Project Coordinator

Project description:

“Interaction of climate warming and atmospheric nitrogen deposition at controlling the regeneration success of European beech in comparison with more drought-tolerant tree species (NitroClim)”.:

Climate change is highly critical for forest management, since tree species have to be selected for cultivation many decades before their harvest. A high share of Central Europe’s forest vegetation would naturally be formed by European beech. Therefore, this species has strongly been promoted in silviculture. However, beech turned out to be susceptible to increasing summer drought. Dry periods in summer, like in 2018, have left their imprint in Central European forest vegetation and will become more frequent in future, challenging at least regionally the suitability of beech for cultivation. Elevated atmospheric nitrogen deposition is another factor that has increasingly become effective during recent decades. Experiments with beech and other tree species substantiated the existence of synergisms between climate change and high nitrogen loads, as among others drought stress is intensified due to reduced root formation at high nitrogen availability. Successful regeneration is a particularly critical stage in the forest cycle, because tree seedlings and saplings respond more sensitively to environmental stress than mature trees. Our aim is to quantify forest regeneration and to record vitality traits under different combinations of climatic conditions and atmospheric nitrogen loads in 60 beech forest regions of northwestern, central, and southwestern Germany. Furthermore, we plan pot experiments under controlled conditions. Beech will be comparatively studied the more drought-tolerant sessile oak and Douglas fir, since the latter could be used to replace beech where the cultivation of beech appears to be too hazardous under a future warmer climate. As far as possible (pot experiment; field studies in SW Germany), silver fir, a species that could potentially be used to replace spruce, will be integrated into the study. Based on our results, we will identify regions at risk for the cultivation of the study tree species in variation of climate and nitrogen deposition and make recommendations for the future choice of tree species for silviculture.

Expected profile of the candidates:

The successful candidate will coordinate the project for 2 years and organize the set-up of the planned field and experimental studies. The main duty will be to organize and conduct the sample plot selection of forest sites with regeneration of our target tree species in cooperation with one PhD student. The field sites will be distributed over northwestern, central, and southwestern Germany. The work will comprise the establishment of contacts to German Forest Research Institutes (Forstliche Versuchsanstalten) and to forestry offices, district foresters, and forest owners in order to select suitable sample plots for our study. The position is best suited for a postdoc, though a PhD is not mandatory, if the candidate’s profile is convincing. We will offer the opportunity to participate scientifically in the project and for joint publishing of the project results.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in the fields of forest sciences, biology, environmental sciences or related subjects; ideally PhD in a relevant field of science.
• Willingness for travelling within Germany
• Valid driving license
• Excellent communication skills in German.
• Team spirit, flexibility, high motivation and the ability to work independently

Applications (in German or English) must include a motivation letter, CV and copies of certificates.