Research Collection Master Thesis On the processes and factors shaping the Norway spruce’s (Picea abies) forests in the Southern Swiss Alps An analytical and modelling approach to understand the effect of climate change and Rhododendrons on the Norway spruce stands Author(s): Guidotti, Andrea Publication Date: 2020 Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000438047 Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use. ETH Library Master’s Thesis in Environmental Sciences On the processes and factors shaping the Norway spruce’s (Picea abies) forests in the Southern Swiss Alps. An analytical and modelling approach to understand the effect of climate change and Rhododendrons on the Norway spruce stands. Author: Andrea Guidotti student ID no. 14-929-095 MSc Environmental sciences ETH Zürich
[email protected] Supervisor: Dr. Monika Frehner ETH Zürich
[email protected] Co-supervisors: Prof. Dr. Andreas Zischg University of Bern
[email protected] Anne Herold Bonardi WSL Cadenazzo
[email protected] Submission date: 18.05.2020 0 | 158 Front page picture: the sunrise sheds a light on a group of young Norway spruce trees. I took this picture from Cés, in Val Leventina (Ticino), in the Summer 2019. 1 | 158 “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Aphorism by Ralph Waldo Emerson 2 | 158 Summary The Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) is one of the most important tree species in the Southern Swiss Alps, especially in the mountain forests which support an essential protective function on the infrastructures and settlements of the inner alpine valleys.