Research interests

In my current research I aim to mechanistically understand the biotic control of ecological processes and how global change drivers - such as climate change, land use change, nitrogen deposition, or invasive species - are interacting with this control at various temporal and spatial scales.
Within this field I focus on the functional role of biodiversity for biogeochemical cycles.
In addition to this process-orientated basic research, I consider applied aspects by quantifying the relationship between ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecological goods and services.

Research projects and facilities

Carbon storage and nitrogen cycling subproject within the BEF CHINA experiment: The functional significance of forest diversity: N-pools, fluxes and N-uptake complementarity

CLIMATE CHANGE project within the Biodiversity Exploratories: Biodiversity controls of climate change effects on biogeochemical processes

IMEXCLIME (IMpacts of EXtreme CLIMatic Events on ecosystem functioning in alpine grasslands)

BIOTREE (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes of Experimental Tree Stands)

The Jena Experiment (DFG-Forschergruppe The role of biodiversity for element cycling and trophic interactions“)

FUN_DIV (Functional significance of tree diversity for nutrient dynamics in a tropical plantation) within The Sardinilla Project

SPATEX (Spatial pattern and complementary resource use – Experimentally testing the influence of plant aggregation on biodiversity effects)

NCCR Climate: WP3.1 Plant Soil Interactions, subproject PLANT/SOIL

NICHE (Neutral vs. niche-structured communities: testing for resource partitioning by plants)

Functional and phytosociological characterisation of vegetation at ETH Research Station Alp Weissenstein

NICOLA (Niche differentiation and plant coexistence and in alpine pastures under changing land use)

BIODEPTH (Biodiversity and Ecological Processes in Terrestrial Herbaceous Ecosystems)

Personal details

Curriculum vitae

Since 11/2003 Head of Functional Biodiversity Research Team at the Grassland Science Group, Institute of Plant Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

2001 to 2003 Research Scientist at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany

2000 to 2001 Executive Director of the Institute for Biodiversity – Science and Business Experts Network, Friedrichshafen, Germany

1998 to 1999 Research Assistant at the German Advisory Council on Global Change (Wissenschaftlicher Beirat der Bundesregierung Globale Umweltveränderungen, WBGU), Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry, Jena, Germany

1995 to 1998 Research Assistant at the Department of Plant Ecology, University of Bayreuth, Germany

1999: Ph.D. University of Bayreuth, Germany

Awards

2001 Finalist, with the BIODEPTH project, of the Descartes Prize of the European Union

2000 International Horst-Wiehe-Award for the Promotion of Ecological Sciences of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Publications

Peer reviewed journal publications

Carlsson G, Palmborg C, Jumpponen A, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Högberg P, Huss-Danell K (2009) N₂ fixation in three perennial Trifolium species in experimental grasslands of varied plant species richness and composition. Plant Ecology

Don A, Rebmann C, Kolle O, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schulze ED (2009) Impact of afforestation-associated management changes on the carbon balance of grassland. Global Change Biology 15:1990-2002

von Felten S, Hector A, Buchmann N, Niklaus PA, Schmid B, Scherer-Lorenzen M (2009) Belowground nitrogen partitioning in experimental grassland plant communities of varying species richness. Ecology 90:1389-1399

Weigelt A, Weisser WW, Buchmann N, Scherer-Lorenzen M (2009) Biodiversity for multifunctional grasslands: equal productivity in high-diversity low-input and low-diversity high-input systems. Biogeosciences Discuss. 6:3187-3214

Scherer-Lorenzen M (2008) Functional diversity affects decomposition processes in experimental grasslands. Functional Ecology 22: 547-555.

von Felten S, Buchmann N, Scherer-Lorenzen M (2008) Preferences for different nitrogen forms by coexisting plant species and soil microbes: comment. Ecology 89: 878-879

Roscher R, Thein S, Schmid B, Scherer-Lorenzen M (2008) Complementary nitrogen use among potentially dominant species in a biodiversity experiment varies between two years. Journal of Ecology 96: 477–488

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Bonilla J-L, Potvin C (2007) Tree species richness affects litter production and decomposition rates in a tropical biodiversity experiment. Oikos 116: 2108-2124

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schulze E-D, Don A, Schumacher J, Weller E (2007) Exploring the functional significance of forest diversity: a new long-term experiment with temperate tree species (BIOTREE). Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 9:53-70

Don A, Arenhövel W, Jacob R, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schulze E-D (2007) Anwuchserfolg von 19 verschiedenen Baumarten bei Erstaufforstungen - Ergebnisse eines Biodiversitätsexperiments. Allgemeine Jagd- und Forstzeitschrift 178: 164-172

Don A, Schumacher J, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Scholten T, Schulze E-D (2007) Spatial and vertical variation of soil carbon at two grassland sites – implications for measuring soil carbon stocks. Geoderma 141: 272-282

