Mechanisms of Forest Resilience

Forests regulate major carbon and water cycles of the Earth system, yet increasing heat and drought events threaten their resilience.

Our research advances mechanistic understanding of how trees and forests respond to climatic stress by integrating experiments, forest observations, and ecosystem modelling across scales—from organs and trees to landscapes. We investigate species-specific stress responses, post-stress recovery, and legacy effects. By uncovering the mechanisms that govern tree stress responses and recovery, our research provides the scientific foundation needed to better anticipate climate change impacts on forests and inform strategies that support resilient forest ecosystems. Alongside our research, we teach students in eco-physiological science and share knowledge with schools and society.

Prof. Dr. Nadine Rühr doing experiments in the greenhouse at IMK-IFU

The greenhouse at KIT-Campus Alpin in front of the Alpspitze

Biomass samples in front of the IMK-IFU greenhouse

PhD student measuring chlorophyll content during a hot drought stress experiment in the greenhouse at IMK-IFU

Two people working in the lab at IMK-IFU

Winter trees in front of the greenhouse at IMK-IFU

PhD student examines the experimental trees in the greenhouse at IMK-IFU

A person using the PSI PolyPen to measure the spectral reflectance on a beech leaf

Preparing tree needles for further measurement

Greenhouse experiments with dendrometer on a tree

News

Scientific presentation on plant measurements and efficiency.

Chiara Receives the Sattelmühle Foundation's Academic Award

The Sattelmühle Foundation - a nonprofit foundation that promotes science, research, and education in the fields of nature conservation, landscape conservation, and forestry - awards the 2026 Academic Award to Chiara for her outstanding bachelor’s thesis, “Effects of repeated heat and hot drought stress on gas exchange, pigment levels, and leaf damage in Fagus sylvatica”.
In her research, Chiara investigated how young European beech trees respond to repeated heat stress, and how additional drought stress affects their physiological processes and recovery. The results show that the combination of repeated heat and drought, in particular, exacerbates the adverse effects and delays recovery, underscoring the importance of further research into the resilience of trees to future climate conditions.

Five people pose in nature holding a PhD hat, smiling.

Congratulation, Yanick!

Yanick has successfully defended his PhD thesis "Advancing tree water deficit as a physiological indicator of drought stress” with distinction. In his research Yanick combined experimental studies in the greenhouse with modelling of drought stress in forest ecosystems. Yanick is now at TUM, continuing in the field of forest ecosystem and drought research using high-resolution dendrometers. Congratulations!

Students explored how trees response to stress

The Plant Ecophysiology course for Geoecology students from Karlsruhe took place at KIT-Campus Alpin 21-25 September 2026. In addition to short introductory lectures, the students had time to learn experimental techniques, conducted their own measurements as part of an ongoing experiment, and analyzed and interpreted the data.

Collaborations

Forests in a warmer world

Forests ecosystems are critical for climate regulation, land biodiversity, for providing fresh water, timber and non-timber products, and also for human well-being and security.

What we do - simply explained

Measuring instruments on a meadow in the foothills of the Alps

Institute of Geography and Geoecology (IFGG)

For Students

Aerial view of healthy and damaged conifers

International Tree Mortality Network

Our mission is to facilitate collaboration between scientists to combine expertise, knowledge and data...

Network for scientists