Thesis supervisor: Orsolya Valkó
co-supervisor: Zoltán Bátori
Location of studies (in Hungarian): University of Szeged, Department of Ecology Abbreviation of location of studies: SZTE
Description of the research topic:
Soil seed bank plays a crucial role in the vegetation dynamics, both in degradation and recovery processes. Due to the increasing human pressure on ecosystems, the area and diversity of natural habitats, including several grassland types has been in a constant decline in the last decades. For conserving and restoring grasslands, soil seed bank can provide an important basis. However, there are many open questions regarding the species composition and density of the soil seed bank. Most studies concentrated on the uppermost soil layers (generally 5-10 cm), and our current knowledge on the viable seed content of the lower soil layers, as well as about the ecological significance of the deeply buried seeds is limited. The goal of the PhD project is to evaluate the vertical distribution of the soil seed bank of several open habitat types. Soil seed bank will be studied to deeper layers than former studies to fill some of the knowledge gaps related to the deeply buried seeds. The studied ecosystems include alkaline grasslands, sandy grasslands and wetlands in the Great Hungarian Plain. The results will shed light on the seed content on the deep soil layers and whether seeds of the former vegetation types are still viable in the soil. Restoration prospects based on the deeply buried seeds will also be tested.
Required language skills: English Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2020-09-25
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
Login
