![[Photo: Tree and sky]](../../creswick_images/pictures/general_images/treecarbon.jpg)
Forests and Climate Change - Research Themes
The research in the Forest and Climate Change Research Group focuses on three major themes:
Total greenhouse gas balance in ecosystems
- Assessment of the magnitude of total greenhouse gas emissions in native and planted forests
- Investigation of the mechanisms that control greenhouse gas emissions
- Calibration and validation of process based models to predict emissions
In this theme we measure greenhouse gas emissions using automated measurement systems in a range of forested landscapes in Australia: plantation forests in Victoria and WA, native forests in VIC and NSW and savannah ecosystems in NT. At the same time soil processes controlling these emissions are studied and evaluated. Both data are used to calibrate and validate process based models that allow an up-scaling of the results to annual and regional budgets.
Carbon balance and carbon sequestration potential of native and planted forests
- Assessment of the total carbon balance of planted forests in Victoria (aboveground, belowground, soil)
- Evaluation of the carbon sequestration potential of native forests in Victoria
- Development and validation of models to predict carbon sequestration potential
- Establishment of a regional budget of carbon sequestration in planted forests in Victoria
Carbon sequestration in Victoria’s forests is investigated by measuring the carbon cycle of key forest systems. These data give us a better understanding of the magnitude of all carbon fluxes (C gain vs C loss from the entire system). These data are used to improve the existing biogeochemical models which will enable us to predict C-sequestration potential of forest ecosystems in Victoria.
Impact of climate change on forest ecosystems
- Process understanding of plant adaptations to environmental stresses in forests with emphasis on salinity and drought tolerance in trees
- Modelling of climate change impacts on forest productivity
The impact of climate change on forest ecosystems is studied using measurements and modelling. The measurements focus on a process understanding of the mechanisms that enable tree species to adapt to drought and salinity. Field sites in Australia and China are used to investigate adaptive mechanisms of tree species to salinity. One model species is Populus euphratica and the combination of ecophysiological and molecular techniques will greatly enhance our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of salt tolerance in trees.
A second aspect is the investigation of climate change scenarios on C-sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions in Victoria’s forests. Using the calibrated and validated Forest DNDC model we study the impact that different climate scenarios have on blue gum plantations in Victoria in order to evaluate the potential growth and the potential risk in different regions in Victoria.
Possible honours and PhD projects
Non-CO2 greenhouse gas fluxes in Australian landscapes: 15-16 May 2007