Dr. Markus Didion

Function

Scientific staff member

Forest Resources and Management

Resource Analysis

Contact

markus.didion(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 44 739 24 27+41 44 739 24 27

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi HP D 64

Research Interests and Expertise

I am broadly interested in applied and interdisciplinary research on the effects of anthropogenic and natural disturbance on natural resources. A focus of my research activities has been the use of modeling techniques to study the spatial and temporal dynamics of forest ecosystems. In particular, I am applying my expertise to address management and policy issues of forest carbon sequestration that are of concern to national and international climate policy and sustainable forest management.

Professional   Experience  

Research Scientist, WSL (since 04/2012)

Grantholder, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy (2011/2012)

Researcher Forest and Climate, Forest Ecosystems, Alterra, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, The Netherlands (2009-2011)

Research Assistant, Forest Ecology, ETHZ, Zurich, Switzerland (2005-2009)

Research Assistant, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada (2003-2004)

Data Analyst, Parks Canada, Western and Northern Service Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada (2002-2003)

Scientific activities (ongoing)

UNFCCC Roster of Experts (expert review team (LULUCF), REDD+ reference levels)

Swiss Greenhouse gas inventory (Contributor; sector expert LULUCF)

Reviewer for journals and funding agencies

Education

  PhD Forest Ecology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystem, ETHZ, Zurich, Switzerland (2009)  

Master Resource Management (MRM), School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada (2003)  

B.Sc. Honours Environmental Science, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK (2000)

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

PathFinder

PathFinder will develop an innovative integrated forest monitoring and pathway assessment system by the most efficient use of field, remotely sensed data, and advanced ground measurement devices. NFIs and ICP Forests networks and data will be complemented by innovative field monitoring sites.

Tea bag decomposition study

Decomposition of plant litter is a key process for the transfer of carbon and nutrients in ecosystems. Carbon contained in the decaying biomass is released to the atmosphere as respired CO2, and may contribute to global warming. Litterbag studies have been used to improve our knowledge of the drivers of litter decomposition, but they lack comparability because litter quality is plant species-specific. The use of commercial tea bags as a standard substrate was suggested in order to harmonize studies, where green tea and rooibos represent more labile and more recalcitrant C compounds as surrogates of local litter.

Herb layer biomass in Swiss forests

The Swiss national forest inventory (NFI) provides comprehensive information on the state of forests in Switzerland. The purpose of this project was to develop a model to estimate herb layer biomass and carbon stock based on the categorical cover estimate on each NFI sample plot.

Greenhouse gas inventory (GHGI)

Assessment of changes in carbon stocks in the Swiss forest

Publications

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Mayer, M., Rusch, S., Didion, M., Baltensweiler, A., Walthert, L., Ranft, F., … Hagedorn, F. (2023). Elevation dependent response of soil organic carbon stocks to forest windthrow. Science of the Total Environment, 857, 159694 (9 pp.).doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159694

Didion M., M. Abegg. 2022. Tree stumps — an important but undervalued dead wood pool. Annals of Forest Science 79:34. doi:10.1186/s13595-022-01155-7

Kwon, T., H. Shibata, S. Kepfer-Rojas, […] M. Didion, [...], I. Djukic. 2021. Effects of Climate and Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition on Early to Mid-Term Stage Litter Decomposition Across Biomes. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4. doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2021.678480

Didion, M. 2020. Extending harmonized national forest inventory herb layer vegetation cover observations to derive comprehensive biomass estimates. Forest Ecosystems 7:16. doi:10.1186/s40663-020-00230-7

Mao, Z., D. Derrien, M. Didion, J. Liski, T. Eglin, M. Nicolas, M. Jonard, and L. Saint-André. 2019. Modeling soil organic carbon dynamics in temperate forests with Yasso07. Biogeosciences 16:1955-1973. doi:
10.5194/bg-16-1955-2019

Stadelmann, G., C. Temperli, B. Rohner, M. Didion, A. Herold, E. Rösler, and E. Thürig. 2019. Presenting MASSIMO: A Management Scenario Simulation Model to Project Growth, Harvests and Carbon Dynamics of Swiss Forests. Forests 10:94. doi: 10.3390/f10020094

Djukic, I., S. Kepfer-Rojas, I. K. Schmidt, K. S. Larsen, C. Beier, B. Berg, K. Verheyen, […] Z. Kotroczó, and Z. Tóth. 2018. Early stage litter decomposition across biomes. Science of The Total Environment 628–629:1369-1394. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.012

Hernández, L., R. Jandl, V. N. B. Blujdea, A. Lehtonen, K. Kriiska, I. Alberdi, V. Adermann, I. Cañellas, G. Marin, D. Moreno-Fernández, I. Ostonen, M. Varik, and M. Didion. 2017. Towards complete and harmonized assessment of soil carbon stocks and balance in forests: The ability of the Yasso07 model across a wide gradient of climatic and forest conditions in Europe. Science of The Total Environment 599–600:1171-1180. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.298

Stadelmann, G., A. Herold, M. Didion, B. Vidondo, A. Gomez, and E. Thürig. 2016. Holzerntepotenzial im Schweizer Wald: Simulation von Bewirtschaftungsszenarien. Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 167:152-161. doi: 10.3188/szf.2016.0152

Didion, M., A. Repo, J. Liski, M. Forsius, M. Bierbaumer, and I. Djukic. 2016. Towards Harmonizing Leaf Litter Decomposition Studies Using Standard Tea Bags—A Field Study and Model Application. Forests 7:167.
doi: 10.3390/f7080167

