Research Maarten Op de Beeck

Abstract

Tropospheric ozone (O3) has been shown to reduce the growth and carbon sink strength of European forests at currently prevailing concentrations. O3 concentrations are very likely to keep on increasing throughout the 21st century. Yet, the vast majority of forest models tends to ignore this O3 effect on growth when simulating future forest growth. The aim of this PhD-research is to extend an existing forest growth model, called ANAFORE (ANAlysis of FORest Ecosystems), by adding a new O3 effects module. This module will mechanistically simulate and express O3 induced growth as a function of stomatal O3 uptake rates. By means of existing datasets from O3 fumigation experiments on common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) the module will be developed and parameterized. After validation the module will be implemented into the ANAFORE model. Eventually, the extended ANAFORE-model will be applied for 1. simulating of forest growth and O3-damage under predicted future climate and O3-regimes establishing O3 dose/response relationships; 2. establishing O3 dose/response relationships for trees.

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Ceulemans Reinhart
• Fellow: Op de Beeck Maarten

Research team(s)

• Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) - Ecology in a time of change

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project

Abstract

Rising tropospheric ozone (O3) concentrations pose a threat to natural vegetation. Many experiments have been shown O3 to induce growth reduction on trees. Although the physiological mechanisms involved are well known, not much effort has been made to simulate induced growth reduction on trees in a mechanistic way. The aim of this research project is to mechanistically simulate growth reduction on trees, by means of an existing tree growth model and existing datasets from O3 fumigation experiments. The model, called ANAFORE (ANAlysis of FORest Ecosystems), will be validated before the O3-effect on tree growth is added. The latter will be done by incorporation of an O3-module. This module will simulate effects based on calculated stomatal O3-fluxes into the tree. The tree species of interest are common beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris).

Researcher(s)

• Promoter: Ceulemans Reinhart
• Co-promoter: Deckmyn Gaby
• Fellow: Op de Beeck Maarten

Research team(s)

• Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) - Ecology in a time of change

Project website

Project type(s)

• Research Project