Working group - ENVIRUS (Environment Under Stress)

BMBF Project title - 
Impact and risk assessment of Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) outbreaks for sustainable management and health risk control in urban and non-urban European oak forests (Quercus spec. L.)

DFG Project title - 
Impacts of phyllophagous insect mass outbreaks on biogeochemical processes and microbial activities in tree canopies and soils

Students enrolled for Bachelors', Masters' and PhD courses are encouraged to apply for study internships with the research working group, ENVIRUS at the Faculty of Forestry (Department of Soil Sciences for Temperate Zones). Courses will be broadly offered in the following topics :

a) Biogeochemistry - Measurement and Modeling of GHG and VOCs

b) Microbiology - DNA probing of nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying microorganisms, plant physiology and      biochemistry, entomology, remote sensing, bioclimatology

c) Tree physiology

d) GIS and remote sensing

The following additional topics are offered to PhD and MSc candidates (including BSc)
1) Studies on water and organic matter balance (tree & soil)  in pine and oak stands under the influence of mass proliferation of phytophagous insects ? includes both field and laboratory work
2) Effects of frass activity of phytophagous insects on the mineralization process as well as C and N pools in trees and soil (Incubation experiment with isotopes)
3) Retrospective data analysis for evaluating the spreading of the oak processionary moth in urban and non-urban forests and green areas in Germany (GIS and Remote Sensing)
4) Microbiological analyses (soil/plants) within the crown to ground pathway
5) Determination of the leaf crown biomass by means of a terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) through derivation of Leaf Area Index (LAI). 

Additional working themes for BSc. candidates :
1) Theme -  Forest ecosystem research
The work will be focused on statistical analysis, processing and interpretation of organic and inorganic material flow data from forests 
The students will be able to work on already available data!!

2) Theme - Measurement of drought stress on trees 
Specific measurement techniques will be used for estimating the drought stress on selected trees


For detailed information, please contact -
Thomas Zilla
E-Mail: tzilla1@gwdg.de
Tel: 0551-39-33501