912317 Air pollution effects on forest ecosystems (in Eng.)

Art
Vorlesung und Seminar
Semesterstunden
2
Vortragende/r (Mitwirkende/r)
Unger, Gregor , Berger, Torsten Winfried
Organisation
Angeboten im Semester
Wintersemester 2024/25
Unterrichts-/ Lehrsprachen
Englisch
Lehrinhalt

The lecture provides an overview of disciplines like meteorology, botany, ecology, plant physiology, environmental biotechnology, forest science, environmental analyses and others. Air pollutants and greenhouse gases from natural and anthropogenic sources are discussed due to their importance, frequency, long-term effects and toxic consequences on forest ecosystems, as well as their origins and interactions, especially ozone stress. Symptoms of air pollution damage and nutrient deficiencies on plants, possibilities of reduction and monitoring systems of air pollutants and nutrient deficiencies, critical levels, critical loads and legislation are addressed. Possible interactions between air pollution, climate, and forest pests are demonstrated. The capacity of forests to sequester carbon under changing climatic conditions and coexposure to elevated levels of air pollutants are addressed.
Inhaltliche Voraussetzungen (erwartete Kenntnisse)

no
Lehrziel

The students understand the causal relationships between emission sources, transmission and the impacts of air pollutants on forest ecosystems. They know which pollutants are of major concern for forests and their mechanisms of action and indicators for individual stresses. The students are aware of the concepts of nitrogen saturation and critical loads. They comprehend how air pollution directly and indirectly affects individual tree species and recognize the cause/effect-based relationships between pollutants and other stresses at the stand and ecosystem level. The students understand the complexity of developing reliable risk assessments of air pollution effects on plants under climate change scenarios. They realize that the impact of pollution and climate change on soil carbon dynamics are still poorly understood. They are able to critically analyze scientific papers about air pollution, global change and forest ecosystems and understand the meanings or implications at the wider context of the subject.
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