@misc{Ansel2015, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Ansel, Simon}, title = {Die Diffusion von Innovationen in deutschen Kommunen}, issn = {2190-4561}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-80370}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, pages = {IV, 67}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Die fortschreitende Diffusion von E-Government ist ein Ph{\"a}nomen, dem in der internationa-len Forschungsliteratur bereits viel Aufmerksamkeit zu Teil wurde. Erstaunlich wenige Studien widmen sich bislang jedoch dezidiert dem Faktor Interdependenz, der eigentlichen Ursache von Diffusionsprozessen. In dieser Arbeit werden Interdependenzbeziehungen anhand dreier spezifischer Mechanismen der Diffusion, namentlich „Nachahmung", „Wettbewerb" und „Lernen", untersucht. Auf Basis einer empirischen Analyse mit Daten zur Einf{\"u}hrung von E-Government-Komponenten in 183 deutschen St{\"a}dten {\"u}ber den Zeitraum von 1995 bis 2014 konnte ein Einfluss der Mechanismen „Nachahmung" und „Lernen" auf das Innovationsverhalten von Kommunen festgestellt werden. F{\"u}r das Vorliegen von Wettbe-werbsdynamiken ließen sich demgegen{\"u}ber keine Anhaltspunkte finden. F{\"u}r zuk{\"u}nftige Forschungen zur Diffusion von Innovationen wird angeregt, verst{\"a}rkt an die mechanismen- und prozessbasierte Perspektive von Diffusion als theoretischem Rahmenkonzept anzukn{\"u}pfen.}, language = {de} } @article{LinBergerGrimmetal.2012, author = {Lin, Yue and Berger, Uta and Grimm, Volker and Ji, Qian-Ru}, title = {Differences between symmetric and asymmetric facilitation matter - exploring the interplay between modes of positive and negative plant interactions}, series = {The journal of ecology}, volume = {100}, journal = {The journal of ecology}, number = {6}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0022-0477}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2745.2012.02019.x}, pages = {1482 -- 1491}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Facilitation (positive interaction) has received increasing attention in plant ecology over the last decade. Just as for competition, distinguishing different modes of facilitation (mutualistic, commensal or even antagonistic) may be crucial. We therefore introduce the new concept of symmetric versus asymmetric facilitation and present a generic individual-based zone-of-influence model. The model simultaneously implements different modes of both facilitation and competition among individual plants via their overlapping zone of influence. Because we consider facilitation modes as a continuum related to environmental context, we integrated this concept with the stress-gradient hypothesis (SGH) by exploring differences in spatial pattern formation in self-thinning plants along a stress gradient in our model. The interplay among modes of interaction creates distinctly varied spatial patterns along stress gradients. When competition was symmetric, symmetric facilitation (mutualism) consistently led to plant aggregation along stress gradients. However, asymmetric facilitation (commensalism) produces plant aggregation only under more benign conditions but tends to intensify local competition and spatial segregation when conditions are harsh. When competition was completely asymmetric, different modes of facilitation contributed little to spatial aggregation. Symmetric facilitation significantly increased survival at the severe end of the stress gradient, which supports the claim of the SGH that facilitation should have generally positive net effects on plants under high stress levels. Asymmetric facilitation, however, was found to increase survival only under intermediate stress conditions, which contradicts the current predictions of the SGH. Synthesis. Our modelling study demonstrates that the interplay between modes of facilitation and competition affects different aspects of plant populations and communities, implying context-dependent outcomes and consequences. The explicit consideration of the modes and mechanisms of interactions (both facilitation and competition) and the nature of stress factors will help to extend the framework of the SGH and foster research on facilitation in plant ecology.}, language = {en} } @article{HegerNiklesJacobs2018, author = {Heger, Tina and Nikles, Gabriele and Jacobs, Brooke S.}, title = {Differentiation in native as well as introduced ranges}, series = {AoB PLANTS}, volume = {10}, journal = {AoB PLANTS}, number = {1}, publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {2041-2851}, doi = {10.1093/aobpla/ply009}, pages = {12}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Germination, a crucial phase in the life cycle of a plant, can be significantly influenced by competition and facilitation. The aim of this study was to test whether differences in cover of surrounding vegetation can lead to population differentiation in germination behaviour of an annual grassland species, and if so, whether such a differentiation can be found in the native as well as in the introduced range. We used maternal progeny of Erodium cicutarium previously propagated under uniform conditions that had been collected in multiple populations in the native and two introduced ranges, in populations representing