Aboveground plant community pattern and the role of plant traits for community processes

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In this project, we aim to synthesize data of functional attributes (traits) of species with community characteristics (processes) as basis for a mechanistic understanding of the importance of plant species diversity for ecosystem functioning. In particular, the goal is to relate species physiological and morphological characteristics and demographic processes of plant populations to plant community properties. The following objectives will be addressed: (1) temporal changes in plant community composition, (2) plant functional traits and their relationships to community properties, (3) importance of species plasticity for biodiversityecosystem functioning relationships, and (4) incorporation of plant traits into the conceptual framework of species dominance and complementarity. In addition, we aim to continue measurements on temporal changes in plant community composition and to carry out specific experiments to get further insight in plant species interactions and the importance of species plasticity.