Hector A, Joshi J, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B, Spehn EM, Wacker L, Weilenmann M, Bazeley-White E, Beierkuhnlein C, Caldeira MC, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Finn J, Huss-Danell K, Jumpponen A, Leadley PW, Loreau M, Mulder CPH, Neßhöver C, Palmborg C, Read DJ, Siamantziouras A-SD, Terry AC, Troumbis AY (2007) Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: reconciling the results of experimental and observational studies. Functional Ecology 21:998-1002

Temperton VM, Mwangi P, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B, Buchmann N (2007) Positive interactions between nitrogen-fixing legumes and four different neighbouring species in a biodiversity experiment. Oecologia 151:190-205

Mwangi PN, Schmitz M, Scherber C, Roscher C, Schumacher J, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Weisser WW, Schmid B (2007) Niche pre-emption increases with species richness in experimental plant communities. Journal Of Ecology 95:65-78

Spehn EM, Hector A, Joshi J, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B, Bazeley-White E, Beierkuhnlein C, Caldeira MC, Diemer M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Finn J, Freitas H, Giller PS, Good J, Harris R, Högberg P, Huss-Danell K, Jumpponen A, Koricheva J, Leadley PW, Loreau M, Minns A, Mulder CPH, O'Donovan G, Otway SJ, Palmborg C, Pereira JS, Pfisterer AB, Prinz A, Read DJ, Schulze E-D, Siamantziouras A-SD, Terry AC, Troumbis AY, Woodward FI, Yachi S, Lawton JH (2005) Ecosystem effects of the manipulation of plant diversity in European grasslands. Ecological Monographs 75:37-63

Hector A, Bazeley-White E, Spehn EM, Joshi J, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B, Beierkuhnlein C, Caldeira MC, Diemer M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Finn J, Freitas H, Giller PS, Good J, Harris R, Högberg P, Huss-Danell K, Jumpponen A, Koricheva J, Körner C, Leadley PW, Loreau M, Minns A, Mulder CPH, O'Donovan G, Otway SJ, Palmborg C, Pereira JS, Pfisterer AB, Prinz A, Read DJ, Schulze E-D, Siamantziouras A-SD, Terry AC, Troumbis AY, Woodward FI, Yachi S, Lawton JH (2005) Ecosystem effects of the manipulation of plant diversity in European grasslands: data from the BIODEPTH project. Ecological Archives M075-001-S1

Palmborg C, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Jumpponen A, Carlsson G, Huss-Danell K, Högberg P (2005) Inorganic soil nitrogen under grassland plant communities of different species composition and diversity. Oikos 110:271-282

Roscher C, Temperton VM, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmitz M, Schumacher J, Schmid B, Buchmann N, Weisser WW, Schulze E-D (2005) Overyielding in experimental grassland communities - irrespective of species pool or spatial scale. Ecology Letters 8:419-429

Mulder CPH, Bazeley-White E, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Hector A, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B (2004) Species evenness and productivity in experimental plant communities. Oikos 107:50-63

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Palmborg C, Prinz A, Schulze ED (2003) The role of plant diversity and composition for nitrate leaching in grasslands. Ecology 84:1539-1552

Gastine A, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Leadley PW (2003) No consistent effect of plant diversity on root biomass, soil biota and soil abiotic conditions in temperate grassland communities. Applied Soil Ecology 24:101-111

Spehn EM, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B, Hector A, Caldeira MC, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Finn JA, Jumpponen A, O´Donnavan G, Pereira JS, Schulze E-D, Troumbis AY, Körner C (2002) The role of legumes as a component of biodiversity in a cross-European study of grassland biomass nitrogen. Oikos 98:205-218

Joshi J, Schmid B, Caldeira MC, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Good J, Harris R, Hector A, Huss-Danell K, Jumpponen A, Minns A, Mulder CPH, Pereira JS, Prinz A, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Siamantziouras AD, Terry AC, Troumbis AY, Lawton JH (2001) Local adaptation enhances performance of common plant species. Ecology Letters 4:536-544

Minns A, Finn J, Hector A, Caldeira M, Joshi J, Palmborg C, Schmid B, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Spehn EM, Troumbis AY, project atB (2001) The functioning of European grassland ecosystems: potential benefits of biodiversity to agriculture. Outlook on Agriculture 30:179-185

Hector A, Schmid B, Beierkuhnlein C, Caldeira MC, Diemer M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Finn J, Freitas H, Giller PS, Good J, Harris R, Högberg P, Huss-Danell K, Joshi J, Jumpponen A, Körner C, Leadley PW, Loreau M, Minns A, Mulder CPH, O’Donovan G, Otway SJ, Pereira JS, Prinz A, Read DJ, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schulze E-D, Siamantziouras A-SD, Spehn E, Terry AC, Troumbis AY, Woodward FI, Yachi S, Lawton JH (2000) No consistent effect of plant diversity on productivity. Response. Science 289:1255

