300426 SE+UE+EX Ozone & drought stress in semi natural forest com. (2006S)

ECTS-Points: 9
In this practical class students work together with Functional Plant Traits - Analysts from the Department of Eco-Physiology and Functional Anatomy of Plants, University of Vienna and scientists from the Federal Forest Research Centre Austria (FBVA). Since many years the forest research centre runs a full monitoring station in the limestone Alps of northern Tyrol. Thus, full data sets are available regarding the local climate and tree physiological relevant stress factors. Ozone induces remarkable stress reactions in trees and by this it reduces the Fitness of Trees and consequently biomass increment. The project was designed to demonstrate the great practical value of synoptic studies. At the beginning of the practical class the basics will be presented and all measuring techniques will be explained and demonstrated. Field work will be focussed on i. Analyses of functional Plant traits: light interception, light conversion (chlorophyll fluorescence), water relations (transpiration, water potential), biometry, functional anatomy; ii. The habitat: micro climate, soil properties; iii. In the lab, additional measurements are taken: osmotic potential, chlorophyll content, calorific values of plant material, functional needle anatomy; iv. Training is offered in data evaluation and graphic representation of results. Finally, the outcome is discussed in a concluding seminar.