Validating biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship theory in human-modified tropical ecosystems

Plant & Canes

Supervisor: Edgar Turner

Co-Supervisor: Michael Pashkevich, Natural Resources Institute Finland

Project Summary (PhD): 

Function For Tropical Agriculture (BEF4TropiAg) experiment is addressing this research gap, by assessing how changes in understory vegetation diversity affect oil palm ecosystems (Riau, Indonesia). This PhD project will assess how BEF4TropiAg’s experimental treatments influence multi-taxon biodiversity and functioning (exact taxonomic groups and functions to be determined by the student). The project will benefit from a close collaboration with researchers from the Natural Resources Institute Finland and IPB University, Bogor, and researchers at Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Research Institute, who help manage BEF4TropiAg.

Type of Work: 

The student will collect data on biodiversity and functioning within BEF4TropiAg’s experimental plots in oil palm plantations (Riau, Indonesia). The plots vary in the number of sown understory plant species and functional groups, resulting in a statistically powerful randomised control trial (RCT), designed to explore BEF relationships and their underlying biological mechanisms. Field work will be carried out in collaboration with researchers from Natural Resources Institute Finland and Sinar Mas Agro Resources and Technology Research Institute, giving the student access to an international research environment, information and expertise on oil palm management, and a valuable direct link to the oil palm industry, facilitating translation of results into management practice.

Importance of Area of Research: 

Findings will validate core ecological theory in human-modified tropical landscapes, addressing a long-standing research gap in the field. Findings will also contribute to the development of more-sustainable management practices in oil palm plantations by informing sustainability guidelines for understory vegetation management.
 

References: 


Luke SH, Foster WA, Advento AD, Aryawan AAK, Adhy DN, Ashton-Butt A, Barclay H, Drewer J, Dumbrell A, Eycott AE, Harianja MF, Hinsch JA, Hood ASC, Kurniawan C, Kurz DJ, Mann DJ, Matthews Nicholass KJ, Naim M, Pashkevich MD, Prescott GW, Sudharto Ps, Pujianto, Purnomo D, Purwoko RR,Putra S, Rambe TDS, Slade EM, Soeprapto, Spear DM, Suhardi, Tan D, Tao1 H-H, Tarigan RS, Wahyuningsih R, Waters HS, Widodo RH, WoodhamCR, Caliman J-P, Snaddon JL, Turner EC (2020) The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme: using large-scale experiments to test and develop more-sustainable oil palm management. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. 2:75. doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2019.00075 Stone J, Advento A Pashkevich M, Aryawan AA, Caliman J-P, Hood A, Foster W, Naim M, Pujianto, Purnomo D, Suhardi, Tarigan RS, Rambe, Tuani DS, Widodo RH, Luke S, Snaddon J& Turner EC (2023). Maintaining understory vegetation in oil palm plantations supports higher assassin bug numbers (Ecological solutions and evidence http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12293).   Tilman, D. et al. (2014) Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 45, 471–493
 

.