Home Sweet Home: the role of specialized organisms in litter decomposition

We are looking for a motivated MSc student to carry out a 6-month internship or research project on the decomposition of plant litter.

Decomposition is a key process in ecosystems worldwide, as the breakdown of plant litter drives soil resource availability, and hence is a crucial factor for regulating plant growth. It becomes increasingly recognized that decomposer organisms can be highly specialized to break down litter from plants that they are associated with, referred to as “home-field advantage”. However, home-field advantage does not always occur. In this project we investigate under which conditions decomposer communities become specialized. The project may involve field work in the Netherlands or in the North of Sweden (Abisko), greenhouse experiments and laboratory work, depending on your own interest. The field season in Sweden ranges from June to September. Other projects can be carried out throughout the year. For more information, please contact Ciska Veen.