Didion, M., V. Blujdea, G. Grassi, L. Hernández, R. Jandl, K. Kriiska, A. Lehtonen, and L. Saint-André. 2016. Models for reporting forest litter and soil C pools in national greenhouse gas inventories: methodological considerations and requirements. Carbon Management 7:79-92. doi: 10.1080/17583004.2016.1166457

Yousefpour, R., M. Didion, J. B. Jacobsen, H. Meilby, G. M. Hengeveld, M.-J. Schelhaas, and B. J. Thorsen. 2015. Modelling of adaptation to climate change and decision-makers behaviours for the Veluwe forest area in the Netherlands. Forest Policy and Economics 54:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.forpol.2015.02.002

Hengeveld, G. M., M. Didion, S. Clerkx, C. Elkin, G.-J. Nabuurs, and M.-J. Schelhaas. 2015. The landscape-level effect of individual-owner adaptation to climate change in Dutch forests. Regional Environmental Change 15:1515-1529. doi: 10.1007/s10113-014-0718-5

Didion, M., B. Frey, N. Rogiers, and E. Thürig. 2014. Validating tree litter decomposition in the Yasso07 carbon model. Ecological Modelling 291:58-68. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.07.028

Hengeveld, G. M., G.-J. Nabuurs, M. Didion, I. van den Wyngaert, A. P. P. M. Clerkx, and M.-J. Schelhaas. 2012. A Forest Management Map of European Forests. Ecology and Society 17. doi: 10.5751/es-05149-170453

Didion, M., A. Kupferschmid, A. Wolf, and H. Bugmann. 2011. Ungulate herbivory modifies the effects of climate change on mountain forests. Climatic Change 109:647-669. doi: 10.1007/s10584-011-0054-4

Didion, M., A. D. Kupferschmid, and H. Bugmann. 2009. Long-term effects of ungulate browsing on forest composition and structure. Forest Ecology and Management 258, Supplement:S44-S55. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2009.06.006

Didion, M., A. D. Kupferschmid, A. Zingg, L. Fahse, and H. Bugmann. 2009. Gaining local accuracy while not losing generality – Extending the range of gap model applications. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 39:1092-1107. doi: 10.1139/X09-041

Didion, M., A. D. Kupferschmid, M. J. Lexer, W. Rammer, R. Seidl, and H. Bugmann. 2009. Potentials and limitations of using large-scale forest inventory data for evaluating forest succession models. Ecological Modelling 220:133-147. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2008.09.021

Didion, M., M.-J. Fortin, and A. Fall. 2007. Forest age structure as indicator of boreal forest sustainability under alternative management and fire regimes: a landscape level sensitivity analysis. Ecological Modelling 200:45-58. doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2006.07.011

Further scientific publications

Didion, M., A. Herold, E. Thürig. 2019. Whole Tree Biomass and Carbon Stock. In: Fischer, C., B. Traub (eds) Swiss National Forest Inventory – Methods and Models of the Fourth Assessment. Managing Forest Ecosystems, vol 35. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 243-248. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19293-8_14

Didion, M., J. Zell. 2019. Model of Carbon Cycling in Dead Organic Matter and Soil (Yasso07). In: Fischer, C., B. Traub (eds) Swiss National Forest Inventory – Methods and Models of the Fourth Assessment. Managing Forest Ecosystems, vol 35. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 281-284. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19293-8_18

Herold, A., J. Zell, B. Rohner, M. Didion, E. Thürig, E. Rösler. 2019. State and Change of Forest Resources. In: Fischer, C., B. Traub (eds) Swiss National Forest Inventory – Methods and Models of the Fourth Assessment. Managing Forest Ecosystems, vol 35. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 205-230. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19293-8_12

Stadelmann, G., M. Didion, E. Thürig. 2019. Scenario Simulations. In: Fischer, C., B. Traub (eds) Swiss National Forest Inventory – Methods and Models of the Fourth Assessment. Managing Forest Ecosystems, vol 35. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 285-296. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19293-8_19

Stadelmann, G., C. Temperli, B. Rohner, M. Didion, A. Herold, E. Rösler, E. Thürig. 2019. Forest Development Model MASSIMO. In: Fischer, C., B. Traub (eds) Swiss National Forest Inventory – Methods and Models of the Fourth Assessment. Managing Forest Ecosystems, vol 35. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 265-279. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19293-8_17

WSL websites

waldwissen.net

Knowhow for forestry experts and all others interested in the forest

lfi.ch

Swiss National Forest Inventory NFI - a forest information service

envidat.ch

Access to environmental monitoring and research data

natural-hazards.ch

Warnings on natural hazards by Swiss federal authorities

slf.ch

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos

Main menu

Main menu

Dr. Markus Didion

Research Interests and Expertise

Professional   Experience

Scientific activities (ongoing)

Education

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

PathFinder

Tea bag decomposition study

Herb layer biomass in Swiss forests

Greenhouse gas inventory (GHGI)

Publications

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Further scientific publications

Navigation mit Access Keys

Main menu

Main menu

Dr. Markus Didion

Research Interests and Expertise

Professional Experience

Scientific activities (ongoing)

Education

PathFinder

Tea bag decomposition study

Herb layer biomass in Swiss forests

Greenhouse gas inventory (GHGI)

Professional   Experience  