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Project properties |
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| Title | Can stress-induced soil microbial communities aid reintroduction of a rare forest understory species by increasing plant performance and stress resistance? |
| Group | Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Sina Bohm (PhD Candidate) and Philippine Vergeer |
| Examiner(s) | Philippine Vergeer |
| Contact info | sina.bohm@wur.nl, philippine.vergeer@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2023/02/01 |
| End date | 2023/10/31 |
| Description | We are looking for an enthusiastic MSc student interested to study the potential of microbial inoculation for plant reintroductions within her/his MSc thesis.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In a country like the Netherlands where the landscape has greatly been influenced by human activities in the past, plant species conservation often involves reintroductions of populations. Evidence suggests that microbial communities can play a key role in the success of plant reintroductions. Several studies indicate that population-site specific microbial communities can increase survival and viability or reintroduced plants. Therefore, inoculation with microbial communities from donor plant populations receives growing interest in nature management. A new concept within this practice is that stress-induced microbial communities may increase stress resistance of plants, thereby making populations more resilient in the face of environmental changes. This could help long-term restoration of viable populations of endangered plant species to a great extent. By performing both greenhouse experiments and experimental reintroductions at different forest sites in Noord-Brabant, we study the role of microbial communities in plant performance and stress resistance. The candidate would monitor plant survival, growth and reproduction in field experiments of endangered plant species (e.g., Primula elatior, Hypericum pulchrum and possibly other species) in forests in Noord-Brabant to which populations have been reintroduced in 2021/2022, and link findings to the presence or absence of microbial inoculum. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If this research project caught your interest please contact us so that we can discuss the possibilities! There are also possibilities to become involved in projects of Het Levend Archief (http://hetlevendarchief.nl/). |
| Used skills | Field experiment with endangerend plant species (such as Primula elatior, Hypericum pulchrum) investigating plant performance with and without microbial inoculation.
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| Requirements | Drivers licence B
Dutch language skills are appreciated |