Marcel Ciobanu
Research Scientist I - Taxonomy and Ecology
Biography
Expertise in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning with a special focus on the impacts of climate change on ecological systems.
Publications
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article
Belowground Energy Fluxes Determine Tree Diversity Effects On Above- And Belowground Food Webs |
Yi Huimin; Ferlian Olga; Gauzens Benoit; Rebollo Roberto; Scheu Stefan; Amyntas Angelos; Ciobanu Marcel; Potapov Anton; Salamon Jorg-Alfred; Eisenhauer Nico | Current Biology, 2025 | |
AbstractWorldwide tree diversity loss raises concerns about functional and energetic declines across trophic levels. In this study, we coupled 160 above-and belowground food webs, quantifying energy fluxes to microorganisms and invertebrates in a tree-mycorrhiza diversity experiment, to test how tree diversity affects fluxes of energy above and below the ground. The experiment differentiates three mycorrhizal type treatments: only AM tree species (with arbuscular mycorrhizae), only EcM tree species (with ectomycorrhizae; one, two, and four tree species), or mixtures of both AM and EcM tree species (AM+EcM; two and four tree species). Our results indicate that most energy initially flowed through belowground communities, with soil microorganisms contributing 97.7% of total energy and belowground fauna accounting for 60.9% of energy to animals. Consequently, belowground fauna fueled surface (62.3% of predation) and aboveground (30.5% of predation) predators. Tree diversity increased ecosystem multifunctionality (indicated by total and averaged energy fluxes) by '30% and energy across most trophic levels in EcM tree communities, while it shifted food webs from fast (such as bacterial-dominated) to slow (such as fungal-dominated) channels in AM tree communities. Tree diversity primarily impacted energy fluxes through belowground communities and strengthened the coupling of above-and belowground food webs, with increasing importance of below-ground prey for predators at the soil surface and above the ground. These findings highlight that tree diversity and mycorrhizal types drive above-and belowground ecosystem functioning via belowground energy fluxes. |
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article
Divergent Alpha And Beta Diversity Trends Of Soil Nematode Fauna Along Gradients Of Environmental Change In The Carpathian Ecoregion |
Archidona-Yuste Antonio; Ciobanu Marcel; Kardol Paul; Eisenhauer Nico | Communications Biology, 2025 | |
AbstractThere is a significant lack of research on how climate change influences long-term temporal trends in the biodiversity of soil organisms. Nematodes may be specifically adequate to test soil biodiversity changes, because they account for similar to 80% of all Metazoans and play key roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we report on the first synthesis study focused on temporal trends of nematode fauna over a period of 14 years (1986-1999) across the Carpathian Ecoregion. We provide new evidence that wetter conditions associated to global change contributes to driving nematode diversity at genus/family level. We observed opposite trends in soil nematode alpha diversity (increase) and beta diversity (decrease) consistent across ecosystem types and soil horizons, providing strong evidence for the influence of climate change on soil biodiversity at large spatial scales. An increase in the community functional uniformity along with a decline in beta diversity indicated more homogenous soil conditions over time. The Soil Stability Index (metric devised to assess soil homeostasis based on the functional composition of nematode communities) increased over time, indicating a decline of soil disturbances and more complex soil food webs. Our results highlight the importance of nematodes as powerful indicators of soil biodiversity trends affected by multiple facets of environmental change in long-term soil monitoring. |
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article
Shared Community History Strengthens Plant Diversity Effects On Below-Ground Multitrophic Functioning |
Amyntas Angelos; Gauzens Benoit; Ciobanu Marcel; Warnke Lara; Maraun Mark; Salamon Joerg-Alfred; Merkle Mona; Bassi Leonardo; Hennecke Justus; Lange Markus; Gleixner Gerd; Scheu Stefan; Eisenhauer Nico; Brose Ulrich | Journal Of Animal Ecology, 2025 | |
