Influence of land use intensity on the decomposition rate of dead mammals in conjunction with the biodiversity of the carcass associated insect fauna

在陆地生态系统中，动物生物量的分解速度在很大程度上取决于分解者和有害生物的可获得性以及特定生境的非生物因素。生物多样性探索是研究土地利用强度对死亡哺乳动物分解速度的影响以及相关节肢动物在景观和地方尺度上的生物多样性的理想平台。对于土地利用强度的评估，我们将利用最近开发的营林管理强度指标(SMI)，该指标成功地区分了受管理和未受管理的森林，但也反映了不同森林管理组别内森林管理和林分性质的变异性。在每一次探险的25块林地中，我们将展示小猪的身体，以收集和确定身体访客昆虫。此外，我们将通过测量特定时间间隔的身体重量来分析腐解率。为了评价身体的养分循环，我们测定了非生物土壤参数，如类型、结构、pH和湿度，并对仔猪身体的组织、身体下的土壤物质和蝇粪组织进行了同位素分析。由于昆虫被身体相关细菌、真菌和其他有害生物释放的挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)所吸引，我们将在不同的分解阶段对VOCs进行采样和化学分析。对于选定的具有有害生物功能的通用型和专业型甲虫，我们将在野外和实验室生物检测中分析电生理活性VOCs的吸引力。我们的研究结果将在许多项目中产生协同效应，因为动物生物质的分解对地上和地下的功能生物多样性有很大影响。

In terrestrial ecosystems, decomposition rate of animal biomass is heavily dependent on the availability of decomposers and detritivores and on abiotic factors of a certain habitat. The Biodiversity Exploratories represent an ideal platform to study the influence of land use intensity on the decomposition rate of dead mammals in conjunction with the biodiversity of the associated arthropod fauna at landscape and local scales. For assessment of land use intensity, we will make use of the recently developed silvicultural management intensity indicator (SMI) which successfully separates managed from unmanaged forests, but also reflects the variability of forest management and stand properties within the different forest management groups. In 25 forest plots per exploratory we will expose piglet cadavers for collection and determination of cadaver visiting insects. Furthermore, we will analyze decomposition rate by measuring cadaver weight at specific intervals. For evaluation of cadaveric nutrient cycling, we determine abiotic soil parameters such as type, structure, pH, and humidity and perform isotopic analysis of tissues of piglet cadavers, soil material beneath the carcass and tissue of blowfly maggots. Since insect detritivores are attracted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by cadaver associated bacteria, fungi and other detritivores we will sample and chemically analyze VOCs at different stages of decomposition. For selected generalist and specialist beetle species with a function as detritivores, we will analyze the attractiveness of electrophysiological active VOCs in field and laboratory bioassays. The results of our studies will create synergies across many projects, since decomposition of animal biomass strongly influences functional biodiversity above and below ground.