Research projects

A. Riedenklau / A. Roloff

Was zeichnet eigentlich einen alten Baum aus und welche Charakteristika machen ihn zu einem schutzwürdigen Baum? In einer Masterarbeit an der TU Dresden in Tharandt ist untersucht worden, wie der ästhetische, ökologische und kulturelle Wert alter Bäume erfasst werden kann.

Alte Bäume üben eine starke Faszination auf Menschen aus. Ihre Dimensionen, hohlen und knorrigen Stämme sowie ihre interessanten Standorte und Historien sind kaum zu begreifen oder nachzuvollziehen. Vor allem das mögliche Alter von Bäumen, die zu der Gruppe der langlebigen Baumarten gehören (> 400 Jahre Lebenserwartung), führt zur großen Bewunderung und Wirkung einzelner Individuen. Doch die Anzahl wirklich alter Bäume ist in Deutschland gering und verringert sich zunehmend aufgrund zu hoher Sicherheitserwartungen an viele alte Bäume.

Dabei sind Bäume eine der wenigen lebenden Verbindungen zur Vergangenheit und zeigen ihren Widerstand gegen Naturgewalten, Schädlinge und auch gegen menschliche Eingriffe und Anpassungsmechanismen auf eine besondere und eindrucksvolle Weise. Welchen ästhetischen, ökologischen und kulturellen Wert kann also ein (ur-)altes Baumindividuum haben? Und wie definiert man diese Eigenschaften, sodass sie zum Erhalt dieser besonderen Bäume beitragen?

Um dies herauszufinden, sind Eigenschaften und Kriterien erarbeitet worden, die einen alten Baum auszeichnen. Ein umfassender und ein Schnell-Erfassungsbogen wurden entwickelt und sollen nun getestet und optimiert werden.

Erfassungsbögen Altbäume - Erläuterungen

Erfassungsbogen Altbäume - Kurzfassung

Erfassungsbogen Altbäume - Langfassung
 

A. Solger, D. Krabel

TV 2: Von der wissenschaftl. Analyse bis zur Umsetzung.

BMBMF: 033L219B

Förderdauer: 01.04.2020 - 31.03.2023

https://www.projekt-olga.de/

Wie bei vielen deutschen Großstädten, so existieren auch zwischen der sächsischen Landeshauptstadt Dresden (LHD) und ihrem weiteren Umland erhebliche Diskrepanzen hinsichtlich zahlreicher wichtiger Lebensbedingungen. Während sich in Städten höhere Einkommen und Kapital auf geringem Platz für Arbeit und Wohnen konzentrieren, sind in ländlichen Räumen häufig geringere Einkommen sowie flächenintensive Nutzungen wie

Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Rohstoffgewinnung oder Naturschutzgebiete zu finden. Gleichzeitig gibt es eine starke emotionale Verankerung der ländlichen Bevölkerung mit ihrer Heimat, und das zunehmende Gefühl einer Benachteiligung im Vergleich zu den prosperierenden Großstädten führt zu einer wachsenden sozialen Entfremdung. Deshalb müssen Maßnahmen für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung neben der konkreten wirtschaftlichen und ökologischen Entwicklung auch den Bau von emotionalen Brücken beinhalten.

Zur Beförderung der langfristig tragfähigen regionalen Entwicklung wird das geplante Vorhaben einen positiven Beitrag leisten, indem es die Projektregion Dresden intensiver verzahnt, regionale Wirtschaftskreisläufe stärkt, Ökosystemfunktionen verbessert und zu gegenseitigem Verständnis beiträgt.

Ziel des Projektes OLGA ist es, mehrere untereinander verzahnte Module zu bearbeiten, die sich an der deutschen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie und den Sustainable Development Goals der UNO (insb. affordable and clean energy, climate action, life and land, sowie sustainable cities and communities)

orientieren: Im Modul Fließgewässer und Holznutzung werden Möglichkeiten zur optimalen Gestaltung von Fließgewässern aus Sicht von stofflicher und energetischer Holznutzung, Gewässerökologie und mikroklimatischer Wohlfahrtswirkung untersucht. Im Modul Regionale Vertriebswege und Biodiversität in der Landwirtschaft werden brachliegende Potenziale für die Versorgung der Stadt Dresden mit Lebensmitteln aus der Region erschlossen und zudem untersucht, wie sich Ernährung, Naturschutz und eine Regionalwährung für eine stärkere Verflechtung von Stadt und Umland optimal verknüpfen lassen. Durch das Modul Konzeption und Evaluation von Partizipation und Citizen-Science-Vorhaben wird die Öffentlichkeit aktiv in die Maßnahmen der vorgenannten Module einbezogen und diese Beteiligung zudem systematisch beforscht. Das Modul Regionale Integration und Projektmanagement agiert als Schnittstelle innerhalb der Projektpartner sowie zur breiten Öffentlichkeit. Hier fließen alle Informationen zur regionalen Zusammenarbeit, zu Interessenkonflikten und zu den rechtlichen Anforderungen und Normen zusammen mit dem Ziel, eine langfristig tragfähige organisatorische Basis für die weitere regionale Kooperation (auch auf anderen Feldern) zu schaffen und konkrete Lösungen dafür zu implementieren.

