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Dendrosciences

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We use tree rings to investigate environmental impacts on tree growth and reconstruct past environmental changes. Our aim is to understand the underlying tree-physiological processes, particularly in relation to the water and carbon cycles. The spatio-temporal scale ranges from minutes to millennia and from cells to ecosystems around the globe. Our toolbox includes time series analysis of ring width, x-ray density, stable isotopes and wood cell anatomy. We aim to advance these tools through development of hardware, software and statistical methods.

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Projects

European beech under climate change

We will conduct a continental-scale climate sensitivity analysis of European beech and will investigate how different beech provenances differ in their climate growth response

COMMON-RING SwissForestLab Project

Accounting for evolutionary responses based on tree-ring traits will allow reducing uncertainties in the spatial distributions of European trees species under forthcoming climate change scenarios

ROXAS X

The aim of this project is the complete revision of ROXAS, the successful image analysis tool for quantifying xylem cell anatomical features is ROXAS.

Drought & beech: Effects of the 2018 summer drought on beech on the northern side of the Alps

In this project, we investigate causes for the impacts of the extreme summer drought 2018 on the vitality of beech trees in different regions of the Swiss Plateau and Jura.

ExtremeImpact

This project build up on high-resolution observations of conifer tree growth in the Swiss Lötschental valley to quantify at cell-based resolution the impact of the extreme summer drought 2015 on tree-ring biomass, sapwood conductivity, and water use efficiency.

Moringa

We aim on analyzing the exact formation of tree-rings (Xylogenesis) in Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori during a calendar year, building a long chronology for this species, and analyzing 13C and 18O to assess the tree-environment interactions, particularly precipitation.

Bridging paleoclimate records and climate model simulations

We plan to measure anatomical properties of trees that grow in highly temperature-restricted environments and compare and assimilate them with ensembles of climate models (PMIP4/CMIP6).

Acclimation and environmental memory

Which are the main mechanisms conveying adaptation on the organ and whole tree level, how fast does acclimation occur and how long is an acclimation potential sustained?

Swiss Biomass

Ziel dieses Projektes ist es, mittels nicht-destruktiven Messmethoden die Biomasse von Einzelbäumen genauer bestimmen zu können. Solche Biomasseschätzungen sind zentral für das Treibhausgasinventar, das Kyoto Reporting und für die Abschätzung von Holzressourcen und Bioenergiepotentialen.

Anyui – Volcanoes, Climate and the Peopling of the Americas

We performed ambitious fieldwork on and documentation of the little-known Anyui volcano in northeast Siberia.

Caldera

In this SNF funded Sinergia project - aimed at quantifying climate and societal impacts induced by major volcanic eruptions of the Common Era - the WSL mainly contribute by providing a unprecedented millennial long chronology of wood cell anatomical features.

Assessing past atmospheric composition in Northern China using novel tree-ring analyses

We aim to assess the presence of particles in trees and to correlate them through dating to known air pollution and sandstorms' episodes.

XELLCLIM

We identify the best xylem cell anatomical features for climate reconstructions and assess their characteristics across temporal scales compared to established tree-ring parameters, and against instrumental records and climate model simulations.

GenWood

We link genomic and dendro-phenotypic data in Norway Spruce (Picea abies) to study the genomic basis of wood anatomy and assess the adaptive potential of forest trees under climate change.

Isodrought

We want to explore a stable isotope tree-ring approach for analyzing physiological drought responses of trees. The results are expected to provide a novel diagnostic tool for understanding causes of tree decline.

BLACKDYNAMITE

This Swiss-Spanish project investigates the dynamics and competition of the black Périgord and Burgundy truffles under the influence of climate change.

Environmental impact on wood formation

Wood formation is a process that not only fix carbon into the wood structure, but also determine how much and how safely water can be transported trough the stem of a tree. This project make use of dated tree-rings to investigate how the environment impacts wood formation and structure

Adaptation of trees to extreme climate events

Extreme climate events are expected to become more frequent with climate warming. We test genetic differentiation in resistance to late frost and drought in silver fir populations planted in the 1980s in Swizterland and abroad.

GenTree

GenTree aims at providing the European forestry sector with better knowledge, methods and tools for optimizing the management and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Europe in the context of climate change and continuously evolving demands for forest products and services.

Götterbäume in der Südschweiz

Götterbäume breiten sich derzeit rasant in den milden Lagen der Südschweiz aus und werfen vor allem im Schutzwald grosse Fragen auf: Als kurzlebige Pionierbaumart mit gebietsweise hohem Kernfäulebefall können sie zu einer Destabilisierung beitragen, die waldbaulich schwer zu korrigieren ist.

