Research Strategy

 

Within our group, three major disciplines are present (inner circle) to address scientific questions at different organizational levels, from the plant tissue to the ecosystem.

 

Embedded within a landscape (green circle), terrestrial ecosystems are subjected to external (regional to global) drivers (arrows). Thus, all disciplines and expertise are increasingly needed to develop and ensure sustainable and efficient resource use.

Using classical as well as cutting-edge technology in the field but also under controlled conditions (see Infrastructure), we aim to understand the functioning of forests and agroecosystems as well as interactions within the system and with external drivers. Research topics focus on Ecosystem Biogeochemistry (in particular, biospheric-atmospheric greenhouse gas exchange, CO₂, H₂O, CH₄, N₂O), Plant and Ecosystem Physiology, Functional Plant Diversity, and Policy Advice. More details on research projects can be found here for past projects and current projects.