Soil water is the trees' source of water and food and thus directly impacts forest ecosystem functions and productivity. Therefore, we study the quantity of water available to trees and its quality.
Contents ¶
Research ¶
Both quantity and quality are affected by climate change, such as the recently experienced increased drought frequency and air pollution. With long-term measurements of soil moisture conditions and soil solution chemistry, we provide a basis for decision-making for politicians and forestry specialists.
Forest water fluxes are essential beyond the forest since they are a source of drinking water, supply runoff to the rivers and feedback on climate via evapotranspiration and carbon release.
Objectives ¶
- How much water is available in Swiss soils today (nowcasting) and under changed climatic conditions (scenarios)?
- How are the water quality and biogeochemical cycles affected by air pollution, e.g. nitrogen input and climatic extremes?
- Where does a tree get its water from, and how can it adapt?
Approaches ¶
- Water availability monitoring: With the network SwissSPOT we assess soil water conditions across Switzerland in near real-time.
- Soil solution monitoring: Field surveyors across Switzerland spread out every second week to collect soil solution samples in four soil depths. These samples are analysed for major elements in our lab
- Modelling ecosystem water fluxes: We use a mechanistic Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere (SVAT) model to upscale the water availability data and link it with the soil solution data to infer changes in biogeochemical cycling.
- Tracing fluxes with water isotopes: To help separate green and blue water fluxes, estimate water residence times and different water consumption strategies of trees, we use stable water isotope measurements in the soil and the tree xylem.
Contact ¶
Projects ¶
Publications ¶
Meusburger K., Trotsiuk V., Schmidt-Walter P., Baltensweiler A., Brun P., Bernhard F., … Walthert L. (2022) Soil–plant interactions modulated water availability of Swiss forests during the 2015 and 2018 droughts. Glob. Chang. Biol. 28(20), 5928-5944. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16332 Institutional Repository DORA
Schönbeck L., Grossiord C., Gessler A., Gisler J., Meusburger K., D'Odorico P., … Schaub M. (2022) Photosynthetic acclimation and sensitivity to short- and long-term environmental changes in a drought prone forest. J. Exp. Bot. 73(8), 2576-2588. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erac033 Institutional Repository DORA
Bose A.K., Rigling A., Gessler A., Hagedorn F., Brunner I., Feichtinger L., … Schaub M. (2022) Lessons learned from a long‐term irrigation experiment in a dry Scots pine forest: impacts on traits and functioning. Ecol. Monogr. 92(2), e1507 (18 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecm.1507Institutional Repository DORA
Frei E.R., Gossner M.M., Vitasse Y., Queloz V., Dubach V., Gessler A., … Wohlgemuth T. (2022) European beech dieback after premature leaf senescence during the 2018 drought in northern Switzerland. Plant Biol. 24(7), 1132-1145. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.13467 Institutional Repository DORA
Klesse S., Wohlgemuth T., Meusburger K., Vitasse Y., von Arx G., Lévesque M., … Frei E.R. (2022) Long-term soil water limitation and previous tree vigor drive local variability of drought-induced crown dieback in Fagus sylvatica. Sci. Total Environ. 851, 157926 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157926Institutional Repository DORA
Lembrechts J.J., van den Hoogen J., Aalto J., Ashcroft M.B., De Frenne P., Kemppinen J., … Lenoir J. (2022) Global maps of soil temperature. Glob. Chang. Biol. 28(9), 3110-3144. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16060 Institutional Repository DORA
Guidi C., Frey B., Brunner I., Meusburger K., Vogel M.E., Chen X., … Hagedorn F. (2022) Soil fauna drives vertical redistribution of soil organic carbon in a long‐term irrigated dry pine forest. Glob. Chang. Biol. 28(9), 3145-3160. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16122 Institutional Repository DORA
Gessler A., Bächli L., Freund E.R., Treydte K., Schaub M., Haeni M., … Meusburger K. (2022) Drought reduces water uptake in beech from the drying topsoil, but no compensatory uptake occurs from deeper soil layers. New Phytol. 233(1), 194-206. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17767 Institutional Repository DORA
