New head of the Forest and Soil Ecology Research Unit

Arthur Gessler's work aims to explain the processes that control forest growth, nutrient cycles and interactions between organisms at the molecular and the tree population level. This knowledge is crucial for understanding current changes in ecosystems and landscapes, for example in the context of climate change or changing land use. ‘The new research unit is investigating the processes and functions of forest ecosystems, such as nutrient and water cycles, holistically from the atmosphere to the plants to the soil,’ he says.

Gessler studied biology in Konstanz and Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) and wrote his doctoral thesis on nitrogen supply in beech trees. His research took him from Germany to Brazil, France and Australia before he arrived in Switzerland. Gessler has been working at WSL since 2014. Here, he previously headed the WSL research group Ecosystem Ecology, the SwissForestLab research network, which he co-launched, and the Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research programme. He is a adjunct professor at ETH Zurich and has co-authored around 300 scientific articles. Since 2023, he is one of the most cited scientists in the field of plant and animal science. His work has contributed significantly to our understanding of the nutrient and carbon balance of trees in hot and dry conditions.

But Arthur Gessler is not only committed to research; he also values communication with the public and students. ‘Science should not take place in a closed system; it needs exchange,’ he says. Since 2000, he has taught at the University of Freiburg im Breisgau, Humboldt University in Berlin and ETH Zurich. Gessler also works with the media and in front of the camera to promote understanding of science and ecological relationships in forests.

The new Forest and Soil Ecology research unit was created by merging the Forest Dynamics and Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry units.