Since 2019, we have been exposing European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens) to chronic climate stress: continuous warming (+5 °C), reduced soil moisture, or both combined, using our Model Ecosystem (MODOEK) open-top chamber infrastructure. This unique long-term experiment aims to unravel how trees acclimate to sustained warming and drought, from the level of single leaves to entire plants.
Our primary goal is to understand how prolonged exposure to higher temperatures and drier soils alters carbon and water relations, including photosynthesis, transpiration, and hydraulic function. By tracking both species under controlled yet realistic conditions, we are assessing how their physiology, phenology, and stress tolerance evolve over multiple years.
To capture the role of biodiversity in climate resilience, trees were planted not only in monocultures but also in mixed-species stands, allowing us to test how species interactions influence growth, resource use, and stress recovery under warming and drought.
Over the years, the MODOEK platform has supported the research of several PhD students and postdocs (see our publications for details). Most recently, Maxwell Bergström has used the setup to investigate the drivers of leaf scorching and premature senescence, combining cutting-edge tools such as infrared thermography, GoPro time-lapse imaging, cavitation cameras, and detailed ecophysiological measurements.
In the coming year, we will launch a tree mortality study (led by PhD student Leo Jacquat) to test whether long-term acclimation to heat and drought translates into altered survival risks. This next phase will provide crucial insights into how temperate forest species cope or fail to cope with chronic climate stress.
Stay tuned for upcoming results as we continue to explore how Europe’s iconic trees adjust to a changing climate.