Chen C., Huang J.H., Meusburger K., Li K., Fu X., Rinklebe J., … Feng X. (2022) The interplay between atmospheric deposition and soil dynamics of mercury in Swiss and Chinese boreal forests: a comparison study. Environ. Pollut. 307, 119483 (9 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119483Institutional Repository DORA
Zhu J., Thimonier A., Etzold S., Meusburger K., Waldner P., Schmitt M., … Lehmann M.M. (2022) Variation in leaf morphological traits of European beech and Norway spruce over two decades in Switzerland. Front. For. Glob. Change. 4, 778351 (17 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2021.778351Institutional Repository DORA
D'Odorico P., Schönbeck L., Vitali V., Meusburger K., Schaub M., Ginzler C., … Ensminger I. (2021) Drone‐based physiological index reveals long‐term acclimation and drought stress responses in trees. Plant Cell Environ. 44(11), 3552-3570. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14177 Institutional Repository DORA
Gao D., Joseph J., Werner R.A., Brunner I., Zürcher A., Hug C., … Hagedorn F. (2021) Drought alters the carbon footprint of trees in soils—tracking the spatio-temporal fate of 13C-labelled assimilates in the soil of an old-growth pine forest. Glob. Chang. Biol. 27, 2491-2506. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15557 Institutional Repository DORA
Nussbaumer A., Meusburger K., Schmitt M., Waldner P., Gehrig R., Haeni M., … Thimonier A. (2021) Verfrühter Fruchtabwurf in Schweizer Buchenbeständen im Hitze- und Trockensommer 2018. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 172(3), 166-175. https://doi.org/10.3188/szf.2021.0166 Institutional Repository DORA
Walthert L., Ganthaler A., Mayr S., Saurer M., Waldner P., Walser M., … von Arx G. (2021) From the comfort zone to crown dieback: sequence of physiological stress thresholds in mature European beech trees across progressive drought. Sci. Total Environ. 753, 141792 (14 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141792Institutional Repository DORA
Zweifel R., Etzold S., Sterck F., Gessler A., Anfodillo T., Mencuccini M., … Rigling A. (2020) Determinants of legacy effects in pine trees - implications from an irrigation-stop experiment. New Phytol. 227(4), 1081-1096. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16582 Institutional Repository DORA
Schmidt-Walter P., Trotsiuk V., Meusburger K., Zacios M., Meesenburg H. (2020) Advancing simulations of water fluxes, soil moisture and drought stress by using the LWF-Brook90 hydrological model in R. Agric. For. Meteorol. 291, 108023 (13 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.108023Institutional Repository DORA
Nussbaumer A., Meusburger K., Schmitt M., Waldner P., Gehrig R., Haeni M., … Thimonier A. (2020) Extreme summer heat and drought lead to early fruit abortion in European beech. Sci. Rep. 10, 5334 (11 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-62073-0Institutional Repository DORA
Solly E.F., Weber V., Zimmermann S., Walthert L., Hagedorn F., Schmidt M.W.I. (2020) A critical evaluation of the relationship between the effective cation exchange capacity and soil organic carbon content in Swiss forest soils. Front. For. Glob. Change. 3, 98 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2020.00098Institutional Repository DORA
Burri S., Haeler E., Eugster W., Haeni M., Etzold S., Walthert L., … Zweifel R. (2019) How did Swiss forest trees respond to the hot summer 2015? Erde. 150(4), 214-229. https://doi.org/10.12854/erde-2019-420 Institutional Repository DORA
van der Voort T.S., Mannu U., Hagedorn F., McIntyre C., Walthert L., Schleppi P., … Eglinton T.I. (2019) Dynamics of deep soil carbon – insights from 14C time series across a climatic gradient. Biogeosciences. 16(16), 3233-3246. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3233-2019 Institutional Repository DORA
Jia J., Feng X., Graf Pannatier E., Wacker L., McIntyre C., van der Voort T., … Eglinton T. (2019) 14C characteristics of dissolved lignin along a forest soil profile. Soil Biol. Biochem. 135, 407-410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.06.005 Institutional Repository DORA
Rigling A., Etzold S., Bebi P., Brang P., Ferretti M., Forrester D., … Wohlgemuth T. (2019) Wie viel Trockenheit ertragen unsere Wälder? Lehren aus extremen Trockenjahren. In M. Bründl & J. Schweizer (Eds.), WSL Berichte: Vol. 78. Lernen aus Extremereignissen. Birmensdorf: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft. 39-51. https://doi.org/10.55419/wsl:19983 Institutional Repository DORA
