Objective (Subject)	Rooting patterns, root growth, and water uptake in response to interspecific competition.
Content	The major challenge of forest management global is to manage forest in such a way that aspect of wood production and forest conservation are combined, in order to have a productive and stable forests which continuously provides multiple ecosystem goods and services such as wood production, habitat and biodiversity, balanced water and nutrient fluxes, carbon sequestration, landscape protection, and recreation. Against this background it is important to study the interaction of mixed forest of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), a deciduous tree species which would be the dominant tree species in Central Europe under natural conditions), Norway spruce (Picea abies), a native conifer species mainly cultivated outside its natural range) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), a nonnative conifer species, which originates from the Pacific Northwest of North-America. As a result of climate change, dry periods during summer are expected to occur more frequently and with higher intensity. Therefore, improved knowledge about rooting patterns, root growth, and water uptake of trees and stands in relation to site characteristics and species mixture is needed. It is well known that tree species differ in their rooting patterns, root growth, and water uptake, but the effect of interspecific competition on these functional traits and resulting ecosystem functioning is still unclear.
Appropriation period	01.10.2017 - 30.09.2020
Funded by	DFG Research Training Group
Person(s) in charge	Amani Saul Lwila
Publications	Lwila A, Post-Leon A, Ammer C, Mund M (2023) Site properties, species identity, and species mixture affect fine root production, mortality, and turnover rate in pure and mixed forests of European Beech, Norway spruce, and Douglas-fir. Ecological Indicators 147 DOI:10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.109975 Lwila A, Post-Leon A, Ammer C, Mund M (2023) Site properties, species identity, and species mixture affect fine root production, mortality, and turnover rate in pure and mixed forests of European Beech, Norway spruce, and Douglas-fir. Ecological Indicators 147 DOI:10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.109975 Lwila A, Mund M, Ammer C, Glatthorn J (2021) Site conditions more than species identity drive fine root biomass, morphology and spatial distribution in temperate pure and mixed forests Forest Ecology and Management 499: 119581