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Projects

Alpine treelines in a CO2-rich and warm world
We are experimentally increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations (+200 ppm) and temperatures (+3K) at the alpine treeline and study the response of plant growth and soil processes. First results indicate that elevated CO2 rather affects the cycling rates than C pools in plants and soils.

Stillbergstillberg_heli.pngSeilbahnRainbow
 

Treeline shifts and soil organic matter cycling in the Ural mountains
Historic photographs document that treelines have shifted by 40 to 80 m during the last century (left: 1929; right: 1999). Our first results suggest that the upward shift in treeline has small net effects on C storage in soils, but speeds up SOM cycling and net N mineralization, which in turn might stimulate plant growth and thus C sequestration in tree biomass.
19291999
TreelineSampling Iremel
 
 

Dissolved organic matter under elevated CO2 – Swiss Canopy Crane Project

A 100 year-old mixed broadleaf forest has been exposed to elevated CO2 for eight years. Our results suggest that CO2 enrichment can stimulate initial mineralization and leaching of C from litter by altering its quality, but these effects will be short-term and much smaller than any change in species composition.
Aufsicht


Liquid Gold
 
 

Fire and Soil Carbon
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