MOUNTROOT

The project MOUNTROOT aims at comparing structure-function relationship in roots of two dominant herb species of pasture-woodlands in response to simulated climate change, and to integrate these below-ground insights with above-ground responses to a whole-plant framework.

Bulgarische Bergwälder

In large uncultivated forests in Bulgaria, the SLF is investigating the potential reaction of mountain woodland to climate change.

Disentangling truffle ecology

We study the complex biotic and abiotic ecology and the population genetics of the Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum) in Switzerland and the German pre-Alps, with particular emphasis on the ecological and climatological drivers for the productivity and phenology of this most valuable truffle species.

Below-canopy climate

Microclimate is a key factor influencing regeneration in forests. Particularly available light, water supply and temperature determine the success or failure of certain tree species. How will future climate change influence below-canopy microclimate and tree regeneration?

Lötschental

Lötschental offers an ideal setting to study the influence of global warming on tree-growth

Quality wood production

The WSL initiated together with other institutions a research program aiming at high quality chestnut timber by minimizing the costs and improving the functional features and the stability of the coppice stands.

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Publications

Ballikaya, P.; Marshall, J.; Cherubini, P., 2022: Can tree-ring chemistry be used to monitor atmospheric nanoparticle contamination over time?. Atmospheric Environment, 268: 118781 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118781

Farahat, E.; Cherubini, P.; Saurer, M.; Gärtner, H., 2021: Wood anatomy and tree-ring stable isotopes indicate a recent decline in water-use efficiency in the desert tree Moringa peregrina. International Journal of Biometeorology, doi: 10.1007/s00484-021-02198-7

Cherubini, P., 2021: Tree-ring dating of musical instruments. Dendrochronology detects fraudulent art but with some caveats. Science, 373, 6562: 1434-1436. doi: 10.1126/science.abj3823

Nikolova, P.S.; Geyer, J.; Brang, P.; Cherubini, P.; Zimmermann, S.; Gärtner, H., 2021: Changes in root-shoot allometric relations in alpine Norway spruce trees after strip cutting. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12: 703674 (14 pp.). doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.703674

Von Arx, G.; Carrer, M.; Crivellaro, A.; De Micco, V.; Fonti, P.; Lens, F.; Prendin, A.L.; Rosner, S.; Sass-Klaassen, U., 2021: Q-NET – a new scholarly network on quantitative wood anatomy. Dendrochronologia, 70: 125890 (3 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.dendro.2021.125890

Hantemirov, R.M.; Shiyatov, S.G.; Gorlanova, L.A.; Kukarskih, V.V.; Surkov, A.Yu.; Hamzin, I.R.; Fonti, P.; Wacker, L., 2021: An 8768-year Yamal tree-ring chronology as a tool for paleoecological reconstructions. Russian Journal of Ecology, 52, 5: 419-427. doi: 10.1134/S1067413621050088

Björklund, J.; Von Arx, G.; Fonti, P.; Stridbeck, P.; De Mil, T.; Neycken, A.; Seftigen, K., 2021: The utility of bulk wood density for tree-ring research. Dendrochronologia, 69: 125880 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.dendro.2021.125880

Zweifel, R.; Etzold, S.; Basler, D.; Bischoff, R.; Braun, S.; Buchmann, N.; Conedera, M.; Fonti, P.; Haeni, M.; Gessler, A.; Hoch, G.; Kamen, A.; Koechli, R.; Maeder, M.; Nievergelt, D.; Peter, M.; Peters, R.L.; Schaub, M.; Trotsiuk, V.; ... Eugster, W., 2021: TreeNet - the biological drought and growth indicator network. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change,

Gessler, A.; Bächli, L.; Rouholahnejad Freund, E.; Treydte, K.; Schaub, M.; Haeni, M.; Weiler, M.; Seeger, S.; Marshall, J.; Hug, C.; Zweifel, R.; Hagedorn, F.; Rigling, A.; Saurer, M.; Meusburger, K., 2021: Drought reduces water uptake in beech from the drying topsoil, but no compensatory uptake occurs from deeper soil layers. New Phytologist, doi: 10.1111/nph.17767

Huang, W.; Fonti, P.; Lundqvist, S.; Larsen, J.B.; Hansen, J.K.; Thygesen, L.G., 2021: Differences in xylem response to drought provide hints to future species selection. New Forests, doi: 10.1007/s11056-021-09885-8

Cocozza, C.; Alterio, E.; Bachmann, O.; Guillong, M.; Sitzia, T.; Cherubini, P., 2021: Monitoring air pollution close to a cement plant and in a multi-source industrial area through tree-ring analysis. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-14446-9

Zweifel, R.; Sterck, F.; Braun, S.; Buchmann, N.; Eugster, W.; Gessler, A.; Häni, M.; Peters, R.L.; Walthert, L.; Wilhelm, M.; Ziemińska, K.; Etzold, S., 2021: Why trees grow at night. New Phytologist, 231, 6: 2174-2185. doi: 10.1111/nph.17552