Ming Liu

1 Overview

This project concerns a series of potential impacts directly or indirectly caused by climate change and climate events on urban trees, such as elevated air temperature and precipitation change, etc. Based on both flora of China and Germany, the urban tree species with high adaptation and vitality will be selected out. A framework of “climate change–tree species selection–ecosystem services” is to be established to assess urban trees providing ecosystem services in the context of climate change.

2 Objectives and Contents

2.1 Expansion of Chinese and German Tree Species for Citree Database

In past years, many tree species in China and central Europe have been introduced with each other. However, due to global warming, the selection of the urban trees considering climate change becomes the hot topic, advanced methods are explored to cope with the impacts of climate change on urban trees. TU Dresden has developed the Citree database (https://citree.de/?language=en), focusing on more than 350 indigenous and introduced woody plants in Germany to address the many parameters of tree species selection in urban conditions. Taking advantage of both China and Germany, it is necessary to increase supplementary tree species into the Citree database.

2.2 Assessment of urban trees in response to climate change

The systematic assessment of the adaptability of urban tree species for the introduction and domestication is significant. Many impacts directly and indirectly related to climate change affect the selection process, such as urban floods, rising sea levels, soil salinization, heat and drought, pests and diseases, etc. These require further in-depth research and discussion.

2.3 Resilience strategies for urban tree species adapted to climate change

Climate adaptation strategies for urban trees have attracted widespread. As a proactive measure, urban green space should choice adaptive tree species for sustaining ecosystem services. The selection framework for urban trees adapted to climate change is explored to meet the actual needs of multi-objective and multi-functional urban green spaces. It provides useful reference and guidance for urban tree species planning.

B. Reiche, J. Tippmann, D. Krabel

Part 2

Project duration: 01.10.2018 – 30.09.2021

The spruce (Picea abies) is one of the most important tree species in forestry and wood industry due to its high productivity, wood properties and silvicultural advantages. Cultivated spruce provenances show clear differences in their adaptability (e.g. pathogenic resistance, dry tolerance) to specific locations. Although the area cultivated with spruce is continuously decreasing, it will remain an important tree species. Therefore, spruce propagation material with regional adaptation and increased resistance produced in seed plantations will become increasingly important. For sustainable forest management, the production and origin of propagation material must therefore be examined and guaranteed in accordance with quality requirements. The aim of the joint project is to develop and provide a molecular marker system based on repetitive DNA for ensuring the identity of spruce propagation material as a basis for sustainable forest management and to test its applicability to other coniferous tree species.

K. Morgenstern, J.-U. Polster, B. Reiche, I. Szut, D. Krabel

FKZ: 22026416 vom Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (BMEL) über die Fachagentur nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR)

The selection of suitable seeds is essential for successful plant production and the establishment of healthy forest stands. Nevertheless, the health of the seeds is receiving less attention in the quality assessment of forest reproductive material. The aim of the research project is to ensure quality and to reduce the economic risks in the production of forestry plants. Methods for the inactivation of pathogenic fungi in plant cells are tested and, based on the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), a rapid and cost-effective detection method for the early identification of an infestation is developed on the example of Douglas fir and the pathogen Rhadocline pseudotsugae. In accordance with the common practice in fruit production, forestry is provided with a technique which allows the forest owner / tree-nurseries to use seed with low or no pathogen infestation.

Dendromass4Europe

M. Meyer, K. Morgenstern, N. Opfermann, K. Schaeffer, D. Krabel

OBJECTIVES

• Establishment and expansion of 2500 ha of short rotation poplar plantations on marginal or on currently unused agricultural land in rural areas

• Demonstration of the market introduction and the application of 4 New Bio-Based Materials (NBBM) linked to the establishment of 4 new bio-based value chains based upon adding higher value to both the wood and the bark of the poplars separately

• Reduction of dendromass costs through the adaptation and optimisation of innovative harvesting and storage systems

• Implementation of dedicated monitoring and applied-level research to ensure plantation quality, production stability, optimum poplar variety selection and risk avoidance

• Validation of the expected positive ecological impacts by assessing the life cycles of the NBBMs along the value chains (life cycle assessment)

WORK PACKAGES

Work package 1 has the objective to form the legal and conceptual basis for the practical SRC operations which enables D4EU to establish and operate 2,500 ha of dendromass plantations with poplars on agricultural land. This land is currently not in use, underutilized or marginal. A further objective is the planning of adequate land valorisation and land improvement or remediation measures that enables D4EU to put underutilized soils back into production.

