Objective Spatial and temporal variation in energy flow through food webs contributes to ecosystem stability. In stable food webs, energy is channelled through resource compartments, in which energy passes independently of other compartments. Higher-order consumers can derive energy from multiple compartments; even though energy flow through individual compartments varies, populations of higher-order consumers are relatively stable since resources in multiple compartments are more likely to be continuously available. Therefore, food webs that contain functionally-diverse consumer communities are likely better equipped to withstand environmental variation that impacts the rates, timing, and quality of resources entering food webs. I propose to use soil food webs to test the hypotheses that diet plasticity and functional diversity in consumers promotes ecosystem stability. I also propose to better resolve trophic interactions and resource compartmentation in soil food webs using molecular techniques, characterize functional diversity of consumers in soil food webs from these more fully resolved interactions, and evaluate the consequences of consumer functional diversity on ecosystem functioning (soil aggregation and carbon sequestration). Fields of science medical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionnatural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems Keywords Anthropogenic impact on ecosystems Biodiversity status and trends Causes and mechanisms of loss Risk assessment Risk assessment and trends Soil biodiversity Soil ecology Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008 - Marie Curie Action: "International Incoming Fellowships" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IIF - International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) Coordinator FREIE UNIVERSITAET BERLIN EU contribution € 170 418,35 Address KAISERSWERTHER STRASSE 16-18 14195 Berlin Germany See on map Region Berlin Berlin Berlin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Matthias Rillig (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data