2 Cross-scale relations in ecology and environmental research

Chair: Schweiger, A. , Irl, S., Beierkuhnlein, C.

Thursday, 14:30-15:30,

Numerous biotic and abiotic processes and patterns in nature are strongly scale-dependent. Processes and patterns concerning a certain ecological or environmental trait like e.g. species richness, movement of air or water, distribution of energy or matter occurring on small spatial or temporal scale can but must not necessarily differ from processes or temporal / spatial patterns of the same trait at larger scales.
The question about how and why such cross-scale differences emerge is hereby a burning question of interdisciplinary importance and is especially relevant in the context of the ongoing anthropogenic modifications affecting biotic and abiotic systems from micro- to macro-scale. Furthermore, we have to detect and quantify these cross-scale differences with appropriate study designs and measurements.

Discussing these questions with scientists from the various sub-disciplines of environmental science as members of BayCEER might help to get some new ideas and insights on how to tackle this question with a broad, interdisciplinary approach.