Nature of Life Seminars Dr. Chao Guo 15 April 2025 15:30 - 17:00

Abstract: The diversity of dead wood plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle and in sustaining higher trophic levels by providing complementary food resources. This resource complementarity not only enhances the availability of different food qualities to detritivores but also supports predator populations. In this presentation, I will explore a key trophic interaction within a subtropical forest, focusing on the decaying wood – termite - pangolin system. Specifically, I will discuss: (i How wood traits influence termite populations, wood decomposition, and their temporal dynamics. (ii) Trait matching mechanisms: Investigating the ecological mechanisms that align wood traits with termite traits to facilitate efficient decomposition through different seasons. (iii) Trophic interactions and ecosystem functioning: Understanding how interactions at lower trophic levels contribute to the population maintenance of pangolins and the overall forest ecosystem decomposition. By shedding light on these intricate ecological relationships, this talk aims to highlight the critical role of plant - animal interactions and biodiversity in dead wood decomposition and ecosystem stability.