Prokaryotic communities play a crucial role in soil ecosystems, yet their diversity and functions remain largely underexplored across different land-use types. During her PhD studies, Anne-Cathrine Storgaard Danielsen investigated the patterns of prokaryotic community composition and diversity in agricultural and natural habitats throughout Denmark. She also explored the distribution and degree of soil water repellency. By including over 7,000 soil samples, she identified patterns in prokaryotic community composition and diversity across Denmark and the key soil properties that shape these communities. Furthermore, she uncovered how soil water repellency, a dynamic soil property, is distributed at a national level and the properties influencing the degree of soil water repellency. This research provides valuable insights into soil biodiversity and offers innovative approaches for incorporating prokaryotic communities into conservation frameworks like the European Habitats Directive.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 22 November 2024 at 10:00.
Place: Auditorium, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Alle 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of PhD thesis: Prokaryotic diversity and soil water repellency in agricultural and natural habitats: Environmental and biotic drivers, spatial patterns, and conservation implications
Contact information: Anne-Cathrine Storgaard Danielsen, e-mail: acsd@agro.du.dk, tel.: +45 29878461
Members of the assessment committee:
Associate Professor Muhammad Naveed, School of Computing and Engineering, University of West London, England
Senior Researcher, Head of Research Naoise Nunan, Institute of ecology and environmental sciences of Paris, France
Senior Researcher Jim Rasmussen (chair), Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Professor Lis Wollesen de Jonge, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Professor Mogens Humlekrog Greve, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Professor Signe Normand, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.