Michael Scherer-Lorenzen

Michael Scherer-Lorenzen is a Professor in the Department of Biogeography at the University of Freiburg. He is affiliated with the BEF-China project and leads major research initiatives such as the New Integrated Litter Experiment (NILEx) and the TreeDì International Research Training Group. His work focuses on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) in subtropical forests, particularly examining how species diversity influences nutrient cycling, litter decomposition, and ecosystem services.

• Roles: Principal Investigator (SP05e, SP12e), Co-PI (NILEx), and Program Director (TreeDì).
• Key Projects: BEF-China, NILEx, and DECOMPOSCAPE, investigating biodiversity impacts on decomposition, nutrient dynamics, and microclimate effects.

His research integrates field experiments, trait-based ecology, and collaborative international efforts. Over 15 years, he has published extensively on biodiversity's role in ecosystem processes, with a focus on nitrogen cycling, herbivory dynamics, and functional traits.

Recent work emphasizes spatial and temporal scales of biodiversity effects, including how tree diversity mitigates drought impacts and drives multifunctionality in highly diverse forests.