PD Dr. Georg von Arx

Function

Groupleader

Forest Dynamics

Dendrosciences

Contact

georg.vonarx(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 44 739 23 16+41 44 739 23 16

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi HL C 29

Research interests

I am interested in the intra- and inter-annual growth of trees, shrubs and non-woody plants, and the intrinsic and extrinsic processes and factors influencing it. Form fits function – with this basic concept in mind, I investigate anatomical properties of cells in the xylem and other tissues and combine them with physiological measurements to learn about how tree and plant function, particularly regarding water and carbon relations. Using dated tree rings, I gain detailed insight into how trees have grown over centuries and how this has been influenced by the environment (dendroecology), and conversely, I infer past climate from past tree growth (dendroclimatology). Furthermore, I am interested in linking tree and plant responses to climate and other environmental changes to better understand forest ecosystems and plant communities in the past, present and future.

Teaching

“Wood Structure & Function” (101-0637-10L), Civil Engineering Master & Environmental Sciences Master, ETH Zurich
“Dendroecology” (701-1682-00L), Environmental Sciences Master, ETH Zurich
International training school "Quantitative Wood Anatomy using ROXAS – from samples to data" (further information)

Research profiles

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

PROHYDRO

PROHYDRO aims to explore the potential to improve reconstructions of inter- and intra-seasonal droughts and hydroclimate by developing a QWA-module for the tree-growth process-based Vaganov-Shashkin model.

High-resolution climate reconstruction

Tree-ring d13C variations are a valuable archive of climatic information. A novel laser-ablation isotope-ratio mass-spectrometer enables to study variations within a single tree ring. We therefore plan to determine the occurrence of dry and wet periods of the past with unprecedented resolution.

TreeWater - Disentangling the isotopic signal transfer from source water to tree rings

TreeWater aims to improve our understanding of whether and how information on water uptake dynamics can be retrieved from the oxygen and hydrogen (i.e. water) isotopes in tree rings.

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

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.

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).

Swiss Biomass

The aim of the project is to determine the biomass of individual trees more precisely using non-destructive measurement methods. Such estimates are central for the greenhouse gas inventory, Kyoto reporting and for the estimation of wood resources and bioenergy potentials.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Lopez-Saez, J.; Corona, C.; Von Arx, G.; Fonti, P.; Slamova, L.; Stoffel, M., 2023: Tree-ring anatomy of Pinus cembra trees opens new avenues for climate reconstructions in the European Alps. Science of the Total Environment, 855: 158605 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158605

Gennaretti, F.; Carrer, M.; García-González, I.; Rossi, S.; Von Arx, G., 2022: Editorial: quantitative wood anatomy to explore tree responses to global change. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.998895

Vollenweider, P.; Hildbrand, G.; De Masi, D.; Gavazov, K.; Zufferey, V.; Buttler, A.; Von Arx, G., 2022: Above‐ and belowground responses to experimental climate forcing in two forb species from montane wooded pastures in Switzerland. Functional Ecology, doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.14212

Frei, E.R.; Gossner, M.M.; Vitasse, Y.; Queloz, V.; Dubach, V.; Gessler, A.; Ginzler, C.; Hagedorn, F.; Meusburger, K.; Moor, M.; Samblás Vives, E.; Rigling, A.; Uitentuis, I.; Von Arx, G.; Wohlgemuth, T., 2022: European beech dieback after premature leaf senescence during the 2018 drought in northern Switzerland. Plant Biology, 24, 7: 1132-1145. doi: 10.1111/plb.13467

Salomón, R.L.; Peters, R.L.; Zweifel, R.; Sass-Klaassen, U.G.W.; Stegehuis, A.I.; Smiljanic, M.; Poyatos, R.; Babst, F.; Cienciala, E.; Fonti, P.; Von Arx, G.; Conedera, M.; Knüsel, S.; Rathgeber, C.B.K.; Walthert, L.; Steppe, K., 2022: The 2018 European heatwave led to stem dehydration but not to consistent growth reductions in forests. Nature Communications, 13, 1: 28 (11 pp.). doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-27579-9

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Further scientific publications

Wohlgemuth, T.; Gessler, A.; Schaub, M.; Von Arx, G.; Rigling, A., 2021: Research Unit Forest Dynamics. In: Ferretti, M.; Fischer, C.; Gessler, A. (eds), 2021: Towards an advanced inventorying and monitoring system for the Swiss forest. Towards an advanced inventorying and monitoring system for the Swiss forest, Birmensdorf. 33-34.