Work package 2 has the objective to demonstrate the successful establishment and growth of 2,500 ha SRC as well as the related supply chains for timber separated into wood and bark. This includes also the testing, development and demonstration of relevant harvesting technology. Connected to this, the development of efficient log storage and conservation methods for maintaining stems up to several months is of great importance for the industrial partners. This will ensure a continuous supply of wood and bark throughout the year at the desired quality. A third objective is the operational monitoring of the SRC. Because plant growth and yield is depending on site and soil parameters, it is important to survey these parameters carefully.

Work package 3 targets to ascertain suitable parameters for SRC logs utilization in a large scale industrial environment. In a further step, the results from the industry scale trials will be used to analyse the full cost and product impact of the novel feedstock on the production process.

Work package 4 aims to identify the fungicidal compounds in the bark linked with searching for the poplar species with the highest effective level of fungicidal substances. Furthermore, a new treatment method for fixing the fungicides in the bulk has to be developed. The examples will be used for determining the required proportion of natural fungicides in the New Bio-Based Material for a utmost protective effect.

Work package 5 will follow the approach of accompanying R&D. Thus all activities and the value chain establishment will be described with environmental and socio-economic assessments. Another objective is to derive possibilities to increase the acceptance of short rotation cropping system and to identify the scope for further system improvement in terms of eco-efficiency.

Work package 6 will focus on communication, exploitation and dissemination of project results, because Dendromass4Europe strives to strengthen the European bio-based industries by increasing their efficiency, profitability and competitiveness, and by optimal resource consumption.

Work package 7 is responsible for the activities related to the coordination of the project. That includes the technical, administrative, financial, and legal management of the project. The objective of work package 7 is to ensure an effective management of Dendromass4Europe’s day-to-day administration, project coordination and monitoring of the work in progress.

DAAD-Doktorandenstipendium sowie Staatsstipendium der Mongolei für Frau Bayartaa Nyamjav, Mongolei
As a reaction on various case-scenarios and forward-looking statements concerning climate change discussions, foresters started to focus their interest on mechanisms of adaptability of the tree species and the mechanisms of a plant to react on a changing environment. In this context a number of questions have to be discussed:
- Do species or populations have different abilities to react on such a challenge like climate change?
- If yes, which are the mechanisms of such species/populations which are more adaptable than other species/populations?
- Are those species/populations the most adaptable in the future, which are the most adaptable at the moment?
- Which traits are suitable for measuring adaptability?
Due to their long life, their attachment to one place and a comparably fast changing environment the survival of a tree species or tree population dependents on the capacity to adapt to different environmental situations. This capacity (adaptability) has to be regarded on the level of the individual or on the population level. On the level of an individual the capacity is expressed as a specific phenotype. Concerning forest trees there exist a number of possibilities how the plant might react on different situations. The mechanism of leave abscission as one reaction to drought stress or the differentiation of reaction wood as a result of mechanical forces are two examples. On the level of the population adaptability and adaptedness to a specific environment is expressed in specific genetic structures which means the occurrence of specific genetic variants and their distribution within the population. As a result of this strategy and by the process of selection specific morphological and/or physiological subpopulations might be generated. In some cases these subpopulations are adapted to very specific environmental conditions.

Aim of the Project

• Determination of the genetic structures from oak (Quercus spec. L.) populations (seeds) from extreme sites
• Evaluation of selection by determination of the genetic structures of young seedlings which survived drought treatment
• Determination of the influence of water supply during the phase of bud induction and leaf development and other phenotypic characteristics during the following vegetation period
• Studies on genetic conditionality of morphological/anatomical traits by investigating the progeny of different provenances on one and the same stand
• Investiagtion on trait variation of different oak provenances, originating from stands with different water supply and the reaction on varying water supply
• Intermediate-term observations on the influence of varying water supply on growth, morphology, anatomy and phenology as well as physiology on the oak provenances

K. Stetzka

Bio-indication, pH value, eutrophication, bio-monitoring

Van Thi Yen

Eurycoma longifolia Jack is a well-known medicinal plant, which was researched and developed in Vietnam as well as in other Asian countries. The extensive harvest of wild-grown trees for medicinal use has led to rapid thinning of the natural populations and a potential loss of genetic diversity of this species. Although there have been several research reports on distribution and bioactive components of this species in Vietnam, the surveys are preliminary and the incomplete data. Moreover, there is little to no detailed information on the ecological distribution areas and genetic diversity of this species in Thua Thien Hue province. The aim of proposed project is not only focusing on the natural distribution areas and genetic diversity of E. longifolia populations in lowland and highland mountains but also in sandy areas in order to identify genotypes with and to catalogue the genotypes in three different ecological zones in Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. In addition, species distribution and genetic diversity studies are essential for providing information for propagation, domestication and breeding programs as well as conservation of forest genetic resources. Therefore, the following questions should be discussed:

- How is the distribution of E. longifolia populations in three ecological areas?

