How detailed does plant functional diversity need to be represented to adequately simulate managed grassland ecosystem services?
Managed grasslands are important ecosystems that provide feed for livestock and underpin the livelihoods of approximately one billion people. One of the factors that contribute to ecosystem services of managed grasslands is their plant functional diversity. While representations of plant functional diversity have been implemented in computer models at different scales, it is unclear how detailed plant functional diversity needs to simulated to adequately capture important ecosystem services. To assess this we offer a master thesis project for which different levels of functional diversity of managed grasslands should be simulated using the Lund-Potsdam-Jena managed Land (LPJmL) model. The simulation results should be evaluated against important ecosystem services of managed grasslands. The topic requires quantitative data analysis skills (e.g. R or Python), enthusiasm for numbers, a willingness to learn programming languages and a high level of competence in oral and written English.
Background can be from natural, environmental or agricultural sciences.
Due to the complexity of the subject, we can only offer master thesis supervision for 6 to at most 12 months. Unfortunately, we cannot offer payment for the master thesis.