Peters R.L., Speich M., Pappas C., Kahmen A., von Arx G., Graf Pannatier E., … Fonti P. (2019) Contrasting stomatal sensitivity to temperature and soil drought in mature alpine conifers. Plant Cell Environ. 42, 1674-1689. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13500 Institutional Repository DORA
Walthert L., Schleppi P. (2018) Equations to compensate for the temperature effect on readings from dielectric Decagon MPS-2 and MPS-6 water potential sensors in soils. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 181, 749-759. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201700620 Institutional Repository DORA
Johnson J., Graf Pannatier E., Carnicelli S., Cecchini G., Clarke N., Cools N., … Jonard M. (2018) The response of soil solution chemistry in European forests to decreasing acid deposition. Glob. Chang. Biol. 24(8), 3603-3619. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14156 Institutional Repository DORA
Gosheva S., Walthert L., Niklaus P.A., Zimmermann S., Gimmi U., Hagedorn F. (2017) Reconstruction of historic forest cover changes indicates minor effects on carbon stocks in Swiss forest soils. Ecosystems. 20(8), 1512-1528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-017-0129-9 Institutional Repository DORA
Moser B., Walthert L., Metslaid M., Wasem U., Wohlgemuth T. (2017) Spring water deficit and soil conditions matter more than seed origin and summer drought for the establishment of temperate conifers. Oecologia. 183(2), 519-530. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-016-3766-3 Institutional Repository DORA
Walthert L., Meier E.S. (2017) Tree species distribution in temperate forests is more influenced by soil than by climate. Ecol. Evol. 7, 9473-9484. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3436 Institutional Repository DORA
Hartmann M., Brunner I., Hagedorn F., Bardgett R.D., Stierli B., Herzog C., … Frey B. (2017) A decade of irrigation transforms the soil microbiome of a semi-arid pine forest. Mol. Ecol. 26(4), 1190-1206. https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13995 Institutional Repository DORA
van der Voort T.S., Zell C.I., Hagedorn F., Feng X., McIntyre C.P., Haghipour N., … Eglinton T.I. (2017) Diverse soil carbon dynamics expressed at the molecular level. Geophys. Res. Lett. 44(23), 11840-11850. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL076188 Institutional Repository DORA
Camino-Serrano M., Graf Pannatier E., Vicca S., Luyssaert S., Jonard M., Ciais P., … Janssens I.A. (2016) Trends in soil solution dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations across European forests. Biogeosciences. 13(19), 5567-5585. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-5567-2016 Institutional Repository DORA
van der Voort T.S., Hagedorn F., McIntyre C., Zell C., Walthert L., Schleppi P., … Eglinton T.I. (2016) Variability in 14C contents of soil organic matter at the plot and regional scale across climatic and geologic gradients. Biogeosciences. 13(11), 3427-3439. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-3427-2016 Institutional Repository DORA
Lévesque M., Walthert L., Weber P. (2016) Soil nutrients influence growth response of temperate tree species to drought. J. Ecol. 104(2), 377-387. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12519 Institutional Repository DORA
Moser B., Metslaid M., Walthert L., Wasem U., Wohlgemuth T. (2015) Verjüngungspotenzial verschiedener Waldföhren und Fichtenherkünfte bei variabler Trockenheit. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 166(6), 399-407. https://doi.org/10.3188/szf.2015.0399 Institutional Repository DORA
Weber P., Bugmann H., Pluess A.R., Walthert L., Rigling A. (2013) Drought response and changing mean sensitivity of European beech close to the dry distribution limit. Trees Struct. Funct. 27(1), 171-181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-012-0786-4 Institutional Repository DORA
Walthert L., Graf Pannatier E., Meier E.S. (2013) Shortage of nutrients and excess of toxic elements in soils limit the distribution of soil-sensitive tree species in temperate forests. For. Ecol. Manag. 297, 94-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.02.008 Institutional Repository DORA
Graf Pannatier E., Thimonier A., Schmitt M., Waldner P., Walthert L. (2012) Impacts des dépôts atmosphériques acides sur l'eau des sols forestiers. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 163(9), 363-373. https://doi.org/10.3188/szf.2012.0363 Institutional Repository DORA
