In a joint research project with Ukrainian partners we compare the structures of the virgin beech forest Uholka in Ukraine with those of the Sihlwald near Zurich and assess the development process of Sihlwald from commercial forest back to "virgin forest".

Available languages: English

Microclimate, fluxes of CO2 and other gases by eddy covariance and tree physiological measurements under field conditions have been recorded at the Seehornwald Davos research site for two decades. Currently, we are analyzing the unique data sets in terms of tree physiological responses to climate change over the recent decades.

Available languages: German English

In Valais, Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and pubescent oak (Quercus pubescent) grow at least temporally at the edge of their physiological capabilites. We investigate the (potential) adaptation of these and co-occurring tree species to climate change and search for limits they might reach with increasing temperatures and droughts.

Available languages: German English

TreeNet is a biological drought and growth indicator network of forest ecosystems. It provides information about drought responses of trees all over Switzerland and their effects on the carbon balance of forests. TreeNet links the research of the eddy flux super sites Davos and Lägeren to the forest next to your home.

Available languages: English

Upper tree-line in the Ural mountains shifted upward by as much as 60-80 m of altitude during the past decades. The observed altitudinal rise may result from the well-documented warming of the earth's surface. An increase in forest cover alters the carbon stocks at the landscape scale, with implications for the role of terrestrial ecosystems as sinks for increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations.

Im Wallis weisen die Waldföhren seit Jahrzehnten eine erhöhte Sterberate auf. Dafür wächst vermehrt die Flaumeiche. Wissenschafter der WSL haben die komplexen Ursachen des Waldföhrensterbens entschlüsselt.

Available languages: German

Pine mistletoe was shown to play an important role in the pine decline. The negative effects of pine mistletoe infestation on the photosynthetic tissues of Scots pine including branch and needle growth with negative consequences on pine vitality will be analysed.

Available languages: English

Anhand von gezielten Verletzungen des Kambiums lässt sich das Zellwachstum rekonstruieren. Die WSL setzt diese Methode in einem Bewässerungsexperiment im Wallis ein, um die Wirkung von Trockenheit auf das Zellwachstum von Waldföhren und Flaumeichen zu analysieren.

Available languages: German

A tree-line upward shift in the Polar Urals is documented. It goes in hand with extended filling-in processes, changes in stand structure and growth form of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica), very likely due to significant climatic warming and increasing precipitation since the1920-s.

Available languages: English

Die Waldföhrenwälder in verschiedenen inneralpinen Trockentälern sind im Umbruch: Waldföhren sterben ab und werden gebietsweise durch Laubbäume ersetzt. Welche Faktoren verursachen die Absterbeprozesse und fördern den Baumartenwechsel? Gibt es gemeinsame Faktoren zwischen den verschiedenen Regionen? Was sind die Empfehlungen für die Waldbewirtschaftung?

Available languages: German