Nine major research foci of the group
The research foci of the group cover a wide range of ecological areas. Below given are 9 focus areas that are recently covered by research projects. For each focus area a pdf file containing a poster in English language can be downloaded.1) Forest dynamics
2) Temperate forests under climate change
3) Ecology and biodiversity of tropical forests
4) Ecology of treelines
5) Root ecology and rhizosphere research
6) Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning
7) Biodiversity loss in the agricultural landscape
Current research projects
F.R.A.N.Z. – For Resources, Agronomy and Biodiversity Conservation in Intensively Used Farmland
(Federal Ministry for Agriculture and Nutrition/Federal Nature Conservation Agency)
The experimental and demonstration project F.R.A.N.Z. develops concepts of promoting agrobiodiversity on 10 conventional farms in Germany by finding compromises between the goal to maintain high agricultural yield and to establish various types of ecological focus areas (EFAs) on 5-10 percent of the farmland area. The measures to increase biodiversity are proposed by scientists and are implemented together with the farmers. The success of biodiversity promotion is measured in the EFAs by comparison with a control and the BACI (before-after-control-impact) approach. The economic success of the farms is also recorded.
(DFG – German Research Foundation)
Mixed forests are a possible option to combine high wood production with nature conservation goals in forests. Norway spruce and Douglas fir are often used to enrich beech forests by fast growing conifers but it is not well understood how these species alter ecosystem functions. We study tree water status and tree hydraulics in pure stands of beech, spruce and Douglas fir, and mixed beech/spruce and beech/Douglas fir stands in 8 regions of Lower Saxony (lowlands and uplands, 40 stands in total) using tree climbers and a mobile elevator van for canopy access. We measure leaf water status, vpd sensitivity of stomatal conductance, xylem hydraulic conductivity, xylem vulnerability to cavitation, and sap flux in trees of the three species in pure or mixed stands. Main goal is to assess possible tree neighborhood and complementarity effects on the water use of the pure or mixed stands.