Project properties
Title Detecting effects of CO2 rise on the drivers of tropical tree growth
Group Forest Ecology and Forest Management Group
Project type thesis
Credits 33-39
Supervisor(s) Pieter Zuidema, Sophie Zwartsenberg
Examiner(s) FEM staff member
Contact info pieter.zuidema@wur.nl
Begin date 2020/05/01
End date
Description MSc thesis

Atmospheric CO2 rise increases photosynthesis and decreases water loss of
trees, but it may also increase leaf temperatures beyond optimum for
photosynthesis. Generally, CO2 rise is thought to increase tree growth, the ‘CO2
fertilization effect’, but this may be smaller than expected.
The responses of trees to atmospheric CO2 rise likely depends on climatic
conditions at a certain time and place. Or, put differently, the effects of
temperature and rainfall on tree growth may shift with CO2 rise. Tree rings offer
an interesting tool to investigate these CO2 x climate interactions. First analyses
show that for tropical tree species, these interactions may cause growth to be
both reduced and increased by CO2 rise. It is of interest to conduct similar
analyses for other species, across climatic gradients. You will use the
International Tree-ring Databank, to evaluate whether CO2 rise has shifted the
climatic drivers of tree growth.

Corona proof: i.e.no field work (abroad) or intensive lab studies required

Climate change effects / Ecophysiology / Tree ring analyses and wood
anatomy / worldwide/ Tropical zone /Desk study
Used skills Statistical skills, image analysis
Requirements Recommended:
FEM-30306 Forest Ecology and Forest Management and
REG-31806 Ecological Methods I