Graf Pannatier E., Dobbertin M., Heim A., Schmitt M., Thimonier A., Waldner P., Frey B. (2012) Response of carbon fluxes to the 2003 heat wave and drought in three mature forests in Switzerland. Biogeochemistry. 107(1-3), 295-317. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-010-9554-y Institutional Repository DORA
Graf Pannatier E., Walthert L., Blaser P. (2004) Solution chemistry in acid forest soils: are the BC : Al ratios as critical as expected in Switzerland? J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 167(2), 160-168. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200321281 Institutional Repository DORA
Dobbertin M., Hug C., Walthert L. (2012) Waldzustand in der Schweiz: Erfassung, Entwicklung und Einflussfaktoren. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 163(9), 331-342. https://doi.org/10.3188/szf.2012.0331 Institutional Repository DORA
Schleppi P., Thimonier A., Walthert L. (2011) Estimating leaf area index of mature temperate forests using regressions on site and vegetation data. For. Ecol. Manag. 261(3), 601-610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2010.11.013 Institutional Repository DORA
Graf Pannatier E., Thimonier A., Schmitt M., Walthert L., Waldner P. (2011) A decade of monitoring at Swiss Long-Term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF) sites: can we observe trends in atmospheric acid deposition and in soil solution acidity? Environ. Monit. Assess. 174(1-4), 3-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1754-3 Institutional Repository DORA
Thimonier A., Graf Pannatier E., Schmitt M., Waldner P., Walthert L., Schleppi P., … Kräuchi N. (2010) Does exceeding the critical loads for nitrogen alter nitrate leaching, the nutrient status of trees and their crown condition at Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research (LWF) sites? Eur. J. For. Res. 129(3), 443-461. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-009-0328-9 Institutional Repository DORA
Hagedorn F., Moeri A., Walthert L., Zimmermann S. (2010) Kohlenstoff in Schweizer Waldböden – bei Klimaerwärmung eine potenzielle CO2-Quelle. Schweiz. Z. Forstwes. 161(12), 530-535. https://doi.org/10.3188/szf.2010.0530 Institutional Repository DORA
Walthert L., Graf U., Kammer A., Luster J., Pezzotta D., Zimmermann S., Hagedorn F. (2010) Determination of organic and inorganic carbon, δ13C, and nitrogen in soils containing carbonates after acid fumigation with HCl. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 173(2), 207-216. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200900158 Institutional Repository DORA
Blaser P., Walthert L., Graf Pannatier E. (2008) The sensitivity of Swiss forest soils to acidification and the risk of aluminum toxicity. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 171(4), 605-612. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200700185 Institutional Repository DORA
Blaser P., Graf Pannatier E., Walthert L. (2008) The base saturation in acidified Swiss forest soils on calcareous and noncalcareous parent material. A pH-base saturation anomaly. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 171(2), 155-162. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200625213 Institutional Repository DORA
Blaser P., Walthert L., Zimmermann S., Graf Pannatier E., Luster J. (2008) Classification schemes for the acidity, base saturation, and acidification status of forest soils in Switzerland. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 171(2), 163-170. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.200700008 Institutional Repository DORA
Richter A.K., Walthert L., Frossard E., Brunner I. (2007) Does low soil base saturation affect fine root properties of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)? Plant Soil. 298(1-2), 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9338-x Institutional Repository DORA
Waldner P., Schaub M., Graf Pannatier E., Schmitt M., Thimonier A., Walthert L. (2007) Atmospheric deposition and ozone levels in Swiss forests: are critical values exceeded? Environ. Monit. Assess. 128(13), 5-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9411-6 Institutional Repository DORA
Hirano Y., Walthert L., Brunner I. (2006) Callose in root apices of European chestnut seedlings: a physiological indicator of aluminum stress. Tree Physiol. 26(4), 431-440. https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/26.4.431 Institutional Repository DORA
Mayer P., Brang P., Dobbertin M., Hallenbarter D., Renaud J.P., Walthert L., Zimmermann S. (2005) Forest storm damage is more frequent on acidic soils. Ann. For. Sci. 62, 303-311. https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2005025 Institutional Repository DORA