- How are the population genetic structures? 

- Are there differences in genetic variation within populations and between populations?

- How is the correlation between phenotype and genotype of this species?

Aims of the Project:  

- To determine the ecological distribution zones of E. longifolia in the study area;

- To analyze the genetic diversity between and within different ecological zones of E. longifolia;

- To estimate the genetic population structure of E. longifolia.

M. Binder / A. Roloff

The growth behaviour of Taxus baccata and Ilex aquifolium with increasing light supply differs from most indigenous tree species, not raising their growth increment. Both species retain their slow growth rate.

Aim of the project is to investigate parameters of the hydraulic system to detect the limiting factor of photosynthetic gain. On this basis statements on the adaptation potential of the species to climate change will become possible. To interpret the measurements of Taxus and Ilex with other species, beech trees at the same site will be measured simultaneously.
To answer these questions for a (semi-)natural habitat the soil water content, tree water transport in trunk, branches and leaves are investigated, connected with measurements of conductivity and analysis of the xylem anatomy.

M. Forker / A. Roloff

The Caatinga is one of the most extensive contiguous seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) areas in South America. The severe drought in 2012 and 2013 emphasized the importance of research on sustainable land-use in SDTFs that withstand climate change. There exists little information about regeneration in the Caatinga. Moreover, there is a lack of appropriate identification tools for species inventories in the region. The objective of the PhD-project was a) to find floristic differences in older an younger successional stages and to b) determine the above ground biomass in different vegetation-types including young successional stages.

Study site: Natural Monument “Grota do Angico” (2.183 ha), Sergipe, Brazil located at the São Francisco River, characterized by a megathermal semiarid climate (mean annual temperature: 26-28°C, precipitation: 500-700 mm/year).

Methods: Sampling of 40 relevés of 20x20m, recording species composition, DBH and height of all individuals with DBH >2.5 cm. The sampling design was based on an ad-hoc vegetation mapping of the deciduous hiperxerophilous forest and open vegetation in regeneration stages, differentiating six vegetation-types: 1) driftline communities; 2) shrublands on the dunes along the river; 3) Cactus-dominated rocky slopes; 4) Tall-growing formations along periodic creeks; 5) Older secondary Caatinga stages; and 6) a three-year-old successional stage.

Results: Species numbers and biomass are both significantly lower in the young successional stage. Clear-cutting for pasture impedes regrowth of near-natural Caatinga forests through depletion of late-successional species, even if they occur in the near environment.

The Lucid 3 Builder was applied to build an interactive multiple entry key to the Caatinga genera of the study site, that will be published online. The key contains 99 genera from 43 plant families and uses 35 features with 153 states in total for the determination process.

K. Morgenstern, J.-U. Polster, D. Krabel

Development of quick tests for quality assurance in forest plant production and provision of high-performance seed and planting material

Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) through the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR)
Grant reference: 2220WK06X4

The production of healthy seed and planting material is a fundamental prerequisite for the establishment of ecologically stable and economically efficient forest stands. Nevertheless, forest plant production is threatened today, as it was equally in the past, by biotic damaging factors and the risks associated with new, invasive species are becoming increasingly important as a result of climate change and globalization.

The detection and identification of pathogens is an essential precondition to reduce the spread of pathogens and to implement plant protection measures effectively. Of particular interest is the early detection in seed stands, seeds and young plants. This requires efficient and practical diagnostic methods.

The aim of the research project is to develop a DNA-based quick test that is superior to previous standard methods (e.g. cultivation or PCR-based methods) in terms of sensitivity, effort and costs. In addition, the distribution of selected pathogens in German seed stands will be investigated in order to assess the risk of transmission via seeds.

The pine pathogens Gibberella circinata (pitch canker of pine; EPPO A2), Sphaeropsis sapinea (Diplodia blight) and Lophodermium seditiosum(Lophodermium needle cast) are included in the project. These pathogens were selected based on the silvicultural relevance of the host plant, the current damage potential of the fungi and the expected increasing negative impact of the selected pathogens on the host species due to climatic changes.

