Hysteresis Effects in Bavarian Beech Forest Ecosystems through Climate Extremes

HyBBEx investigates temporal legacies of these climate extremes, so-called hysteresis effects, which may range from dedicated recovery periods to mortality. Additional to important and directly practically relevant questions about the site-specific implications for growing beech, HyBBEx is especially concerned with the ecological perspective, with a focus on the carbon balance of beech forests — because hysteresis effects may turn forest ecosystems from carbon sinks to carbon sources, and can therefore directly impact important ecosystem services.

Currently, we know only little about these hysteresis effects, and consequently even the most up-to-date ecosystem models cannot fully capture the recovery of ecosystem productivity after climatic extremes. Therefore, a realistic process-based projection of the ecosystem functioning of forests (and more specifically beech forests) is currently not possible. HyBBEx uses an innovative approach comprising data integration, and statistical and dynamical modelling, and model-data-fusion to achieve projections of ecosystem dynamics of Bavarian forest ecosystems through a better understanding of hysteresis effects. This enables HyBBEx to deliver both basic science contributions and insights in tree species suitability and ecosystem management that can directly be fed back into forestry practice. All in all, the project wants to contribute considerably to the improved understanding of climate change impacts on Bavaria, with a direct benefit for the development of regional adaptation strategies.