Project information
Doctoral student
Karolina Pehrson
Supervisor
Anna Monrad Jensen, Linnaeus University
Assistant supervisors
Achim Grelle, Linnaeus University, Eric Dusenge, Mount Allison University
Participants
Linnaeus University
Project start
1 March 2023 - March 2027
Subject
Forestry and wood technology (Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Technology)
More about the project
This project will study trees ability to adjust the photosynthesis apparatus to a warmer climate and if optimal nutrient conditions can accelerate the process and if there’s a differences between species. We will focus on Pine (Pinus sylvestris) which is one of the dominant spices in Swedish forestry, and larix (Larix sibirica) which is a possible species in the future.
One of the fundamental questions in this project is if the access to nitrogen (N) will affect how fast trees adapt the photosynthesis as a respond to high temperatures. This will be studies in field during several seasons, in two forest areas, one in Småland (southern Sweden) and one in south Norrland (middle of Sweden) to be able to compare regional differences. Also, plant material will be analyzed to understand the allocation of nitrogen better. We will also look at levels of the RUBisCO protein to compare between fertilized and unfertilized groups. Additionally, we will study Blueberry (Vaccínium myrtíllus) as it is very common in Swedish forest and is consider as a keystone species being important in the ecosystem. It is of interest to follow blueberry’s effect of fertilization.
In all we are hoping to get a greater understanding of nitrogen’s role in the acclimation of the photosynthesis apparatus to a warmer climate.
The project is part of the research in The Bridge research group and in the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Green Sustainable Development
