Multi-trophic interactions of Butterflies Along a gradienT of MANagement intensity in grasslands and forest
scientific investigators
Prof. Dr. Alexandra-Maria Klein
(University Lueneburg)Dr. Jochen Krauss
(University Wuerzburg)Carmen Börschig
(University Goettingen)
Hypotheses:
1. Diversity of butterfly communities decreases with increasing land use intensity but their associated trophic interactions can be positively or negatively influenced with increasing land use intensity and management.
2. Endophytic fungi of the genus Neotyphodium in grass species will be affected by increasing land use intensity and management.
3. The relative importance of bottom-up vs. top-down forces of phytophagous butterfly larvae changes along a land use gradient.