Abstract1. The relationship of plant diversity and several ecosystem functions strengthens over time. This suggests that the restructuring of biotic interactions in the process of a community's assembly and the associated changes in function differ between species-rich and species-poor communities. An important component of these changes is the feedback between plant and soil community history.2. In this study, we examined the interactive effects of plant richness and community history on the trophic functions of the soil fauna community. We hypothesized that experimental removal of either soil or plant community history would diminish the positive effects of plant richness on the multitrophic functions of the soil food web, compared to mature communities. We tested this hypothesis in a long-term grassland biodiversity experiment by comparing plots across three treatments (without plant history, without plant and soil history, controls with similar to 20 years of plot-specific community history).3. We found that the relationship between plant richness and below-ground multitrophic functionality is indeed stronger in communities with shared plant and soil community history. Our findings indicate that anthropogenic disturbance can impact the functioning of the soil community through the loss of plant species but also by preventing feedbacks that develop in the process of community assembly. |
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article
Forest Floor Nematode Communities And Associated Tree Canopies: Is There An Ecological Linkage? |
Gafta Dan; Ciobanu Marcel; Stoica Adrian-Ilie | Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2024 | |
AbstractWe searched for patterns supporting the hypothesis of compositional and functional linkage between forest floor nematode communities and dominant tree canopies, while controlling for some relevant soil and climate variables. Twenty-one forest sampling sites scattered throughout the South-Eastern Carpathian basin were selected under spruce, beech, and hornbeam-oak canopies. The relative contribution of forest canopy type to nematode assemblage differentiation was estimated through nematode taxonomic composition and feeding guild structure. The forest canopy type had a significant effect on nematode taxon/feeding guild composition and diversity at stand level. Several (diagnostic) nematode taxa and feeding guilds were positively associated with and accurately predicted the forest canopy types considered. Apart from the herbivorous nematodes, all the other trophic guilds were significantly related, in terms of their relative abundance, to the forest canopy type. Both nematode taxonomic and trophic diversity were significantly higher under beech canopy compared with its two counterparts. The highest total nematode beta diversity, either taxonomic or trophic, was attained between hornbeam- oak and spruce canopies. Nematode taxonomic and trophic beta diversity between forest canopy types were largely determined by taxon replacement and respectively, by a nested trophic structure. Overall, four concordant and two discordant patterns were revealed between nematode taxon and feeding guild composition with respect to overlying forest canopy, all underpinning the addressed ecological linkage. The present results bring evidence regarding the important contribution of the forest canopy, along with climatic variables, in driving the taxonomic and functional composition/diversity of nematode communities from the soil organic horizon. |
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article
Plant Diversity Enhances Ecosystem Multifunctionality Via Multitrophic Diversity |
Li Yi; Schuldt Andreas; Ebeling Anne; Eisenhauer Nico; Huang Yuanyuan; Albert Georg; Albracht Cynthia; Amyntas Angelos; Bonkowski Michael; Bruelheide Helge; Broecher Maximilian; Chesters Douglas; Chen Jun; Chen Yannan; Chen Jing-Ting; Ciobanu Marcel; Deng Xianglu; Fornoff Felix; Gleixner Gerd; Guo Liangdong; Guo Peng-Fei; Heintz-Buschart Anna; Klein Alexandra-Maria; Lange Markus; Li Shan; Li Qi; Li Yingbin; Luo Arong; Meyer Sebastian T.; von Oheimb Goddert; Rutten Gemma; Scholten Thomas; Solbach Marcel D.; Staab Michael; Wang Ming-Qiang; Zhang Naili; Zhu Chao-Dong; Schmid Bernhard; Ma Keping; Liu Xiaojuan | Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2024 | |
AbstractEcosystem functioning depends on biodiversity at multiple trophic levels, yet relationships between multitrophic diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality have been poorly explored, with studies often focusing on individual trophic levels and functions and on specific ecosystem types. Here, we show that plant diversity can affect ecosystem functioning both directly and by affecting other trophic levels. Using data on 13 trophic groups and 13 ecosystem functions from two large biodiversity experiments-one representing temperate grasslands and the other subtropical forests-we found that plant diversity increases multifunctionality through elevated multitrophic diversity. Across both experiments, the association between multitrophic diversity and multifunctionality was stronger than the relationship between the diversity of individual trophic groups and multifunctionality. Our results also suggest that the role of multitrophic diversity is greater in forests than in grasslands. These findings imply that, to promote sustained ecosystem multifunctionality, conservation planning must consider the diversity of both plants and higher trophic levels. Research on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships tends to focus on single trophic groups. This analysis of two biodiversity experiments, representing forests and grasslands, shows that plant diversity promotes ecosystem multifunctionality not only directly, but also by enhancing the diversity of other trophic levels. |
