Experimental assessment of changes in soil organic matter pools in mountain forests

22 - 30 September 2006, University Centre Obergurgl, Austria

Programme Overview

The goal is to gain a conceptual understanding of ecological processes in mountain forest. Ecological theory will be supported by a set of field data that are collected during the course. These data will be evaluated. Based on our experience from practical field work we will investigate the options for the experimental modification of site conditions on the example of a soil warming experiment. We will demonstrate, what kinds of field measurements are required in order to generate a meaningful dataset. This module of the summer school includes the demonstration of soil respiration measurements, monitoring of climatological parameters, including the operation of data loggers. We want to demonstrate, how researchers can efficiently deal with the peculiar site conditions of mountain forests. We also want to acquaint the participants with the possibilities and limits of data interpretation

The course

The summerschool covers the modules

Ecological Basics
Field work
Experimental modification and models

On the first day the participants will be acquainted with the ecology of mountain forests. The theory will be demonstrated in a full-day field trip. Within 'field work' we will survey soils and will demonstrate the spatial heterogeneity. Later we will suggest how to deal with such obstacles upon data evaluation and how to identify patterns in the landscape. The module 'Experiments' will demonstrate the technological effort of data collection. In ecosystem manipulations numerous parameters need to be monitored solely to describe the status of the ecosystem and even more in order to detect the signal due to the imposed treatment. Our case study is the soil warming experiment Achenkirch, conducted by the Forest Research Center, (BFW) Austria. The data collected throughout the summerschool will serve as input data in a modelling exercise. Ideally, we will be able to present a meaningful simulation of the local stone pine ecosystem.

Who should sign up?

We want to interest 20 to 25 students who are in an advanced state of their studies in the general field of natural sciences (e.g. forestry, soil sciences, biology, geography) and may already have started their postgraduate programs. Students who are planning to conduct their own field experiments in mountain ecosystems will learn how to properly plan the experiment and how to avoid technical pitfalls.

Detailed information and Registration

Detailed information and the registration form is available at http://bfw.ac.at/rz/bfwcms.web?dok=3346 .

Contact person

Please contact Robert Jandl for further questions