Phenology and everything

Effects of climate, stand structure, soil and topography on leaf phenology and tree growth across environmental gradients in Central Europe

The project investigates how multiple environmental factors such as climate, stand structure, soil and topography influence the phenological timing of leaves, and how phenological timing interacts with tree growth under a changing climate.

Figure 1: Environmental aspects that may affect the timing of leaf phenology.

The expected results will help to better understand how rarely investigated environmental factors affect the phenological timing of a broad variety of woody species across a wide range of environmental conditions. In addition, the expected results will provide new insights into the still unclear relationship between the timing of leaf phenology and tree growth. This will help to better understand the effects of climate change on our forest trees, to develop climate change-adapted nature conservation measures and to improve modelling for climate change research.

To achieve this (1) field data at phenological observation sites in Switzerland will be collected and analysed, (2) compared with analyses based on existing data across Central Europe and (3) the interaction between leaf phenology, site conditions and tree-ring width across Central Europe will be assessed.

Figure 2. Research questions that will be addressed through the project are the effects of environmental parameters on the timing of leaf phenology (1) in Switzerland and (2) across environmental gradients in Central Europa as well as the (3) effects of leaf phenology on the diameter growth of trees. — Figure 2: Research questions that will be addressed through the project are the effects of environmental parameters on the timing of leaf phenology (1) in Switzerland and (2) across environmental gradients in Central Europa as well as the (3) effects of leaf phenology on the diameter growth of trees.

Currently field data is being gathered in Switzerland. One of the most labor-intensive aspects of this first step is the retrieval of soil samples.

Video: Soil sample collection at one of the phenological observation sites in Switzerland.

Funding
ETH Zürich

Project term
2022 to 2026

Contact
For further information please contact Isabella Ostovary.