extremes in terms of mean and variability of the cover of surrounding vegetation. In the first experiment, we tested the effect of germination temperature and mean cover at the source site on germination, and found interlinked effects of these factors. In seeds from one of the introduced ranges (California), we found indication for a 2-fold dormancy, hindering germination at high temperatures even if physical dormancy was broken and water was available. This behaviour was less strong in high cover populations, indicating cross-generational facilitating effects of dense vegetation. In the second experiment, we tested whether spatial variation in cover of surrounding vegetation has an effect on the proportion of dormant seeds. Contrary to our expectations, we found that across source regions, high variance in cover was associated with higher proportions of seeds germinating directly after storage. In all three regions, germination seemed to match the local environment in terms of climate and vegetation cover. We suggest that this is due to a combined effect of introduction of preadapted genotypes and local evolutionary processes.}, language = {en} } @misc{HegerNiklesJacobs2018, author = {Heger, Tina and Nikles, Gabriele and Jacobs, Brooke S.}, title = {Differentiation in native as well as introduced ranges}, series = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, journal = {Postprints der Universit{\"a}t Potsdam : Mathematisch Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe}, number = {650}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-42464}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-424642}, pages = {12}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Germination, a crucial phase in the life cycle of a plant, can be significantly influenced by competition and facilitation. The aim of this study was to test whether differences in cover of surrounding vegetation can lead to population differentiation in germination behaviour of an annual grassland species, and if so, whether such a differentiation can be found in the native as well as in the introduced range. We used maternal progeny of Erodium cicutarium previously propagated under uniform conditions that had been collected in multiple populations in the native and two introduced ranges, in populations representing extremes in terms of mean and variability of the cover of surrounding vegetation. In the first experiment, we tested the effect of germination temperature and mean cover at the source site on germination, and found interlinked effects of these factors. In seeds from one of the introduced ranges (California), we found indication for a 2-fold dormancy, hindering germination at high temperatures even if physical dormancy was broken and water was available. This behaviour was less strong in high cover populations, indicating cross-generational facilitating effects of dense vegetation. In the second experiment, we tested whether spatial variation in cover of surrounding vegetation has an effect on the proportion of dormant seeds. Contrary to our expectations, we found that across source regions, high variance in cover was associated with higher proportions of seeds germinating directly after storage. In all three regions, germination seemed to match the local environment in terms of climate and vegetation cover. We suggest that this is due to a combined effect of introduction of preadapted genotypes and local evolutionary processes.}, language = {en} } @article{RochaGaedkeVasseur2011, author = {Rocha, Marcia R. and Gaedke, Ursula and Vasseur, David A.}, title = {Functionally similar species have similar dynamics}, series = {The journal of ecology}, volume = {99}, journal = {The journal of ecology}, number = {6}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0022-0477}, doi = {10.1111/j.1365-2745.2011.01893.x}, pages = {1453 -- 1459}, year = {2011}, abstract = {1. Improving the mechanistic basis of biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships requires a better understanding of how functional traits drive the dynamics of populations. For example, environmental disturbances or grazing may increase synchronization of functionally similar species, whereas functionally different species may show independent dynamics, because of different responses to the environment. Competition for resources, on the other hand, may yield a wide range of dynamic patterns among competitors and lead functionally similar and different species to display synchronized to compensatory dynamics. The mixed effect of these forces will influence the temporal fluctuations of populations and, thus, the variability of aggregate community properties. 2. To search for a relationship between functional and dynamics similarity, we studied the relationship between functional trait similarity and temporal dynamics similarity for 36 morphotypes of phytoplankton using long-term high-frequency measurements. 3. Our results show that functionally similar morphotypes exhibit dynamics that are more synchronized than those of functionally dissimilar ones. Functionally dissimilar morphotypes predominantly display independent temporal dynamics. This pattern is especially strong when short time-scales are considered. 