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

Beech branches with green and brown leaves and beechnuts

New project funded: ForHeat - Forest resilience to heat-drought extremes

Within the DFG-funded project ForHeat, we will investigate how forests respond to combined heat and drought extremes using the LandscapeDNDC ecosystem model. We will extend the model to capture how heat damages leaves, how they recover, and how these processes interact with drought stress. Using scenarios with different climates, species compositions, and forest structures, we aim to identify critical stress thresholds, understand what makes forests more resilient, and explore how forest management could reduce the impacts of future climate extremes.

Working group standing in a circle int the forest and the picture taken from the ground into the sky.

Mini Retreat 2026

In July, our working group met for a mini-retreat to continue working on our strategy and data management. The Schulwald (educational forest) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen was the ideal location for this.

Close-up of a potted plant with brown, withered leaves and green veins.

How do temperate trees deal with increasing heat and hot drought?

How well trees cope with heatwaves does not only depend on the temperature, but also on water availability and the hydraulic strategy of a tree. Our new paper in Plant, Cell & Environment explores how leaf thermoregulation, heat damage and recovery differ among three temperate tree species under combined heat and drought stress.

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