Island geography and ecology of distinct terrestrial islands
The Quartz Islands project is a joint research project of Prof. Dr. Severin Irl (Goethe University of Frankfurt) and Dr. Ute Schmiedel and Dr. Jens Oldeland (both Universität Hamburg).
Project objectives:
In this study, we use a combined approach of Remote sensing techniques, Community ecology and Island Biogeography to quantify drivers of different aspects of taxonomic and functional richness as well as endemism in a unique system of edaphic habitat islands. We identify habitat island structure, heterogeneity and diversity as well as environmental and geographic isolation based on satellite image classification and a subsequent ground truth vegetation survey. We quantify the processes and drivers at different scales (community, island, landscape) and on different levels of organization (species and functional).
Study area:
Our study area is located in the South African Succulent Karoo, a biodiversity hotspot with outstanding numbers of vascular plant species. Our archipelago-like study system of quartz fields contains high numbers of succulent dwarf shrub species, of which many are local endemics and highly adapted to a small scaled mosaic of habitats within the quartz fields.
- Duration: 2019-2022
- Project lead: Dr. Ute Schmiedel
- Sponsor: DFG