B. Kniesel

Water balance and deadwood as decisive control factors in a changing climate

Funded by the Forest and Climate Fund

Project partners:
Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology (Prof. Karsten Kalbitz (Antragsteller), Prof. Karl-Heinz Feger), Institute of General Ecology and Environmental Protection (Prof. Goddert von Oheimb)

Near-natural forests should have a positive effect on total carbon (C) storage in comparison to managed forests. Currently, dramatic changes in the soil moisture regime are ongoing. This includes extended and severe droughts and extreme rain events with unknown impacts on the C storage capacity of e.g. near-natural beech forests. Hence, it is largely unknown how increasing amounts of above- and belowground deadwood (i.e. coarse woody debris) due to a reduced management will affect long-term C storage in soils as a function of the soil moisture regime. Interactions between available soil water, deadwood, living trees with their rooting systems, and soil C storage are poorly understood under the rapidly changing environmental conditions with increasing frequency of droughts and heavy rainfall events. Feedback effects of increasing C storage on available soil water are not known, too. Therefore, we will determine the influence of spatio-temporal patterns of soil moisture on above and belowground C storage in the "Kossa Beech Forest" in the Dübener Heide (NW Saxony). Natural gradients in the soil water regime will be used to assess the impacts of climate change induced shift of the moisture regime on C storage in beech forests as the base to deduce scenarios for future development of C storage in these forests. The focus of this interdisciplinary research approach is to quantify the effects of an altered soil moisture availability on beech growth (above- and belowground biomass), deadwood accumulation, and long-term soil C storage. Furthermore, it will be clarified how any positive effects of deadwood on soil organic matter may affect soil moisture dynamics. Therefore, we will combine long-term integrated monitoring of important soil and stand parameters with field experiments, state-of-the-art analytical methods in the laboratory and modeling approaches.

S. Gillner / A. Roloff

Seit dem frühen Altertum wird der Olivenbaum im Mittelmeergebiet kultiviert. Damit zählt er zu einer der ältesten Kulturpflanzen der Erde. Es ist bekannt, dass Olivenbäume ein hohes Alter erreichen können. Bei der Recherche zum Alter besonders alter Exemplare zum Beispiel der Bäume auf Kreta, Stara Maslina in Montenegro, Tavira in Portugal oder in S’Ozzastru in Italien existieren für die meisten Bäume Angaben zu den Höhen, den Umfängen oder den Durchmessern. Diese Daten sind relativ schnell und unkompliziert durch Messungen zu ermitteln, geben allein aber keine Auskunft über das Alter, sondern eben nur über die enormen Ausmaße der Bäume. Altersangaben bis 2.000 Jahren sind für diese Bäume häufig zu finden, teilweise werden Angaben bis zu 5.000 Jahren gemacht. Diese Informationen werden bis auf wenige Ausnahme ausschließlich ohne Quellen und Dokumentation verbreitet, so zum Beispiel auch für den angeblich ältesten Olivenbaum der Welt in Vouves auf Kreta.

Ziel der vorliegenden Untersuchung war auf Basis der Dendrochronologie (dendron = griech. Baum, chronos = griech. Zeit und logos = griech. Lehre) das Alter von drei mächtigen Olivenbäumen auf Korfu zu schätzen. Die Durchmesser der Stämme und die Höhen der Bäume zeichnen sie als besonders imposant aus und liefern vergleichbare Daten wie für die ältesten Olivenbäume der Welt.

Die Ergebnisse aus dem linearen Regressionsmodell der Untersuchung schätzen das Alter des jüngsten Baumes auf ca. 735 Jahre und das des ältesten Baumes auf ca. 1.120 Jahre.

A. Dreßler / A. Roloff, P. Scheewe

Mit dem Projekt AdapTree sollte auf dem Gebiet der angewandten Klima- und Gehölzforschung die Grundlage für ein optimiertes und wissenschaftlich fundiertes Verfahren zur Vorbehandlung von Baumschulware gegen Trockenstress erarbeitet werden.

Ziel dieses Forschungsvorhabens war die Ermittlung einer Bewässerungsstrategie, die zu einer Erhöhung der Trockenheitstoleranz junger Baumschulpflanzen und damit zur Steigerung ihrer Überlebenschancen am trockenen Stadtstandort führt. Beurteilt wurden die Physiologie, die Anatomie und die jährlichen Zuwächse der Pflanzen.

