PhD Lars Götzenberger

Post-doc researcher
Lars [ at ] ut.ee

My research focuses on two main aspects: plant community assembly and interspecific plant trait relationships. 

Within the first research topic I study assembly rules in plant communities using null models, i.e. randomizing community matrices to compare observed and expected metrics that capture community structure. Currently this involves community data on forest understory communities at different successional stages. Trait data of the occurring plant species are also considered to tackle the question what functional processes drive observed patterns in community structure. 

The second topic mainly includes research on the correlation between the mycorrhizal status of plant species with other biological and ecological plant traits. Basically we are interested in the question how plants that host mycorrhizal fungi are different from plants that do not, and if these plants benefit from the mycorrhizal symbiosis with regard to their ecological amplitude. 

For further information, full publication list and CV go to the Estonian Research Portal or my homepage.