether structural root traits can help to understand plant responses to the interactive effects of drought and eutrophication. We started to use relatively tall pots to allow more plasticity in root responses. Curious to see what will come out!

Last Wednesday we went on our yearly Alpine excursion as part of the Global Change Ecology course, this time to Flümserberg. Some unexpected rain and a couple of claps of thunder, but otherwise great fun, nice scenery and beautiful flora.

Some nice student projects currently going on at @uni-konstanz.de: we are comparing the effects of different drought treatments and microbial presence on root traits of Plantago and how common and rare native and non-native plants respond to nutrient availability and local soil communities.

Last week returned to @uni-konstanz.de for a new position as Research Associate in the Ecology Group. Good to be back! The forests around uni are still beautiful :)

We made a nice little hike around the Zugerberg yesterday.
Some pretty stuff out there already!

Nice first day of the Netherlands Annual Ecology Meeting yesterday: great plenary lectures, parallel sessions and a special evening programme, during which our minister of education, culture and science Prof. Robbert Dijkgraaf shared his views on the links between science, society and policy.