Research projects
BucheTIG - Subproject 2: Phenotypic plasticity and genetic adaptation in provenance trials of European beech along an environmental gradient
As one of the major broadleaved tree species in Central Europe, European beech has a high economic and ecological value. At the same time, potential impacts of climate change and the ability of the species to adapt to changing environmental conditions have not been adequately studied. Knowledge on adaptive responses and potential to climate change, however, would allow for an assessment of climate-related risks to beech forests. Further, active support measures may be formulated to improve the climate stability of beech forests, and thus to secure the economic and ecological performance of the species. The aim of the project, which is part of the joint research project “Research focus genetics and dendroecology of European beech – drought stress, in-vitro culture and genomics (BucheTIG)” funded by the FNR as part of the Forest Climate Fund, is to assess the drought stress tolerance of selected beech provenances under contrasting environmental conditions using tree-ring-based and plant-ecological methods.
Cooperating partners in BucheTIG: Thünen Institut (Projektkoordination), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Funding: BMEL, BMUV
Duration: 03.2022-03.2025
ForeSight: Predicting and monitoring drought-linked forest growth decline across Europe
For predicting future effects of climate change on growth and mortality of European forests, this project combines retrospective tree-ring analyses with the latest process-based modeling techniques. In addition, a satellite-based monitoring system of forest condition will be developed, ultimately enabling the identification of future growth decline well before it can be detected from field-based observations. Results of the project will support regional adaptation of the forest sector to climate change.
Contact: Marieke van der Maaten-Theunissen
Cooperating partners: University of Stirling (project coordination), Durham University, Forest Research, TU Munich
Funding: NERC
Duration: 06.2019-08.2022
I-MAESTRO: Innovative forest management strategies for a resilient bioeconomy under climate change and disturbances
Climate change will modify forest dynamics by direct (precipitation, temperature) and indirect (disturbances) effects, which will influence productivity and other ecosystem services. Disturbances are key factors as they could intensify in the future. This project aims at improving our knowledge about resistance to disturbances and recovery processes in forest ecosystems. For this purpose forest growth models are used to analyze the impacts of disturbance, management and climate change scenarios on ecosystem services at multiple spatial scales. A detailed project description can be found here.
Project staff: Mats Mahnken
Cooperating partner: PIK Potsdam, INRAE Grenoble, EFI Bonn, University of Agriculture Krakow, University of Ljubljana
Funding: BMEL, EU Horizon 2020
Duration: 06.2019-09.2022
BuVit: Beech dieback after the 2018/2019 drought
The extremely hot and dry weather conditions in the years 2018/2019 have had a strong negative impact on the growth and vitality of European beech in Germany, locally resulting in tree dieback. Based on dendroecological and genetic analyses in beech stands in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Thuringia and Brandenburg, the BuVit-project will decipher the causes of tree vitality loss and dieback. Furthermore, recommendations for forest management will be formulated.
Cooperating partners: Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Landesbetrieb Forst Brandenburg, ThüringenForst, Hainich National Park
Funding: Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Duration: 05.2020-12.2022
Allometric relationships of young deciduous trees
In forest-conversion stands in northern Saxony, the growth of young sessile oak and common beech under a shelter of Scots pine will be analyzed. Relationships between growth variables and competition will be reconstructed and modeled at the individual-tree level. The project aims to improve biomass estimation for these increasingly important forest stands, allowing better predictions of forest growth simulators. In addition, indirect estimates of leaf area index, a major input parameter of forest hydrological models, will be explored.
Project staff: Hans Küchenmeister
Cooperating partner: Forschungsinstitut für Bergbaufolgelandschaften e.V.
Funding: Sachsenforst
Duration: 01.2020-12.2022
Assessing impacts of global change on forests in Mecklenburg-Pommerania
This project focuses on effects of global change on the growth and vitality of forests in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Growth of Scots pine and European beech is studied on 56 permanent monitoring sites (BDF-F) of the state forestry service 'Landesforst MV', which cover a precipitation gradient over the entire federal state as well as all important climatic areas and geological strata. Specifically, relationships between tree growth, soil parameters, climate conditions, atmospheric deposition and crown condition will be analyzed.
Project staff: Juliane Stolz
Cooperating partner: Landesforst Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Funding: TU Dresden, Eva Mayr-Stihl Stiftung
Duration: 09.2018-08.2022