Vertebrate herbivores are key drivers of species composition and ecosystem functioning in terrestrial and wetland ecosystems worldwide. Currently, communities of herbivores are changing globally through defaunation and restoration via re-wilding. However, how the loss or gain of herbivores species affects key ecosystem functions is poorly understood.
In this project we use a long-term, globally distributed experimental network (NutNet), in combination with a long-term national network of grazing experiments to unravel how large herbivores affect soil carbon and nutrient cycling.
NIOO Strategic fund
Research team