Ecosystem
Preparing managed forests for drought
Research
WSL
In central Europe, the frequency of droughts is increasing because of climate change, but some forests today are having trouble adjusting. Data from a 30-year experiment now reveal how susceptible managed Norway spruce and silver fir forests are to drought. However, silviculture can improve their resilience, i.e. how quickly and effectively they can recover from drought. That is the conclusion drawn by a research team led by WSL, as reported in the journal Global Change Biology.
Water management: Deciding despite uncertainties
Politics
Eawag
How can research support decisions in water management practice, even if much is still uncertain? When managing rivers, for example, the forecasts of what consequences various measures will have are often fraught with uncertainties. It is also not always clear which status is to be achieved in the end with river revitalisation projects, because different stakeholders sometimes pursue different goals, such as recreation, nature conservation, flood protection, fishing or energy generation – and therefore assess possible outcomes in contradictory ways. Nevertheless, a decision ultimately has to be made despite the uncertainties.
The challenges of forecasting algae blooms
Research
Eawag
Blue-green algae and other phytoplankton are very important for the proper functioning of aquatic ecosystems. When they accumulate in high quantities, however, they can be harmful to people and animals because some blue-green algae species produce toxic chemicals. For this reason, the aquatic research institute Eawag is currently working on methods to improve the prediction of bloom events.
1,200 new glacial lakes discovered
Research
Eawag
A comprehensive inventory of Swiss glacial lakes shows how the lake landscape in the high mountains has changed since the end of the Little Ice Age.
Aquatic life underground
Research
Eawag
Groundwater is also an ecosystem, but little is known about the biodiversity underground. Eawag researchers have now documented the diversity of life in Swiss groundwater in a pilot study – and discovered previously unknown species of amphipods in the process. Here they relied on a citizen science approach.
Why trees grow at night
Research
WSL
It is a common misconception that trees grow in the daytime, when photosynthesis produces carbohydrates from CO2. However, growth not only requires carbohydrates, but also highly depends on tree water tension. A study led by the Swiss Research Institute WSL has now shown that tree growth takes place primarily in the dark, mainly because in daylight, it is inhibited by dry air, even in moist soil conditions. Therefore, trees only grow for a small number of hours per day and per season. This finding may change the way we look at the impact of climate change on forests, in particular for predicting the carbon sink of forests.
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