FIBR: Planning-Study of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Livestock & Wildlife Dominated Savannas of East Africa: Uniting Genomic, Molecular, Species and Ecosystem Approac

遗传学、生态系统和土壤科学的研究人员将联合起来制定一项综合建议，以评估东非以牧场和野生动物为主的稀树草原地上和地下生物多样性与生态系统功能之间的相互关系。研究将：1)评估这些生态系统的主要组成部分的多样性，从微生物基因到景观和人类土地利用；2)将这种多样性与选定的生态系统功能联系起来；以及3)测试基本假设，将这些部分的多样性和功能与系统层面的弹性或面对土地利用变化和人口增长等压力因素的“健康”联系起来。这些发现将阐明生物多样性对人类福祉的重要性，并加强努力保护大塞伦盖蒂-马拉和其他世界知名的野生动物生态系统，这些生态系统由依赖可持续生态系统服务的人类居住。将围绕该项目的主题和目标举办一次研讨会，向更广泛的社区和公众传达我们目前对向前迈进的理解和想法。将与当地东非社区成员举行规划会议，提出想法，获得他们的反馈，并设计这项研究，以提供有用的信息。

Researchers in genetics, ecosystems, and soils sciences will unite to develop an integrative proposal to assess the interrelationships between above and belowground biodiversity and ecosystem function in pastoral and wildlife dominated savannas in East Africa. The research will: 1) assess the diversity of the major components of these ecosystems from microbial genes to landscapes and human land uses, 2) relate this diversity to selected ecosystem functions, and 3) test basic hypotheses that relate diversity and function of the parts to system-level resilience or 'health' in the face of stressors such as land-use changes and human population growth. These findings will elucidate the importance of biodiversity for human well-being, and enhance efforts to conserve the Greater Serengeti-Mara and other world-renowned wildlife ecosystems that are inhabited by humans who depend on sustainable ecosystem services. A symposium will be organized around the themes and objectives of the project to convey our current understanding and thoughts for moving forward to the broader community and to the public. A planning meeting will be held with members of the local East African community to present ideas, obtain their feedback, and design the study to provide useful information.