Speaker
Description
Abstract:
Understanding how forests respond to climate change requires real-time insight into tree water and carbon dynamics. Within the TreeWatch.net network (Steppe et al. 2016), continuous monitoring of sap flow (including advanced Sap Flow+ sensors), stem diameter variation, stem water potential, and meteorological variables reveals how trees respond to drought, heat, and other extremes. By integrating these high-resolution data with mechanistic tree models, we can simulate processes such as turgor, hydraulic resistance, and hydraulic capacitance, providing a mechanistic understanding of stress and resilience.
While CO₂ uptake remains central to climate mitigation, water availability emerges as an equally critical factor shaping tree vitality and forest productivity. Continuous monitoring allows early detection of drought stress, evaluation of recovery capacity, and development of adaptive forest management strategies. TreeWatch.net thus bridges real-time physiological monitoring and process-based modeling, linking tree-level responses to ecosystem-scale feedbacks, enhancing our ability to sustain the vital role of forests in achieving carbon neutrality.
Reference:
Steppe K, von der Crone J, De Pauw DJW (2016) TreeWatch.net: a tree water and carbon monitoring network to assess instant tree hydraulic functioning and stem growth. Frontiers in Plant Science 7: Article 993.
| If your abstract is not accepted for an oral presentation, would you be interested in presenting it as a poster instead? | Yes |
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| If accepted by the Scientific Board, I agree to have my presentation/poster and abstract published on the Belgian Climate Centre websites and social media. | Yes |
