912329 Water, nutrients and pollutants in forest ecosystems

Type
Lecture and seminar
Semester hours
3
Lecturer (assistant)
Schume, Helmut , Katzensteiner, Klaus , Berger, Torsten Winfried
Organisation
Offered in
Wintersemester 2024/25
Languages of instruction
Deutsch
Content

Introduction: Element budgets (input, sequestration, turnover, output) of forest ecosystems with special emphasis on cycling of water, carbon, plant nutrients and inorganic compounds. The role of forests within the global carbon cycle. Impact of forest management practices, deposition of atmospheric pollutants (acid rain, nitrogen) and global climate change on nutrient budgets of forests from local to landscape scale. Possibilities of silvicultural methods for manipulating element storage and release with direct consequences on the quality of groundwater. Seminars for increasing knowledge within (1) forest hydrology (components of the water balance of forest ecosystems, interaction forest-atmosphere, hydrology of forested catchments & management influences), (2) nutrient budgets (monitoring and modelling with special regard to nutrient loss via harvesting and site melioration, (3) carbon budget (monitoring and evaluating the role of forests and plantations within the global climate, (4) ecology of toxins and biogeochemistry (monitoring of pollutant inputs and outputs, modelling, long term monitoring).
Objective (expected results of study and acquired competences)

Imparting knowledge about water and nutrient budgets of forest ecosystem and forested landscapes. Elective seminars for advanced studies with regard to methodology, interpretation and modeling.
You can find more details like the schedule or information about exams on the course-page in BOKUonline.