Hector A, Schmid B, Beierkuhnlein C, Caldeira MC, Diemer M, Dimitrakopoulos PG, Finn J, Freitas H, Giller PS, Good J, Harris R, Högberg P, Huss-Danell K, Joshi J, Jumpponen A, Körner C, Leadley PW, Loreau M, Minns A, Mulder CPH, O’Donovan G, Otway SJ, Pereira JS, Prinz A, Read DJ, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schulze E-D, Siamantziouras A-SD, Spehn E, Terry AC, Troumbis AY, Woodward FI, Yachi S, Lawton JH (1999) Plant diversity and productivity experiments in European grasslands. Science 286:1123-1127

Scherer M, Deil U (1997) Floristische Diversität und Vegetationsstruktur in traditionellen und modernen Kulturlandschaften - untersucht am Beispielen aus Chile und dem westlichen Mittelmeergebiet. Zeitschrift für Ökologie und Naturschutz 6:19-31

Deil U, Scherer M (1996) Wirtschaftsstufe und Pflanzendecke - geobotanische Differenzierung von Landschaften im Mittelmeerraum und in Chile. Erdkunde 50:81-99

Books and book chapters

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Olde Venterink H, Buschmann H (2007) Nitrogen enrichment and plant invasions: the importance of nitrogen-fixing plants and anthropogenic eutrophication. In: Nentwig W (ed) Biological Invasions, vol 193. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 163-180

Scherer-Lorenzen M (2005) Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: basic principles. In: Barthlott W, Linsenmair KE, Porembski S (eds) Biodiversity: Structure and Function. In Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), vol Developed under the Auspices of the UNESCO. EOLSS Publisher, Oxford, p www.eolss.net

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Körner C, Schulze E-D (eds) (2005a) Forest Diversity and function: Temperate and boreal systems. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Körner C, Schulze E-D (2005b) The functional significance of forest diversity: a synthesis. In: Scherer-Lorenzen M, Körner C, Schulze E-D (eds) Forest diversity and function: Temperate and boreal systems, vol 176. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 377-389

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Körner C, Schulze E-D (2005c) The functional significance of forest diversity: the starting point. In: Scherer-Lorenzen M, Körner C, Schulze E-D (eds) Forest diversity and function: Temperate and boreal systems, vol 176. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 3-12

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Potvin C, Koricheva J, Schmid B, Hector A, Bornik Z, Reynolds G, Schulze E-D (2005d) The design of experimental tree plantations for functional biodiversity research. In: Scherer-Lorenzen M, Körner C, Schulze E-D (eds) Forest diversity and function. Temperate and boreal systems, vol 176. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 347-376

Scherer-Lorenzen M (2004) Plant diversity and nitrogen dynamics in experimental grassland systems. In: Lüscher A, B. J, Kessler W, Huguenin O, Lobsinger M, Millar N, Suter D (eds) Land Use Systems in Grassland Dominated Regions, vol 9. vdf Hochschulverlag AG, Zürich, pp 180-182

Spehn EM, Hector A, Joshi J, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B, project atB (2004) Ecosystem effects of biodiversity manipulations in European grasslands. In: Lüscher A, B. J, Kessler W, Huguenin O, Lobsinger M, Millar N, Suter D (eds) Land Use Systems in Grassland Dominated Regions, vol 9. vdf Hochschulverlag AG, Zürich, pp 177-179

Joshi J, Otway SJ, Koricheva J, Pfisterer AB, Alphei J, Roy BA, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schmid B, Spehn E, Hector A (2004) Bottom-up effects and feedbacks in simple and diverse experimental grassland communities. In: Weisser WW, Siemann E (eds) Insects and ecosystem function, vol 173. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 115-134

Scherer-Lorenzen M (ed) (2002) Analyse der Artenschutzprogramme für Pflanzen in Deutschland. Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Bonn - Bad Godesberg.

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Scheuerer M, Schumacher W (2002) Eine bundesweite Befragung zu den Artenschutzprogrammen für Pflanzen. In: Scherer-Lorenzen M (ed) Analyse der Artenschutzprogramme für Pflanzen in Deutschland, vol 36. Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Bonn - Bad Godesberg, pp 15-21

Scherer-Lorenzen M, Elend A, Nöllert S, Schulze E-D (2000) Plant invasions in Germany: General aspects and impact of nitrogen deposition. In: Mooney HA, Hobbs RJ (eds) Invasive species in a changing world. Island Press, Washington D.C., Covelo, pp 351-368

Scherer-Lorenzen M (1999) Effects of plant diversity on ecosystem processes in experimental grassland communities. Bayreuther Forum Ökologie 75:1-195
 

Keywords

biodiversity, biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, climate change, decomposition, ecosystem functioning, ecosystem services, global change, nitrate leaching, nitrogen cycling