Im Rahmen des zweijährigen Freilandversuches wurden jeweils 450 Pflanzen der fünf Baumarten Sorbus aucuparia, Tilia platyphyllos, Styphnolobium japonicum, Acer campestre und Populus nigra 'Italica' bei drei unterschiedlichen Bewässerungsstrategien im Jahr 2013 im Freiland kultiviert. Im Folgejahr wurden diese Bäume während der Vegetationsperiode Trockenheit ausgesetzt. Durch die Abdeckung des Bodens mit einer grünen, wasserundurchlässigen Gewebeplane konnte der Wassereintrag durch natürliche Niederschläge minimiert und die gesteuerte Bewässerung mittels Tropfschläuchen gewährleistet werden.
Anhand von ökophysiologischen Messungen (Gaswechsel, Chlorophyllfluoreszenz, Wasserpotentiale) und morphologisch-anatomischen Untersuchungen (Höhen- und Dickenwachstum, Trockenmassen, Gefäßgrößenverteilung) wurde die Entwicklung der Baumarten bei den jeweiligen Bewässerungs­strategien sowie bei Trockenheit im Folgejahr erfasst. Daraus wurden bewässerungsbedingte Reaktionen auf und Anpassungen an Trockenheit für die jeweiligen Baumarten abgeleitet.

D. Krabel, M. Meyer, S. Rust, H. Pelikan
Biotechnology research funding of the Free State of Saxony

U. Pietzarka / A. Roloff

Competition, germination, shade tolerance, photosynthesis, height increase, endangering

A. Roloff

Competition, stress tolerance, water budget, vitality, foreign tree species

B. Kniesel

Climate change, intra and inter-specific competition, dendrochronology

B. Kniesel / A. Roloff

Drought stress tolerance, leaf morphology and anatomy, dendroclimatology

D. Krabel, M. Meyer, S. Rust, S. Horwath
Biotechnology research funding of the Free State of Saxony

M. Meyer, K. Morgenstern, D. Krabel
Contracting authority / cooperator: R. Brandt, Saxon Free-State Forest Enterprise

B. Kniesel

Recent studies show that the frequency and intensity of disturbance events, such as drought and frost, can strongly affect the composition and dynamics of plant communities. However, our current understanding of underlying ecological processes and how they interact with other stressors is very limited but crucial for predicting the consequences of changing disturbance and stress regimes. Therefore, the proposed project aims at gaining mechanistic understanding of how forests respond to disturbance regimes and stressors. For this, we will combine dendrochronological methods, point pattern analyses, individual-based modeling approaches, and modern statistical techniques for model selection in a comprehensive way.

As study system, we will use beech-oak forests along a moisture gradient. Dendrochronological and wood anatomical analyses will provide information about individual growth responses of trees to environmental signals. In order to predict the consequences of such responses on forest stand level, individual-based simulation models will be used to test alternative assumptions on how trees interact locally, and modify their morphology and performance in response to competition and disturbances. The model that best explains the data will be used to predict accumulated effects of disturbances and stress on tree mortality and spatiotemporal patterns at the stand level. Our results will provide mechanistic insights into the potential of forests to buffer ongoing and expected changes in the climate regime and in particular the sequence and intensity of extreme climate events.

M. Meyer, A. Solger, D. Krabel

„Erschließung und Erhaltung genetischer Ressourcen von Baumarten für den landwirtschaftlichen Anbau“ im Rahmen des vom BMVEL geförderten Verbundprojektes „Züchtung schnellwachsender Baumarten für die Produktion nachwachsender Rohstoffe im Kurzumtrieb (FASTWOOD)

M. Meyer, A. Solger, D. Krabel

„Erschließung und Erhaltung genetischer Ressourcen von Baumarten für den landwirtschaftlichen Anbau“ im Rahmen des vom BMVEL geförderten Verbundprojektes „Züchtung schnellwachsender Baumarten für die Produktion nachwachsender Rohstoffe im Kurzumtrieb (FASTWOOD II)

FastWOOD III: Breeding of fast growing tree species for the production of renewable raw materials in short rotation forestry;

Project Partner 5: Evaluation and improvement of essential anatomical and physiological parameters for breeding fast growing trees

01.12.2014 - 30.11.2017

Project number: 14NR008, Bundesmisterium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz

As the demand of wood as raw material for different kind of products will increase in the near future, material utilization will become more important. For this reason the project aims for the improvement of different poplar genotypes for agricultural cultivation and industrial utilization. For this purpose physiological and wood anatomical traits are under investigation. One working package is mainly focused on genotype specific wood characteristics like e.g. width of growth rings, wood density, fibre length, vessel diameter and energy content. This part of the project continues the evaluations of FastWOOD I and II, but in addition new accessions have to be included into the investigation. Beside this aspect a second focus lies on the investigation of the rooting capacity of Poplar hardwood cuttings. The rooting capacity and the development of an efficient root system of young plants is the main precondition for a fast and successful biomass production of the trees. Therefore the reaction and growth performance (roots and shoots) of different genotypes will be compared under various growth conditions.

