Projects - prof.dr.ir. FJ (Frank) Sterck
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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 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 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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Mechanistically understanding Amazon fire resilience
Mechanistically understanding Amazon fire resilience - WUR Project Mechanistically understanding Amazon fire resilience Forest fires in the Amazon are... -
Climate-smart forestry
Climate-smart forestry - WUR Project Climate-smart forestry The overall aim of my project is to gather robust experimental evidence on the effects of... -
Bridging the gaps: Towards consistentand high-frequency European forest monitoring
Bridging the gaps: Towards consistentand high-frequency European forest monitoring - WUR Project Bridging the gaps: Towards consistentand... -
Climate response of carbon and water dynamics in a subtropical forest
Climate response of carbon and water dynamics in a subtropical forest - WUR Project Climate response of carbon and water dynamics in a subtropical... -
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... -
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... -
Sustainable forest management
Sustainable forest management - WUR Project Sustainable forest management The effects of biomass harvest on nutrient budgets, productivity, and... -
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...