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article
Sustainable Land Management Enhances Ecological And Economic Multifunctionality Under Ambient And Future Climate |
Scherzinger Friedrich; Schaedler Martin; Reitz Thomas; Yin Rui; Auge Harald; Merbach Ines; Roscher Christiane; Harpole W. Stanley; Blagodatskaya Evgenia; Siebert Julia; Ciobanu Marcel; Marder Fabian; Eisenhauer Nico; Quaas Martin | Nature Communications, 2024 | |
AbstractThe currently dominant types of land management are threatening the multifunctionality of ecosystems, which is vital for human well-being. Here, we present a novel ecological-economic assessment of how multifunctionality of agroecosystems in Central Germany depends on land-use type and climate. Our analysis includes 14 ecosystem variables in a large-scale field experiment with five different land-use types under two different climate scenarios (ambient and future climate). We consider ecological multifunctionality measures using averaging approaches with different weights, reflecting preferences of four relevant stakeholders based on adapted survey data. Additionally, we propose an economic multifunctionality measure based on the aggregate economic value of ecosystem services. Results show that intensive management and future climate decrease ecological multifunctionality for most scenarios in both grassland and cropland. Only under a weighting based on farmers' preferences, intensively-managed grassland shows higher multifunctionality than sustainably-managed grassland. The economic multifunctionality measure is about similar to 1.7 to 1.9 times higher for sustainable, compared to intensive, management for both grassland and cropland. Soil biodiversity correlates positively with ecological multifunctionality and is expected to be one of its drivers. As the currently prevailing land management provides high multifunctionality for farmers, but not for society at large, we suggest to promote and economically incentivise sustainable land management that enhances both ecological and economic multifunctionality, also under future climatic conditions. |
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article
Sustainable Land Use Strengthens Microbial And Herbivore Controls In Soil Food Webs In Current And Future Climates |
Suennemann Marie; Barnes Andrew D.; Amyntas Angelos; Ciobanu Marcel; Jochum Malte; Lochner Alfred; Potapov Anton M.; Reitz Thomas; Rosenbaum Benjamin; Schaedler Martin; Zeuner Anja; Eisenhauer Nico | Global Change Biology, 2024 | |
AbstractClimate change and land-use intensification are threatening soil communities and ecosystem functions. Understanding the combined effects of climate change and land use is crucial for predicting future impacts on soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in agroecosystems. Here, we used a field experiment to quantify the combined effects of climate change (warming and altered precipitation patterns) and land use (agricultural type and management intensity) on soil food webs across nematodes, micro-, and macroarthropods. Specifically, we investigated two types of agricultural systems-croplands and grasslands-under both high- and low-intensity management. We focused on assessing the functioning of soil food webs by investigating changes in energy flux to consumers in the main trophic groups: decomposers, microbivores, herbivores, and predators. While the total energy flux and detritivory, herbivory and predation in the soil food web remained unchanged across treatments, low-intensity land use-compared to high intensity-led to higher microbivory and microbial control under future climate conditions (i.e., warming and summer drought) in croplands and grasslands. At the same time, microbial and herbivore control were higher under low-intensity land use in croplands and grasslands. Overall, our results underscore the potential benefits of less intensive, more sustainable management practices for soil food-web functioning under current and future climate scenarios. |
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article
Artificial Light At Night (Alan) Causes Shifts In Soil Communities And Functions |
Cesarz Simone; Eisenhauer Nico; Bucher Solveig Franziska; Ciobanu Marcel; Hines Jes | Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 2023 | |