The third focus aims for the reduction of the duration of the breeding cycle and the development of a robust method of inducing flowering in young trees, not older than 5 years. Finally the gene pool of the breeding population has to be increased by the collection of new accessions. Therefore we focus on the collection of plant material growing on natural sites in Germany.

Project partner:

Nord-West-Deutsche Forstliche Versuchsanstalt, Hann-Münden

Thünen-Institut, Großhansdorf

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst, Pirna/Graupa

Amt für Saatzucht und Pflanzenproduktion, Teisendorf

Landeskompetenzzentrum Forst Eberswalde, Eberswalde

Forschungsinstitut für Bergbaufolgelandschaften e.V. , Finsterwalde   

During the next decades, humanity will have to cope with climatic changes and increasing urbanisation. To facilitate urban planning in the face of these issues, we strive to develop a software tool citree for the selection of trees in urban areas. The tool will not only incorporate the characteristics particular to each tree species but will also account for common planning practices, health issues (particularly in regard to air quality and allergy potential), and subjective assessments of city residents.

Poplar- a renewable resource for energy and raw material

In 2007 the heads of state and government in the EU passed a pioneering resolution on future climate policy. Core points of this resolution are a strong decline of greenhouse gas emissions and an expanded use of renewable energies. The cultivation of fast-growing trees in short rotation plantations provides woodchips for the heating sector and timber for the production of insulation or paper. Fast‑growing trees like poplars are CO₂ neutral energy sources that offer more advantages concerning to biodiversity and erosion protection than annual plants. Populus tremula, a wide distributed poplar species in the northern hemisphere, exhibits a pronounced ability to grow under unfavourable soil and water conditions. Nevertheless cost effectiveness of poplar plantations depends on the water accessibility, due to the fact that the drought response of P. tremula is linked to an unwanted biomass reduction. One of the main preconditions for establishing poplar plantations as a renewable resource for energy and raw material in Germany is the generation of water-deficit-tolerant and biomass-optimized poplar cultivars. According to this big aim, the work of the joint research project “ISOWOOD‑BREEDING”, funded by the federal ministry of education and research, focused on the utilization of a DNA‑marker‑based breeding strategy for poplars. Such DNA‑marker‑based strategies allowed screening of relatively young plants and provide a time and cost effective progress in breeding processes.

Laufzeit des Vorhabens:         01.07.2010 – 30.06.2014

FKZ 0315817C, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMF)

Das Ziel des Verbundvorhabens Klon-Forst bestand darin, erstmals Mehrklonsorten bei der Baumart Douglasie (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) mit jeweils spezifischer Eignung für die reguläre Forstwirtschaft (Bsp. Erzeugung von Qualitätsholz) sowie für Schnellwuchsplantagen (Bsp. Erzeugung von Energieholz und Biomasse) zu schaffen. Die klonale Vermehrung der Douglasie sollte durch biotechnologische Verfahren unter Nutzung der somatischen Embryogenese erfolgen. Hierfür wurden grundlegende Probleme der somatischen Embryogenese an Gewebe adulter Elitebäume bearbeitet und Verfahren zur verlustarmen Akklimatisierung somatischer Keimpflanzen einschließlich der Nutzung von Mykorrhizapilzen etabliert. Parallel dazu wurde an der Entwicklung molekularer Marker für eine frühzeitigen Bewertung von Qualitäts- und Resistenzmerkmalen gearbeitet. Insgesamt sollte mit dem Vorhaben erstmals ein verallgemeinerungswürdiges Beispiel für die Anwendung biotechnologischer Verfahren für die Züchtung und Verwertung forstwirtschaftlich wichtiger Nadelholzarten in Deutschland geschaffen werden.

Aufgabe der AG Molekulare Gehölzphysiologie im Verbundprojekt war die genetische Kartierung von Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) zu relevanten physiologischen und morphologisch/anatomischen Eigenschaften der Douglasie. Damit sollte eine Bewertung der Merkmale Stammqualität, Astigkeit und Resistenz gegenüber dem Erreger der Rostigen Douglasienschütte (Rhabdocline pseudotsugae Syd.) bereits im Zellkulturstadium ermöglicht werden. Darüber hinaus wurden Untersuchungen zu Infektions- und Verbreitungswegen von R. pseudotsugae durchgeführt. So wurde im Rahmen des Vorhabens R. pseudotsugae erstmals mit molekulargenetischen Methoden endophytisch in verschiedenen Gewebetypen der Douglasie nachgewiesen und Saatgut als potenzielle Infektionsquelle identifiziert.

