Ecohydrological modelling- Linking earthworms and preferential flow

INTRODUCTION PRESENTATIONS PHOTO GALLERY

In most research, the focus is on either the spatiotemporal distribution/dynamics of earthworms or on the role of macropores in soil hydrology, thereby neglecting feedbacks between earthworms and soil hydrology. Therefore the Biopore workshop was organised from the 17th to the 19th of October 2011 in Gülpe. The aim of this workshop was to bring together some expert scientists from both sides to discuss issues related to the measurements and modelling of both earthworm and soil properties spatiotemporal distribution and how to link both across scales. We are grateful to the German Science Foundation DFG for funding this workshop (grant no. SCHR1000/3-1).

The workshop programme started off with short presentations of every participant on his / her specialisation. Then thematic blocks were introduced with a short presentation followed by a plenary discussion. Following is a list of topics which were treated:

• Sampling design: taking into account variability at different scales in both earthworm abundance as well as hydrological variables

• Sampling method: earthworms, hydrology, interactions

• Statistical earthworm distribution modeling

• Process-based modeling of population dynamics / individual-based modeling

• Macropore flow modeling

• Feedbacks between earthworm activity and soil properties

• Scaling issues: which processes are important at which scale?

INTRODUCTION PRESENTATIONS PHOTO GALLERY

INTRODUCTION PRESENTATIONS PHOTO GALLERY