Collection of samples to understand tree responses to heat and drought events
Since August last year, we have conducted two field campaigns to collect information and samples from 12 tree species of interest by cycling around Freiburg and Karlsruhe. We cored 12 tree species in the city and parks, as well as in nearby forests (this is minimally invasive for the tree). The aim is to investigate their growth response to climate change, particularly as it manifests itself in extreme heat and drought events. We also took soil samples to assess the type of soil the trees are growing in. All field work was done by bike and train.
Once collected, the cores had to be mounted each evening to prevent distortion and rotting. The cores are currently being processed in the laboratory using a microtome and analyzed for ring width, wood anatomy and isotopic composition. These three parameters, in combination with many other variables collected, will help us to understand which trees are more susceptible to these climate shocks and which are more resilient.
