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Our research
A fundamental understanding of tree responses to environmental cues is necessary to address climate change impacts. Forests critically influence the Earth's climate and cycle large quantities of carbon and water, yet trees are increasingly at risk through an amplification of extreme climatic events.
We address tree and forest resilience to climate change and extreme climatic events, in particular heat and drought stress. Our research provides process knowledge to predict and guide the potential of forests in mitigating climate change. We combine controlled experiments, observational studies and ecosystem modelling approaches. We teach undergraduate and graduate students in process-based ecological research, as well as provide knowledge transfer into schools and society.
Stem shrinkage derived from dendrometer measurements provides continuous insights into the water status of trees and can be used to detect early warnings of drought stress impacts on our forests. Read more in our new publication in Tree Physiology.
New paper out in Tree Physiology about how drought and heat-induced modifications to photorespiration affect hydrogen peroxide accumulation in silver fir.
The Plant Ecophysiology course for Geoecology students from Karlsruhe took place at KIT-Campus Alpin 16-20 September 2024. The students investigated physiological and biochemical responses of temperate tree species under drought stress and subsequent post-drought recovery following rewatering. The students identified distinct species-specific drought tolerance strategies regarding photosynthesis regulation, and short-term physiological recovery following rewatering.
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
Our mission is to facilitate collaboration between scientists to combine expertise, knowledge and data...
Network for scientists