Ecosystem Function

A study by Leipzig University, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig (iDiv) and the MPI for Biogeochemistry shows that gaps in the canopy of a mixed floodplain forest have a direct influence on the temperature and moisture in the forest soil, but only a minor effect on soil activity. more

A new study shows a natural solution to mitigate the effects of climate change such as extreme weather events. Researchers found that a diverse plant community acts as a buffer against fluctuations in soil temperature. This buffer, in turn, can have a decisive influence on important ecosystem processes. more

A new study reveals that surprisingly small increases in atmospheric CO₂ lead to detectable effects on ecosystem functioning. Using simulations of the land surface model developed at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, an international team of scientists finds that enhanced CO₂ first affects entities of the carbon cycle such as vegetation productivity and the extension of leaf area. more

A new study shows that future ecosystem functioning will increasingly depend on water availability. Using recent simulations from climate models, an international team of scientists found several “hot spot regions” where increasing water limitation strongly affects ecosystems. These include Central Europe, the Amazon, and western Russia. more

An international research team has identified three key indicators that describe the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Monitoring these three indicators makes it possible to assess how adaptable an ecosystem is to climate and environmental changes and how it may evolve under certain conditions. more