Ecophysiology Research Group

 

 

 

 

RECENT PROJECTS

Carbon sequestration in Irish forests (CARBiFOR) As signatories to the Kyoto Protocol European countries are required to reduce their collective greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5% below the 1990 level in the first commitment period 2008 to 2012. Under the terms of the protocol carbon (C) sequestration by forests may be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions. However, studies on the sequestration capacity of Irish forests are limited. The COFORD funded CARBiFOR project cluster has been initiated to provide an initial estimate, based on field studies, of carbon store in and sequestration potential of current and new forests in Ireland.

Eddy covariance techniques are currently being used monitor the exchanges of CO2 between the biosphere and the atmosphere, above Sitka spruce forests. This technique provides an estimate of Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP), or net ecosystem carbon exchange. Modelling approaches are also being employed to estimate the contribution of different components, such as photosynthesis, soil and wood biomass respiration, on net ecosystem exchange in forests of different ages. The estimates are important for both the calculation of NEP and for the interpretation of canopy C fluxes.

Other members of the CARBiFOR cluster are:
  • Environmental Resource Management, UCD, who are measuring ecosystem (soil) respiration at the local patch scale.
  • Zoology Department, UCD, who are assessing soil C stocks at the local patch scale with model based up-scaling.
  • Forestry Department, UCD, are investigating biomass C stocks on a tree/stand scale.

Please check out the link below to view a pdf of 'The Dooary Forest Research Platform, A decade of Measurements'

Dooray Forest Research Platform

Please check out the link below to view a pdf of new PhD positions available in Ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions

PhD positions in Ecosystem Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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