Short description of research activities in CRC 990:

The effects of conversion of tropical rainforests into oil palm plantations, especially for above- and belowground animals and communities have barely been studied. Therefore, in this subproject, the effect of 1) different management intensities and 2) the effect of enrichment of oil palm plantations will be investigated. In this context aboveground invertebrate animal and microbial communities as well as belowground invertebrate animal communities will be analyzed. Above- and belowground communities will be determined to the highest taxonomic level, if possible. The focus of belowground communities will be oribatid mites and collembolans. Changes due to different treatments will be measured with stable isotopes for below- and aboveground invertebrate communities. Microbial communities will be analyzed using phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PFLA).