R. Richter

Forest growth resistance and resilience to the 2018-2020 drought depend on tree diversity and mycorrhizal type

This study examines how tree diversity and mycorrhizal associations affect forest growth resistance and resilience during extreme drought, finding that mixed mycorrhizal types enhance drought tolerance.

Tree growth is better explained by absorptive fine root traits than by transport fine root traits

This study compares absorptive and transport fine root traits in 25 European tree species and finds that absorptive root traits better explain tree growth than transport root traits.

Tree diversity increases forest temperature buffering

This study shows that higher tree species diversity enhances forest temperature buffering across multiple time scales, mediated by canopy density and structural diversity.

Upscaling biodiversity monitoring: Metabarcoding estimates 31,846 insect species from Malaise traps across Germany

The paper demonstrates a cost-effective DNA metabarcoding workflow for large-scale insect biodiversity monitoring, estimating 31,846 species from Malaise trap samples across Germany.

Reduction of Paraoxonase expression followed by inactivation across independent semiaquatic mammals suggests stepwise path to pseudogenization

The paper shows that reduced expression and inactivation of the Pon1 gene in aquatic/semiaquatic mammals precedes pseudogenization, suggesting a stepwise loss of function linked to environmental adaptation.

Flower patterns improve foraging efficiency in bumblebees independent of nectary guidance

This study shows flower patterns improve bumblebee foraging efficiency by 30% through flight guidance, landing, and departure decisions, independent of nectary guidance.

Vegetation characteristics control sediment and nutrient retention on but not underneath vegetation in floodplain meadows

The paper quantifies how vegetation characteristics influence sediment and nutrient retention on but not underneath vegetation in floodplain meadows during floods.

Cumulative growth and stress responses to the 2018-2019 drought in a European floodplain forest

The paper examines tree growth and physiological stress responses to consecutive droughts in a Central European floodplain forest, finding that cumulative stress from two hot drought years significantly impacted tree growth and carbon isotope composition.

Temperature drives variation in flying insect biomass across a German malaise trap network

The paper analyzes data from a German malaise trap network to show how temperature and land-cover type influence flying insect biomass and phenology across different regions.

Strong reduction of the chain rigidity of hyaluronan by selective binding of Ca2+ ions

This study investigates how calcium ions bind to hyaluronan, reducing its chain rigidity through specific molecular interactions.

Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of andrenine bees (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

This study presents a molecular phylogeny of Andreninae bees using UCE sequences, revealing seven genera and highlighting paraphyly in Andrena subgenera with multiple dispersal events between Old World and New World.

Same same but different: Cluster architecture variation in five 'Pinot Noir' selection lines correlates with differential expression of three transcription factors and further growth related genes

The paper identifies VvGRF4 and 14 other genes associated with cluster architecture variation in Pinot Noir grapevines across multiple environments.

Canopy position has a stronger effect than tree species identity on phyllosphere bacterial diversity in a floodplain hardwood forest

Tree crowns as meeting points of diversity generating mechanisms - a test with epiphytic lichens in a temperate forest

The paper investigates vertical diversity patterns of epiphytic lichens in tree crowns, finding that successional niches and environmental optimality gradients, rather than habitat heterogeneity or surface area, drive lichen diversity.