Poster Session 2
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Poster Session 2
Tuesday 9 February 2021 | 15:10-16:00 hrs
Programme
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| 15:10 – 15:15 | Introduction by the session hosts |
| 15:15 – 15:18 | Increasing agro-ecological diversity to enhance arthropod biodiversity and ecosystem services Luuk Croijmans @ Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University Insect biodiversity is declining, for which homogenous agriculture and pesticide use are considered two major causes. We combined knowledge on landscape (agro-)ecology, parasitoid searching behavior and input from farmers in a large-scale strip cropping experiment. We aim to unravel if parasitism rates can be enhanced and pest pressure reduced using different strip cropping practices. The first years indicate that parasitism rate is higher in diverse systems. However, systems with intermediate diversity seem to harbor the highest numbers of herbivorous insects. These findings are promising for the use of strip cropping as ecologically intensified alternative to our current conventionally intensified agriculture. |
| 15:19 – 15:22 | Leaf functional traits in maize in intercropping Bei Dong @ Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University Yield gains in intercropping are greatest in systems with maize. We studied functional traits plasticity in maize leaves in intercrops to assess the possible contribution to crop carbon accumulation. We compared leaves at different growth stages and positions on the maize plant in sole crops and intercrops. Responses of maize leaves to shading from faba bean or wheat as companion species resulted in thinner leaves with a lower nitrogen content per unit leaf area and a lower leaf nitrogen concentration. Photosynthesis was reduced in these thinner leaves with lower nitrogen content. The changes in leaf functional traits were especially apparent in border row maize plants. During late maize development, the photosynthetic capacity of maize leaves in intercrops did not recover from earlier competition. The results show that plasticity in leaf functional traits in intercropped maize in response to wheat and faba bean reduces the potential for crop carbon accumulation. |
| 15:23 – 15:26 | Influence of parental N:P stoichiometry on seed performance of H. lanatus and P. palustris Shuqiong Wang @ Environmental Sciences, Utrecht University Seed is proved to be affected by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability in parental plant. We tested how parental N:P ratio affected seed characteristics and offspring plant performance of two grassland species: a common species (Holcus lanatus) and an endangered species (Parnassia palustris), with two different parental N:P ratios respectively. Seed N concentration and content, seed P concentration and content, seed length, seed area, seed weight, seed germination success, and offspring survival were measured. Our results stress the different influences of parental N:P ratio, especially P limitation on seed characteristics between common and endangered species. |
| 15:27 – 15:30 | Eco-evolutionary dynamics of indirect interactions between herbivores feeding on vegetative and inflorescence tissues Quint Rusman @ Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zürich Phenotypic plasticity of flowering plants in response to herbivore damage on vegetative plant parts can affect plant interactions with flower feeders. Because florivores directly damage reproductive organs of plants, altered interactions with flower feeders can have consequences for plant fitness and evolution. Current knowledge on effects of damage on vegetative plant parts on plant interactions with florivores, the underlying mechanisms, and evolutionary implications is limited. We investigated how three herbivores feeding from roots or leaves influenced plant interactions of Brassica nigra with two florivore species and the underlying molecular and chemical mechanisms. We discuss our results in an evolutionary framework. |
| 15:31 – 15:34 | Single-cell analyses reveals key role of microbial symbionts in nutrient uptake within a sponge Esther van der Ent @ Taxonomy, systematics and geodiversity, Naturalis Biodiversity Center Sponges harbor microbiomes that perform crucial roles including nitrogen cycling, carbon fixation and dissolved organic matter cycling. Although a mutualistic symbiosis between microbes and host has been long assumed, direct evidence for metabolic interactions is scarce. We combined nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) and stable isotope labelling to study nutrient assimilation and translocation by microbial symbionts and sponge host cells. Interestingly, we found limited metabolic interactions between microbes and sponge cells. Although microbes were major assimilators, translocation to sponge cells was surprisingly low. The success of this ancient relationship appears not to be the result of extensive metabolic exchanges. |
| 15:35 – 15:38 | Challenges and opportunities in soil virus research Simone Weidner @ Microbial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology The effect of soil microbial communities on ecosystem functions has been studied extensively over the past few decades. Despite the high abundance of viruses in soil, their role in ecosystem functions remains largely uninvestigated. Viruses play important ecological roles, including the regulation of host density and microbial diversity. Therefore, we hypothesize that viruses will affect microbial community assembly and functioning in soil. Investigating viruses in soil is challenging due to both the complexity of the soil matrix as well as the fact that 'they are so tiny'. Here, we present experimental and computational methods to investigate the role of soil viruses. |
| 15:40 – 16:00 | Breakout rooms Q&A session with individual poster pitchers (one breakout room for each poster pitcher) |
| 16:00 | Back to plenary conference room for wrap-up and networking session |