The Göttingen Poplar Diversity Experiment - POPDIV

While there is increasing evidence that species diversity affects ecosystem functioning, it is not sufficiently known whether a loss of species also affects genetic diversity within species, and whether there is a requirement for high within-species diversity for the maintenance of ecosystem functions. To test the hypothesis that reduced intraspecific genetic diversity has negative effects on ecosystem functions and services, ecosystems will be constructed that differ in intra-specific diversity using poplar as a model species. The dependence of productivity, biogeochemical fluxes, and trophic interactions on intraspecific diversity will be studied.