Von Arx, G.; Cherubini, P.; Fonti, P.; Nievergelt, D.; Schneider, L.; Treydte, K.; Verstege, A.; Gärtner, H., 2020: In Memoriam. Fritz Hans Schweingruber. 1936-2020. Tree-Ring Research, 76, 2: 106-107. doi: 10.3959/TRR2020-8

Remund, J.; Von Arx, G.; Gallien, L.; Rebetez, M.; Huber, B.; Zimmermann, N.E., 2016: Klimawandel in der Schweiz - Entwicklung waldrelevanter Klimagrössen. In: Pluess, A.R.; Augustin, S.; Brang, P.; Bundesamt für Umwelt BAFU,Bern; Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald,Schnee und Landschaft WSL,Birmensdorf (eds), 2016: Wald im Klimawandel. Grundlagen für Adaptationsstrategien. Bern, Stuttgart, Wien, Haupt. 23-37.

Remund, J.; Von Arx, G.; Gallien, L.; Rebetez, M.; Huber, B.; Zimmermann, N.E., 2016: Changements climatiques en Suisse - définition de paramètres climatiques relatifs à la forêt. In: Pluess, A.R.; Augustin, S.; Brang, P.; Office fédéral de l’environnement OFEV,Berne; Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt (eds), 2016: Forêts et changements climatiques. Éléments pour des stratégies d'adaptation. Berne, Stuttgart, Vienne, Haupt. 23-39.

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Magazines and brochures

L'arole - portrait d'un montagnard

Afin de préserver dans les futures conditions climatiques les arolières en tant qu’habitats diversifiés à la transition vers l’étage alpin, une approche intégrative doit être adoptée en faveur de la biodiversité et des fonctions et prestations forestières que sont la protection, l’exploitation et la détente.

Notice pour le praticien 72

2022

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Die Arve - Portrait eines Gebirgswaldbaums

Damit Arvenwälder als vielfältige Lebensräume am Übergang zur alpinen Stufe unter zukünftigen Klimabedingungen erhalten bleiben, bedarf es eines integrativen Ansatzes zugunsten der Biodiversität und verschiedener Waldfunktionen und -leistungen wie Schutz, Nutzung und Erholung.

Merkblatt für die Praxis 72

2022

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Die Lärchen am Chastelberg, Simplon

Flyer zum wohl ältesten Lärchenwald der Schweiz am Chastelberg, Simplon. Die 700- bis 850-jährigen Lärchen haben die natürlichen und historischen Ereignisse in ihren Jahrringen archiviert. Dendrochronologische Methoden erlauben, diese hölzernen Archive zu entschlüsseln.

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Jahringe und Baumwachstum

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Software

ROXAS is a tool for the quantitative analysis of cell anatomical features such as lumen area, cell wall thickness and cell topology in trees (angiosperms and conifers), shrubs and herbaceous plants. Many options for optimizing and customizing the analysis help to produce high-quality anatomical data with comparably little effort. Data output is for each cell, as well as in summarized form for each annual ring. Read more...

Biosketch

Professional experiences

Since 2017	Head of Dendrosciencies Research Group, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL (Birmensdorf, Switzerland)
2013 - 2017	Scientific staff member at Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL (Birmensdorf, Switzerland)
2010 - 2013	Postdoc at Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL (Birmensdorf, Switzerland)
2009 - 2010	Project management at Swiss Academy of Technical Sciences SATW (Zurich, Switzerland)
2007 - 2008	Postdoc at Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research / School of Natural Ressources, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ, USA)
2006 - 2007	Image analysis project «ROXAS», funded by the Velux Stiftung (ETH Zurich, Switzerland)
2005 - 2006	High school teaching in Biology and Chemistry at Paedagogische Maturitaetsschule (Kreuzlingen, Switzerland)

Education

2021	Habiliation (PD), University of Bern
2007	Degree as a high school teacher in biology, ETH Zurich
2005	PhD thesis, Geobotanical Institute, ETH Zurich
2001	Master thesis, Geobotanical Institute, ETH Zurich

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

PD Dr. Georg von Arx

Research interests

Teaching

Research profiles

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

PROHYDRO

High-resolution climate reconstruction

TreeWater - Disentangling the isotopic signal transfer from source water to tree rings

European beech under climate change

ROXAS X

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

Bridging paleoclimate records and climate model simulations

Swiss Biomass

Caldera

XELLCLIM

GenWood

Environmental impact on wood formation

GenTree

MOUNTROOT

Below-canopy climate

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Further scientific publications

Magazines and brochures

Software

Biosketch

Professional experiences

Education

Navigation mit Access Keys

Main menu

Main menu

PD Dr. Georg von Arx

Professional experiences

Education