Projects - dr.ir. FJ (Frank) Sterck
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Understanding growth patterns of trees from underlying eco-physiological and evolutionary principles.
Current projects include studies on understanding plastic growth responses of trees to contrasting soil conditions, by integrating underlying trait responses in roots, stem and leaves for canopy trees (PhD Weemstra), and comparative studies where we upscale the functioning of anatomical properties in xylem, phloem and leaves to the architecture, functioning and growth for trees across Dutch forests (with MSc students) and European forests (European research networks) . In addition, I explore diel and seasonal patterns in carbon and water relationships within trees and consequences for overall tree growth (European research networks)
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Understanding the consequences of the growth patterns for niche differentiation and species distributions along environmental gradients.
Current projects focus on the impacts of responses in functional traits and architecture for distributions of woody plant species along gradients in climate, for example for tree species across Europe (with European networks), woody plant species from boreal, temperate to tropical forest biomes (PhD Zhang), for liana and tree species in forests of Panama (PhD Medina), Brazil (Post-Doc ) and tropical China (Chinese research networks), and for trees across the Mediterranean (European research networks).
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Understanding the consequences of growth patterns for the management of trees or forests.
Current projects include multiple studies on environmental and physiological impacts on frankincense production by a woodland tree species in Ethiopia (with Frans Bongers, and a whole team of Ethiopian PhD students), and on mono and mixed forest species impacts on forest productivity in the Netherlands (PhD Lu Huicui).
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Broadleaf temperate trees growth pattern response to increasing the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles
Broadleaf temperate trees growth pattern response to increasing the frequency of freeze-thaw cycles - WUR Project Broadleaf temperate trees growth... -
Sustainable forest management
Sustainable forest management - WUR Project Sustainable forest management The effects of biomass harvest on nutrient budgets, productivity, and... -
Distribution and performance of conifers
Distribution and performance of conifers - WUR Project Distribution and performance of conifers This research aims to understand how species are... -
Afterlife of the woods (LOGLIFE)
Afterlife of the woods (LOGLIFE) - WUR Project Afterlife of the woods (LOGLIFE) Deadwood decomposition has been relatively well studied, but how... -
Better understanding of the liana community assembly
Better understanding of the liana community assembly - WUR Project Better understanding of the liana community assembly Lianas are important... -
Functional balances in forest trees and lianas
Functional balances in forest trees and lianas - WUR Project Functional balances in forest trees and lianas Canopy branches are key energy input... -
Distribution and diversity of Himalayan plant species
Distribution and diversity of Himalayan plant species - WUR Project Distribution and diversity of Himalayan plant species Globally, climate change is... -
Why are lianas increasing in tropical forest?
Why are lianas increasing in tropical forest? - WUR Project Why are lianas increasing in tropical forest? In tropical forests, lianas are increasing... -
Mechanistic 3D tree growth modelling
A functional-structural plant growth model has been developed to explore how biophysical principles, meristem activity, carbon economy and selection... -
Beyond leaf economics: Integrating root, leaf and stem traits to examine resource acquisition and tree growth
Improving tree growth is important to meet timber and biomass demands, and driven by leaf, stem and root properties that determine the acquisition and...