4. Negative correlations are present among both functionally similar and dissimilar phytoplankton morphotypes, but are rarer and weaker than positive ones over all temporal scales. 5. Synthesis. We demonstrate that diversity in functional traits decreases community variability and ecosystem-level properties by decoupling the dynamics of individual morphotypes.}, language = {en} } @article{Heinze2020, author = {Heinze, Johannes}, title = {Herbivory by aboveground insects impacts plant root morphological traits}, series = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, volume = {221}, journal = {Plant ecology : an international journal}, number = {8}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {1385-0237}, doi = {10.1007/s11258-020-01045-w}, pages = {725 -- 732}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Aboveground herbivory induces physiological responses, like the release of belowground chemical defense and storage of secondary metabolites, as well as physical responses in plants, like increased root biomass production. However, studies on effects of aboveground herbivory on root morphology are scarce and until now no study tested herbivory effects under natural conditions for a large set of plant species. Therefore, in a field experiment on plant-soil interactions, I investigated the effect of aboveground insect herbivory on root morphological traits of 20 grassland plant species. For 9 of the 20 species, all individuals showed shoot damage in the presence of insect herbivores, but no damage in insect herbivore exclusions. In these 9 species root biomass increased and root morphological traits changed under herbivory towards thinner roots with increased specific root surface. In contrast, the remaining species did not differ in the number of individuals damaged, root biomass nor morphological traits with herbivores present vs. absent. The fact that aboveground herbivory resulted in thinner roots with increased specific root surface area for all species in which the herbivore exclusion manipulation altered shoot damage might indicate that plants increase nutrient uptake in response to herbivory. However, more importantly, results provide empirical evidence that aboveground herbivory impacts root morphological traits of plants. As these traits are important for the occupation of soil space, uptake processes, decomposition and interactions with soil biota, results suggest that herbivory-induced changes in root morphology might be of importance for plant-soil feedbacks and plant-plant competition.}, language = {en} } @article{WackerMarzetzSpijkerman2015, author = {Wacker, Alexander and Marzetz, Vanessa and Spijkerman, Elly}, title = {Interspecific competition in phytoplankton drives the availability of essential mineral and biochemical nutrients}, series = {Ecology : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, volume = {96}, journal = {Ecology : a publication of the Ecological Society of America}, number = {9}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0012-9658}, doi = {10.1890/14-1915.1}, pages = {2467 -- 2477}, year = {2015}, abstract = {The underlying mechanisms and consequences of competition and diversity are central themes in ecology. A higher diversity of primary producers often results in higher resource use efficiency in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This may result in more food for consumers on one hand, while, on the other hand, it can also result in a decreased food quality for consumers; higher biomass combined with the same availability of the limiting compound directly reduces the dietary proportion of the limiting compound. Here we tested whether and how interspecific competition in phytoplankton communities leads to changes in resource use efficiency and cellular concentrations of nutrients and fatty acids. The measured particulate carbon : phosphorus ratios (C:P) and fatty acid concentrations in the communities were compared to the theoretically expected ratios and concentrations of measurements on simultaneously running monocultures. With interspecific competition, phytoplankton communities had higher concentrations of the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid and also much higher concentrations of the ecologically and physiologically relevant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid than expected concentrations based on monocultures. Such higher availability of essential fatty acids may contribute to the positive relationship between phytoplankton diversity and zooplankton growth, and may compensate limitations by mineral nutrients in higher trophic levels.