Scientists investigate the reactions of fine roots of spruce and poplar to enhanced heavy metal contents in the soil. They measure growth and architecture of newly derived fine roots of these trees and investigate mycorrhizas of birches in order to localise and quantify the heavy metals on a subcellular level.

Available languages: English

The fine roots of forest trees are the actual interface between the soil solution and plants. What is the influence of environmental changes on the rooted area of forest trees and the condition of mycorrhizas?

Available languages: German English

The project investigates the effects of litter removal on the carbon stock and the nutrient dynamic of various forest soils in Switzerland.

Available languages: English

Unser Klima wird wärmer, vor allem im Winter. Die Wintertemperaturen sind in den letzten Jahrzehnten vielerorts doppelt so stark angestiegen wie diejenigen im Sommer. Die Schneeschmelze in den Bergen findet deshalb immer früher statt. Können die Pflanzen den längeren Sommer für Wachstum nutzen? Verändert sich dadurch die Vegetation?

Available languages: German

COST Action FP0803 chaired by WSL soil scientist Ivano Brunner. Focusing on the four key areas: fine root turnover, mycorrhizal mycelia turnover, soil C stocks, and biogeochemical modelling, with the intention of linking the different research fields involved, evaluating the potential of new and innovative methodologies, and developing new process-based descriptions of belowground C dynamics within biogeochemical models.

Available languages: English

Nitrate concentrations in groundwater have increased, mainly due to intensive agriculture, and constrain its usage as drinking water in parts of Switzerland. Nitrate leaching from forests are, in comparison, generally small but may increase due increased nitrogen deposition and warm and dry periods. This project aims on exploring the possibilities and limitations for a better estimation of the risk of future nitrate leaching from forests.

Available languages: English

The goal of the project is to measure the effect of an elevated CO2 concentration onto the availability of nutrients in the soil, especially nitrogen. Are nutirents becoming more and more a limiting factor as CO2 availability to trees increases?

Available languages: German English French

The better understanding of the processes driving the dynamics of forest ecosystems requires the documentation of the constantly interacting compartments and fluxes of the biogeochemical cycle. Scientists study two fluxes (deposition of nutrients through precipitation and litterfall) and two compartments (foliage and ground vegetation).

Available languages: German English

Using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes of beech and spruce tree-rings and foliage, we investigate the influence of N deposition and drought on forests.

Available languages: English