Trends in hidden taxa and habitats - understanding the extent and impact of the biodiversity crisis

Many ecosystem functions are provided by hidden biodiversity in soils and aquatic sediments, or small insects. However, little is known about changes in biodiversity of these groups over time. TrenDiv will assess these trends by revisiting and resampling places that have been investigated for biodiversity 25-45 years ago in Germany, and compare today’s with historical biodiversity. Microorganism communities in animal guts from new samples as well as individuals from museum collections, comparison of functional traits, and ecological modeling will provide insights into changes in biodiversity related ecosystem functioning, and provide valuable information for policy makers in conservation and land use.