oak sprig with leaves and acorns, seeds, a mouse and a caterpillar

Project: Adaptation to changes: emerging forest ecosystems in a changing climate

We aim to compile information about oak forest distributions and associated biodiversity, identifying threats and opportunities. From data from oak forests across the nemoral and hemiboreal zones, we will use predictive modelling to understand and forecast oak forest ecosystems. The outcomes, which will provide crucial information for designing sustainable, climate-adaptive forest management strategies, will hopefully increase the proportion of oak in Swedish forests.

Project information

Project manager
Markus Franzén
Other project members
Anders Forsman, Johanna Sunde, Anna Monrad Jensen, Johan Kroon, Romana Salis and Marcus Hall, Linnaeus University
Victor Johansson, Linköping University; Johannes Edvardsson, Lund University; Lena Gustafsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University, Linköping University, Lund University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Financier
Formas
Timetable
1 Nov 2021–31 Oct 2025
Subjects
Environmental science (Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences)
Forestry and wood technology (Department of Forestry and Wood Technology. Faculty of Technology)
Website
Quercusproject.com

More about the project

Nearly 70 % of Sweden's land area is covered in forests, but southern forests are increasingly threatened by climate change, diseases, and pests. Over recent decades, the environment has shifted, with changes in temperature and precipitation expected to accelerate, causing the nemoral zone and its deciduous forests to expand northward.

This transformation necessitates urgent action to preserve and ensure the long-term viability of existing forests. Protecting biodiversity is crucial, as high genetic variation enhances adaptability and resilience, contributing to more robust ecosystems.

Developing forestry recommendations is challenging due to the diverse interests of stakeholders. In southern regions, where the climate mirrors the future of northern areas, oak forests are vital. These forests support half of all red-listed species, particularly those associated with oak, a species valued for timber, recreation, hunting, and mushroom picking.

This project combines traditional methods with modern techniques (DNA sequencing, multispectral drone imagery, and automated biological and climatological data collection) to study present, past, and future oak forests in southern Sweden's nemoral zone.

Our research will:

  • Investigate the drivers and consequences of genetic variation in oak, identifying varieties better suited for future conditions.
  • Examine differences in phenotypic plasticity among oak species, stands, and individuals, and their ability to adapt to changing environments.
  • Analyze how tri-trophic food webs and ecosystem services are linked to forest and climate characteristics.
  • Develop climate-adaptive oak forestry strategies that balance production and conservation values.

The project is part of the research in the Linnaeus University Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial model Systems (EEMiS) research group and the Linnaeus Knowledge Environments Water and Green Sustainable Development.

Staff