Projektpartner:          

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Biologie, Gruppe                                        Entwicklungsbiologie, Invalidenstr. 42, 10115 Berlin                                 

Technische Universität Dresden, Institut für Forstbotanik und Forstzoologie, AG Molekular Gehölzphysiologie, Pienner Str. 7, 01737 Tharandt

Institut für Pflanzenkultur e.K., Solkau 2, 29465 Schnega

Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst, Bonnewitzer Str. 34, 01796 Pirna

Baumschulen Oberdorla GmbH, Burgstraße 57, 99986 Vogtei OT Oberdorla

Reinhold Hummel GmbH + Co. KG, Köstlinstraße 121, 70499 Stuttgart

S. Gillner / A. Roloff

mortality models for common beech based on radial growth time series data

M. Meyer, K. Morgenstern, D. Krabel, U. Pietzarka
Foundation for Nature Conservation Schleswig Holstein

S. Heemann / K. Stetzka, A. Roloff

Biodiversity, flora, neophyts, species, woody species, nature conservation

S. Gillner / A. Roloff

Changing climatic conditions will induce water stress to trees and shrubs due to increased average temperatures, more frequent heat waves and periods of drought during the growing season. One of the numerous problems associated with climate change is the successful establishment of healthy, long living plants adapted to the specific urban sites and changing climatic conditions, aiming to maintain the ecologic and economic benefits of city trees throughout future decades. Especially trees in urban environments are exposed to heat stress, low air humidity and soil drought due to a restricted rooting space, soil compaction and the generally higher temperatures at paved sites. In future the general drought resistance and the ability to cope with the specific environmental conditions in cities should be key criteria for the use of tree-species. Therefore the main focus of this study within the joint project REGKLAM was to identify tolerant tree-species at highly sealed urban sites and potential drought stress exemplarily for some of the commonly used street tree species growing in the city of Dresden, Germany.

Project partner in the cooperative project "Urban trees as climate messengers"

S. Gillner, A. Dreßler

Project duration: September 2017 to October 2019

funded by – "Sparkling Science"– a research programme of the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy (BMWFW), Austria

© sparkling science

Green infrastructure in general and urban trees in particular are considered to be key elements of urban climate adaptation strategies. Yet, there are open questions related to ecosystem services: how much can urban trees really provide and which tree species are adapted to climate change? The aim of the project is to contribute a better understanding of the linkages between tree growth, phenology and ecosystem services of urban trees.

Students from different Central European cities and communities (Salzburg, Vienna, Weer, Dresden, Szeged) collect data with a web app on the phenology (leaf growth, flowering, fruits, foliage colouring) and different growth parameters of trees. The data are analyzed in the project group. Those results illustrate the reaction patterns of different tree species to the weather conditions in a city and the reaction patterns of the same species to the weather conditions in different cities. Since urban trees reflect the urban climate, students learn to characterize climatic regions by means of weather conditions, climatic and phenological data, and to understand the interactions between urban climate and urban nature. Future scenarios of climate change are represented by those cities in the project network that are already characterized by drier, hotter summers and by more frequent severe rainfall events. In addition to the phenological observations, measurements are made on the leaf area, lowering of the surface temperature by the tree shadows and continuous microclimate measurements at tree sites.

Students not only produce quantitative assessments of the climatic regulations of these urban trees, but also express their research results and project experiences in an artistic way. This way, they can creatively work out the importance of urban trees from their own perception. The combination of different perspectives enables a valuable intercultural learning experience.

A. Roloff, D. Krabel

Quercus robur ssp. robur, ssp. petraea, morphology, physiology, genetics

Wood for Industry

This project is supported by BMEL (Bundesminidsteriums für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft) (FNR) and Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR)

A. Solger, D. Krabel

FKZ: 22020316

01.03.2017 to 29.02.2020

The results of forest tree breeding are important starting points for the improvement of productivity of short rotation- and fast growing plantations as well as forests in mid and the long term perspective. The breeding objectives concentrated mainly on the improvement of yield and quality aspects according to forestry standards at the same time on comparable or increased resistance. In contrast, wood properties were considered only to a marginal extent until today. In the project presented, already approved varieties of Aspen, Hybrid- Larch and Douglas fir will be investigated according to their physical and chemical wood properties as well as their usability for the wood processing industry for the first time in Germany.

Objectives of the project are the determination of a comprehensive description of wood properties and the deduction of the potential usability of approved varieties for the wood processing industry as well as the establishment of wood technological posters for each variety. Based on the results, breeding objectives will also be defined for ongoing breeding activities in order to produce optimized plant material for the respective use in wood processing. The procurement with forest reproductive material of approved varieties for the use in forestry and agriculture will be improved by the establishment of a procurement and marketing strategy.