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Project properties |
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| Title | Soil inoculation in forests: Effects on soil biota (thesis or internship) |
| Group | Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-36 |
| Supervisor(s) | Philippine Vergeer |
| Examiner(s) | Philippine Vergeer |
| Contact info | philippine.vergeer@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2025/01/15 |
| End date | 2025/12/31 |
| Description | To support forest biodiversity restoration, measures such as planting species with nutrient-rich litter are underway. Research has shown that above-ground actions can positively impact below-ground soil chemistry, but the extent of these benefits and their effect on soil biota remains unclear. Additionally, it is uncertain whether soil organisms could amplify these positive effects. While improvements in humus quality and soil chemistry under rich litter are observed, recovery appears sometimes incomplete.
For instance, in deciduous forests transitioned from coniferous environments, the thick historical organic (OH) layer in humus decomposes slowly, while fresh organic material breaks down quickly. the soil community is either disturbed / not complete or at least not fully functioning. When aiming for restoring ecosystem functionality, it is important to understand the causes of this limitation and whether an additional measure, such as soil inoculation (introducing soil, including soil biota), could lead to better or more complete recovery. The aim of this internship or thesis project is to evaluate, both in the field and in the lab, the impact of "forest fauna reintroduction through soil inoculation" on macrofauna survival and soil processes. Between 2019 and 2022, soil inoculations were conducted at several locations in Brabant, targeting nutrient-poor, recovering sandy soils. The inoculated soil was sourced from richer sites with efficient litter decomposition, containing soil fauna, fungi, and bacteria suited to these conditions. Your research will assess whether macrofauna survive in these target sites and if they improve litter decomposition. As part of this project, you will visit multiple inoculation sites and compare them to adjacent non-inoculated sites. By analyzing soil life and processes at both the inoculated and control sites, along with the original source locations, you will evaluate the effectiveness of inoculation and help establish guidelines for future forest management. You will collaborate with soil fauna specialists from the University of Leuven. Requirements: a valid driver’s license and an interest in soil biota, forests and soil ecology. Duration: minimum 3 months, starting in early 2025. |
| Used skills | |
| Requirements | driver's license |