Loader, N.J.; Sánchez-Salguero, R.; Gärtner, H., 2021: Together but apart: social and scientific exchange at the TRACE 2020 virtual conference - Editorial to the special issue "TRACE 2020". Dendrochronologia, 70: 125882 (2 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.dendro.2021.125882

Miranda, J.C.; Lehmann, M.M.; Saurer, M.; Altman, J.; Treydte, K., 2021: Insight into Canary Island pine physiology provided by stable isotope patterns of water and plant tissues along an altitudinal gradient. Tree Physiology, 41, 9: 1611-1626. doi: 10.1093/treephys/tpab046

Treydte, K.; Lehmann, M.M.; Wyczesany, T.; Pfautsch, S., 2021: Radial and axial water movement in adult trees recorded by stable isotope tracing. Tree Physiology, doi: 10.1093/treephys/tpab080

Barthel, R.; Stangefelt, M.; Giese, M.; Nygren, M.; Seftigen, K.; Chen, D., 2021: Current understanding of groundwater recharge and groundwater drought in Sweden compared to countries with similar geology and climate. Geografiska Annaler Series A: Physical Geography, doi: 10.1080/04353676.2021.1969130

Wang, F.; Zhang, F.; Gou, X.; Fonti, P.; Xia, J.; Cao, Z.; Liu, J.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, J., 2021: Seasonal variations in leaf-level photosynthesis and water use efficiency of three isohydric to anisohydric conifers on the Tibetan Plateau. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 308-309: 108581 (13 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108581

Seiler, R.; Hajdas, I.; Saurer, M.; Houlié, N.; D'Arrigo, R.; Kirchner, J.W.; Cherubini, P., 2021: Tree‐ring stable isotopes and radiocarbon reveal pre‐ and post‐eruption effects of volcanic processes on trees on Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy). Ecohydrology, doi: 10.1002/eco.2340

Yang, B.; Qin, C.; Bräuning, A.; Osborn, T.J.; Trouet, V.; Ljungqvist, F.C.; Esper, J.; Schneider, L.; Grießinger, J.; Büntgen, U.; Rossi, S.; Dong, G.; Yan, M.; Ning, L.; Wang, J.; Wang, X.; Wang, S.; Luterbacher, J.; Cook, E.R.; Stenseth, N.C., 2021: Long-term decrease in Asian monsoon rainfall and abrupt climate change events over the past 6,700 years. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America PNAS, 118, 30: e2102007118 (7 pp.). doi: 10.1073/pnas.2102007118

Trotsiuk, V.; Babst, F.; Grossiord, C.; Gessler, A.; Forrester, D.I.; Buchmann, N.; Schaub, M.; Eugster, W., 2021: Tree growth in Switzerland is increasingly constrained by rising evaporative demand. Journal of Ecology, 109, 8: 2981-2990. doi: 10.1111/1365-2745.13712

20 from 983 publications

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Staff

Scientific Staff

	Dr. Georg von Arx Group Leader		Prof. Dr. Paolo Cherubini Senior Scientist
	Dr. Patrick Fonti Senior Scientist		Dr. Holger Gärtner Research Scientist
	Dr. Kerstin Treydte Research Scientist		Prof. Dr. Ulf Büntgen Senior Scientist _{also: Dep. of Geography, University of Cambridge}
	Dr. Jesper Björklund PostDoc		Dr. Stefan Klesse PostDoc
	Dr. Elisabet Martinez Sancho PostDoc		Dr. Kristina Seftigen PostDoc
	Paula Ballikaya Ph.D. Student

Technicians

Dr. Marina Fonti

Research Technician

Daniel Nievergelt

Research Technician

Loic Schneider

Research Technician

Anne Verstege

Research Technician

Students and Guests

	Hugo Berger Guest Scientist		Prof. Dr. John Marshall Fellow
	Dr. Cyrille Rathgeber Fellow		Francesca Alderotti Guest Ph.D. Student
	Justine Charlet de Sauvage Guest Ph.D. Student		Claudia Pisuttu Guest Ph.D. Student
	Wenqi Song Guest Ph.D. Student		Matteo Dell’Oro scientific Assistant
	Annatina Hassler scientific Assistant		Nadja Studer scientific Assistant
	Melissa Catoja Intern		Ariane Dieth Intern
	Nicola Paltenghi Intern		Mattias Barigazzi Master Student
	Sara Binkert Bachelor Student		Jana Gemperle Master Student
	Julien Genilloud Bachelor Student		Joanna Reim Master Student
	Philipp Rüegg Master Student		Kurt Weber Master Student
	Nils Etter Zivi		Jennifer Stucki Apprentice