Dissertation Research: Biodiversity's Effects on Ecosystem Function and Stability in Ponds

物种多样性、物种组成、功能类群多样性和功能类群组成在决定生态系统功能中的作用是近年来生态学家非常关注的一个问题。在有限数量的生态系统中已经证明了功能对多样性的依赖。该项目将确定多样性和组成在面对干扰时对生态系统功能的相对贡献。研究将在池塘中生态系统和自然池塘中进行，在这些池塘中，食物网的组成和多样性将随着干扰率的变化而受到控制。本项目将研究物种枯竭对维持生态系统功能的影响。

997265Leibold and DowningUniversity of ChicagoThe role of species diversity, species composition, functional-group diversity and functional-group composition in determining ecosystem function has been a topic of much recent concern for ecologists. A dependence of function on diversity has been demonstrated for a limited number of ecosystems. This project will determine the relative contributions of diversity and composition to ecosystem function in the face of disturbance. Research will be conducted in pond mesocosms and in natural ponds where food-web composition and diversity will be manipulated along with rates of disturbance. This project will examine the consequences of species depletions in nature for the maintenance of ecosystem function.