GRK 2360:  Crossing Boundaries: Propagation Of In-Stream Environmental Alterations To Adjacent Terrestrial Ecosystems

• Subject Area: Water Research
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 326210499

The Research Training Group 2360 SystemLink deals with the effects of anthropogenic stress across ecosystem boundaries. Our key question is: How do anthropogenic stressors in streams affect the adjacent terrestrial ecosystem including food web interactions therein? This will be studied using micropollutants, as well as invasive species as stressors. During the first project phase, SystemLink has established Floodplain Mesocosms or Riparian Stream Mesocosms, which has also attracted the attention of international researchers coming to Landau to cooperate. Up to the end of February 2023, a total of 24 papers have been accepted or published by SystemLink researchers in international peer-reviewed journals or as book chapters. Among them are 17 papers first-authored by doctoral researchers and nine jointly published by at least two doctoral researchers. Another seven papers have been submitted. Six doctoral researchers have submitted their cumulative PhD thesis. During the second phase of SystemLink, we initially continue the cross-ecosystem studies with a focus on the site-scale as a key experimental unit. The third cohort will, however, enter an entirely new stage of complexity in aquatic-terrestrial research: Both, our results obtained so far and the recent literature call for concerted larger field studies addressing aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem coupling variables and the impact of anthropogenic stressors thereon. SystemLink intends to fill exactly this gap. In addition to micropollutants and invasive species, we will also include the hydro-morphological regime, particularly temporary drought as additional stressor. The impact of these stressors on the biogeochemical and ecological coupling of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems will be studied by all 15 third cohort doctoral researchers in a large field study covering up to 100 sites – the SystemLink field study. Site selection, harmonisation of methods and central data evaluation will be supported by a postdoctoral researcher. Since we anticipate to produce with the SystemLink field study a unique and unprecedented data set on aquatic terrestrial ecosystem linkages along a multiple stress gradient, we will provide our data through a well-developed open access pipeline to the international scientific community. The SystemLink doctoral researchers work together in small teams of three persons. A tailored workshop programme provides e.g., with career development options. Each cohort of doctoral researchers organises and hosts an international young scientist workshop. One doctoral researcher used already the SystemLink fast-track programme and successfully performed her master thesis in parallel to the initial part of her doctoral research. SystemLink has in the past and will also in future acknowledge equity in science as a key target. We have established a specific lecture series on (gender-)fair science to foster the exchange with national and international experts in the field.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Ralf Schulz
• Participating Researchers: Dr. Carsten Brühl; Professor Dr. Mirco Bundschuh; Dr. Dörte Diehl; Professor Dr. Martin Entling; Professor Dr. Hermann Jungkunst; Professor Dr. Andreas Lorke; Dr. Clara Mendoza-Lera; Professorin Dr. Stefanie Müller-Schüssele; Professorin Dr. Gabriele Schaumann; Privatdozent Dr. Jens Schirmel; Professor Dr. Klaus Schwenk; Professor Dr. Ralf B. Schäfer