AbstractArtificial light at night (ALAN) is increasing worldwide, but its effects on the soil system have not yet been investigated. We tested the influence of experimental manipulation of ALAN on two taxa of soil communities (microorganisms and soil nematodes) and three aspects of soil functioning (soil basal respiration, soil microbial biomass and carbon use efficiency) over four and a half months in a highly controlled Ecotron facility. We show that during peak plant biomass, increasing ALAN reduced plant biomass and was also associated with decreased soil water content. This further reduced soil respiration under high ALAN at peak plant biomass, but microbial communities maintained stable biomass across different levels of ALAN and times, demonstrating higher microbial carbon use efficiency under high ALAN. While ALAN did not affect microbial community structure, the abundance of plant-feeding nematodes increased and there was homogenization of nematode communities under higher levels of ALAN, indicating that soil communities may be more vulnerable to additional disturbances at high ALAN. In summary, the effects of ALAN reach into the soil system by altering soil communities and ecosystem functions, and these effects are mediated by changes in plant productivity and soil water content at peak plant biomass.This article is part of the theme issue 'Light pollution in complex ecological systems'. |
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article
Ecosystem Consequences Of Invertebrate Decline |
Eisenhauer Nico; Ochoa-Hueso Raul; Huang Yuanyuan; Barry Kathryn E.; Gebler Alban; Guerra Carlos A.; Hines Jes; Jochum Malte; Andraczek Karl; Bucher Solveig Franziska; Buscot Francois; Ciobanu Marcel; Chen Hongmei; Junker Robert; Lange Markus; Lehmann Anika; Rillig Matthias; Roemermann Christine; Ulrich Josephine; Weigelt Alexandra; Schmidt Anja; Tuerke Manfred | Current Biology, 2023 | |
AbstractHuman activities cause substantial changes in biodiversity.1,2 Despite ongoing concern about the implications of invertebrate decline,3-7 few empirical studies have examined the ecosystem consequences of invertebrate biomass loss. Here, we test the responses of six ecosystem services informed by 30 above-and belowground ecosystem variables to three levels of aboveground (i.e., vegetation associated) invertebrate community biomass (100%, 36%, and 0% of ambient biomass) in experimental grassland mesocosms in a controlled Ecotron facility. In line with recent reports on invertebrate biomass loss over the last decade, our 36% biomass treatment also represented a decrease in invertebrate abundance (-70%) and richness (-44%). Moreover, we simulated the pronounced change in invertebrate biomass and turnover in community composition across the season. We found that the loss of invertebrate biomass decreases ecosystem multi -functionality, including two critical ecosystem services, aboveground pest control and belowground decomposition, while harvested plant biomass increases, likely because less energy was channeled up the food chain. Moreover, communities and ecosystem functions become decoupled with a lower biomass of invertebrates. Our study shows that invertebrate loss threatens the integrity of grasslands by decoupling ecosystem processes and decreasing ecosystem-service supply. |
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article
Floristic Structure Of Juniperus Communis Subsp. Communis-Dominated Scrub From Hilly And Montane Areas Of Romania; [Structura Floristică A Tufărișurilor Dominate De Juniperus Communis Subsp. Communis Din Zonele Colinare Și Montane Ale României] |
Filipaș L.; Ciobanu M.; Coldea G. | Contributii Botanice, 2023 | |
AbstractTwo new Juniperus communis subsp. communis syntaxa from Romania are presented from floristic, ecological and syntaxonomic points of view, completing the picture of the European distribution area of these shrubby communities. The phytocoenoses of Thymio odoratissimi-Juniperetum communis ass. nova are present on calcareous substrates and are rich in continental Eurasian, meso-xerophilous species, for which reason we assigned it to alliance Brachypodio pinnati-Juniperion communis Mucina et al. 2016, and class Crataego-Prunetea Tx. 1962. The communities belonging to Vaccinio myrtilli-Juniperetum communis Kovács ex Filipaș et al. campanuletosum abietinae subass. nova occur on acidic substrates, crystalline schists and gresous formations, and are rich in acidophilous species, characteristic for the class Calluno-Ulicetea Br.-Bl. et Tx. ex Klika et Hadač 1944. We assigned this new syntaxon to alliance Vaccinio-Juniperion communis Passage in Passage et G. Hoffman 1968 because of the high presence of Vaccinium species (V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea) in the sub-shrub layer of these phytocoenoses. © 2023, Babes-Bolyai University, "Alexandru Borza" Botanic Garden. All rights reserved. |
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