Experiments and modelling are combined to understand how microbial funciton and resource stoichiometry control ecosystem processes. My role in this project is to develop theory and models to understand, integrate and upscale the experimental results.

Key theoretical results so far :

• A principle that explaines the growth rate hypothesis, i.e. the relatioship between growth, RNA and Phosphorus has been discovered.
• This principle is likely to be important for nutrient mineralization and litter decomposition in soil.

Much more info at: http://www.micdif.net

Earlier work in this area involves the effects of nutrient additions on decomposition in soil and its effect on the forest carbon balance.

Publications:

Franklin O, Högberg P, Ekblad A, Ågren G I. 2003. Pine forest floor carbon accumulation in response to N and PK additions – Bomb 14C modelling and respiration studies. Ecosystems 6: 644-658.