}, language = {en} } @misc{MakowiczTiedemannSteeleetal.2016, author = {Makowicz, Amber M. and Tiedemann, Ralph and Steele, Rachel N. and Schlupp, Ingo}, title = {Kin recognition in a clonal fish, Poecilia formosa}, series = {PLoS ONE}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-411329}, pages = {20}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Relatedness strongly influences social behaviors in a wide variety of species. For most species, the highest typical degree of relatedness is between full siblings with 50\% shared genes. However, this is poorly understood in species with unusually high relatedness between individuals: clonal organisms. Although there has been some investigation into clonal invertebrates and yeast, nothing is known about kin selection in clonal vertebrates. We show that a clonal fish, the Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa), can distinguish between different clonal lineages, associating with genetically identical, sister clones, and use multiple sensory modalities. Also, they scale their aggressive behaviors according to the relatedness to other females: they are more aggressive to non-related clones. Our results demonstrate that even in species with very small genetic differences between individuals, kin recognition can be adaptive. Their discriminatory abilities and regulation of costly behaviors provides a powerful example of natural selection in species with limited genetic diversity.}, language = {en} } @phdthesis{Geissler2008, author = {Geißler, Katja}, title = {Lebensstrategien seltener Stromtalpflanzen : aut{\"o}kologische Untersuchung von Cnidium dubium, Gratiola officinalis und Juncus atratus unter besonderer Ber{\"u}cksichtigung ihrer Stressresistenz}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus-17468}, school = {Universit{\"a}t Potsdam}, year = {2008}, abstract = {Die vorliegende Dissertation behandelt die {\"O}kologie von Cnidium dubium (Schkuhr) Thell. (Sumpf-Brenndolde), Gratiola officinalis L. (Gottes-Gnadenkraut) und Juncus atratus Krocker (Schwarze Binse), drei gef{\"a}hrdeten Arten, die als sogenannte Stromtalpflanzen in Mitteleuropa in ihrem Vorkommen eng an die Flussauen gebunden sind. Die Arbeit basiert auf verschiedenen Simulationsexperimenten und Feldstudien in der Unteren Havelniederung, einem „Feuchtgebiet von internationaler Bedeutung". Sie behandelt Themenkomplexe wie das Samenbankverhalten, die Samenkeimung, die Stickstofflimitierung, die Konkurrenzkraft, das Verhalten der Pflanzen nach einer Sommertrockenheit und nach einer Winter/Fr{\"u}hjahrs{\"u}berflutung. Ferner widmet sie sich der Populationsbiologie der Arten und dem Verhalten der Pflanzen nach besonderen St{\"o}rungsereignissen wie Mahd, Herbivorie und der Sommerflut 2002. Der Leser erf{\"a}hrt, wie die Pflanzen in verschiedenen Lebensphasen auf die auentypische Umwelt reagieren und erh{\"a}lt umfassende Einblicke in physiologische Mechanismen, die der Anpassung an die typischen Bedingungen einer mitteleurop{\"a}ischen Flussaue dienen. Eine Interpretation der Ergebnisse zeigt auf, welche der spezifischen Eigenschaften zur Gef{\"a}hrdung der drei Stromtalarten beitragen. Die Arbeit ist f{\"u}r den Arten-, Biotop- und Landschaftsschutz interessant. Dar{\"u}ber hinaus bietet sie zahlreiche Ankn{\"u}pfungspunkte zur {\"o}kophysiologischen Grundlagenforschung. Die verst{\"a}rkte Nutzung physiologischer Methoden bei der Kl{\"a}rung {\"o}kologischer Fragestellungen wird angeregt.}, language = {de} } @article{MoustakasGuentherWiegandetal.2006, author = {Moustakas, Aristides and G{\"u}nther, Matthias and Wiegand, Kerstin and M{\"u}ller, Karl-Heinz and Ward, David and Meyer, Katrin M. and Jeltsch, Florian}, title = {Long-term mortality patterns of the deep-rooted Acacia erioloba}, series = {Journal of vegetation science}, volume = {17}, journal = {Journal of vegetation science}, publisher = {Blackwell}, address = {Malden}, issn = {1100-9233}, doi = {10.1111/j.1654-1103.2006.tb02468.x}, pages = {473 -- 480}, year = {2006}, abstract = {Question: Is there a relationship between size and death in the Iona-lived, deep-rooted tree, Acacia erioloba, in a semi-arid savanna? What is the size-class distribution of A. erioloba mortality? Does the mortality distribution differ from total tree size distribution? Does A. erioloba mortality distribution match the mortality distributions recorded thus far in other environments? Location: Dronfield Ranch, near Kimberley, Kalahari, South Africa. Methods: A combination of aerial photographs and a satellite image covering 61 year was used to provide long-term spatial data on mortality. We used aerial photographs of the study area from 1940, 1964, 1984, 1993 and a satellite image from 2001 to follow three plots covering 510 ha. We were able to identify and individually follow ca. 3000 individual trees from 1940 till 2001. Results: The total number of trees increased over time. No relationship between total number of trees and mean tree size was detected. There were no trends over time in total number of deaths per plot or in size distributions of dead trees. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests showed no differences in size class distributions for living trees through time. The size distribution of dead trees was significantly different from the size distribution of all trees present on the plots. Overall, the number of dead trees was low in small size classes, reached a peak value when canopy area was 20 - 30 m(2), and declined in lamer size-classes. Mortality as a ratio of dead vs. total trees peaked at intermediate canopy sizes too. Conclusion: A. erioloba mortality was size-dependent, peaking at intermediate sizes. The mortality distribution differs from all other tree mortality distributions recorded thus far. We suggest that a possible mechanism for this unusual mortality distribution is intraspecific competition for water in this semi-arid environment.}, language = {en} }