Barbara Meyers

		Institute of Biology / Geobotany Schänzlestr. 1 Raum 202 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau
		+49 761 203-96852
		barbara.meyers [AT] biologie.uni-freiburg.de

Education

Current Research

 I am interested in both the biotic and abiotic aspects of the belowground world  and how these factors impact plant community composition and ecosystem functioning. Through my master thesis project, I focused on the impact of arbuscular versus ectomycorrhizal fungi on soil biogeochemical cycles in tropical ecosystems versus temperate systems. I was introduced to forest management during my working experience in the French Pyrénées when I worked on assessing the impact of forest management on ectomycorrhizal fungi and the consequent repercussion on forest regeneration. 

This research project led me to the ConFoBi project where I am looking at the impact of retention measures on the heterogeneity of soil resources availability and the consequent responses of the understory plant community. In particular, I will look at the belowground plant diversity stored in seed bank to complete the knowledge on understorey plant diversity in the ConFoBi plots. I also aim at pursuing Sara Klingenfuß project on functional diversity by concentrating on belowground traits in relation to resource heterogeneity and stand structural complexity. Including this belowground focus to the ConfoBi project will hopefully enable to offer a deeper understanding of how to include plants belowground compartment in forest management practices.

Link to the ConFoBi research training group website : ConFoBi

Projects and Collaborations

ConFoBi : Conservation of Forest Biodiversity in Multiple-Use Landscapes of Central Europe

2021- Consultant- Parc Naturel Régional Pyrénées Ariégeoises-  Project Life ARTISAN - Forest and Climate change in the Pyrenees 

Peer-reviewed Publications