Bavarian research & innovation Bavarian Research Cooperation “Impact of climate on ecosystems and climate adaptation strategies”
CHALLENGES IN THE ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE Ecosystem research regarding climate adaptation
mpacts from changes in the global climate are increa - Isingly manifesting them- selves in terms of the regional sphere. Ecological impacts in all their dimensions are still not completely visible to date, hence there exists such a sense of urgency regarding solutions for the challenges we are facing in climate and eco- systems research. Forests, grasslands and lakes are ecosystems with longevity, thus making them vulnerable to impact from future climate changes. These ecosystems cover a large proportion of Ba - Modelling of future expected climate changes is a useful tool for ecosystem research varia and carry considerable (Above illustration: A1B-climate-scenario for Bavaria; database: Remo) economic significance. In light of current climate changes, the probability is increasing that the impact of climate upon eco - seldom-seen and extreme cli - systems and make thorough in - Spokesperson: matological events will occur vestigations in reference to the Prof. Dr. Carl Beierkuhnlein, University of Bayreuth more often and with rising in - following central issues: How do tensity. Moreover, extreme climatic conditions Scientific & administrative coordination: novel forms of extreme con- (e.g. drought and torrential rains) Dr. Camilla Wellstein ditions can be expected. It is affect the characteristics of eco - Dipl.-Geoökol. Andreas Gohlke assumed that economic dama - systems and functions? How Chair of Biogeography, University of Bayreuth ge will occur. Possibly negative are ecological processes, such Universitätsstraße 30, 95440 Bayreuth developments must therefore as the production of biomass or Phone +49 (0) 921-55-2299 be addressed immediately with the interaction between animals Fax +49 (0) 921-55-2315 sufficient adaptive measures. and plants, affected? How E-Mail [email protected] resilient are our ecosystems? [email protected] There are researchers involved Research results in this matter Internet: www.bayfor.org/forkast in the research cooperation are essential prerequisites for www.bayceer.uni-bayreuth.de/forkast/ FORKAST from 19 chairs and evaluating how ecological servi - faculties at the universities of ces (e.g. stability of mountain Funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Science, Bayreuth, Regensburg, Würz - slopes, agricultural and Research and Art (StMWFK) with € 3 million for 3 years, burg, Erlangen-Nuremberg as silvicultural production) will be commencing in the spring of 2009. well as the Technical University affected. Moreover, eventual of Munich. They are researching positive developments should
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be recognised, and develop- manipulative experiments and mental opportunities in the modelling (i.e. simulations) can offing should be utilised early on. be optimally networked. The fundamental research results To facilitate the realisation of sought after within the co- these subject-overlapping and operation offer opportunities for inter-structural demands, FOR - implementation into commer - KAST has inter-linked research ce and society (for example in competencies of Bavarian uni - the fields of agriculture and sil - versities with technical authori - viculture), prognosis of natural ties. FORKAST is, furthermore, hazards, nature conservation, included in the network of inter - planning of spaces and water national research consortiums. management. In this manner, Up-to-date developments in this crucial Bavarian enterprise methodology are continuously is able to assume the role of being implemented and combi - trailblazer within the sphere of ned within the research coope - climate impact research in Ger - ration. In this manner, the va - many. rious qualities of monitoring, Dry-out phenomenon on maple leaf as a result of drought in the summer of 2003
Academic Partners University of Bayreuth - Chair of Biogeography - Department of Micrometeorology - Department of Agroecosystem Research - Working Group Soil Physics - Working Group Animal Population Ecology - Junior Professor for Disturbance Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics - Junior Professor for Biogeographical Modelling
Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg - Chair for Physical Geography
Technical University of Munich - Chair of Vegetation Ecology - Chair of Forest Yield Science - Chair of Soil Ecology - Chair of Atmospheric Environmental Research - Chair of Soil Sciences - Section of Limnology - Section of Geobotany - Section of Eco-Climatology
University of Regensburg - Chair of Botany
Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg - Chair of Zoology III
Bavarian State Institute of Forestry (LWF)
Bavarian Office of Forest Seeding and Planting (ASP)
Helmholtz Zentrum München (former GSF)
Institute for Atmospheric Environmental Research Garmisch- Partenkirchen, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) Experimental area for extreme climatic events - Research Group "Ecosystem Matter Fluxes" (EVENT-Experiment at the University of Bayreuth)
Member of the Association of Bavarian Research Cooperations