Research
Within our group, terrestrial ecosystems are the main research "objects". Using classical as well as cutting-edge technology in the field but also under controlled conditions, we aim to understand the functioning of forests and agroecosystems as well as interactions within the system and with management and environmental drivers. Research topics focus on biosphere-atmosphere greenhouse gas exchange (CO2, H2O, CH4, N2O) and carbon sequestration, i.e. ecosystem biogeochemistry, and plant and ecosystem ecophysiology, including functional plant diversity. Some of our projects are also relevant for policy-making, in others we reach out to the public and schools.
Thus, three major disciplines are present in our group (inner circle) to address scientific questions at different organizational levels, from the plant tissue to the ecosystem. Embedded within a landscape (green circle), these terrestrial ecosystems are subjected to external (regional to global) drivers (arrows). Based on long-term observations, short-term experiments and modeling exercises, we address impacts by climate change, land use change as well as loss of diversity to develop and ensure sustainable and efficient resource use.
