Leonardo Espinosa
PhD student
I am a PhD student investigating the context-dependency of biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) relationships, focusing on how the structure of multi-trophic networks and eutrophication shape these relationships. My project aims to identify the mechanisms driving BEF variability by combining empirical data from grassland experiments with theoretical modeling approaches. My research explores the role of multi-trophic networks in BEF relationships. I aim to develop a trait-based plant-herbivore interaction model to predict network structures and examine how these structures influence ecosystem functions such as productivity and herbivory rates. I will also investigate how eutrophication interacts with network structure to drive BEF relationships. I will analyze how nutrient enrichment and functional plant compositions affect network dynamics and extinction risks, by integrating empirical data from the PaNDiv experiment with bioenergetic food-web models. Through my PhD, I aim to identify mechanisms that help apply BEF insights to real-world ecosystems and improve our understanding of biodiversity's role in ecosystem functioning.