Adapting drained forests to future climates
A Nordic–Baltic consortium project examining how seasonal water availability affects tree growth, water quality, and biodiversity in drained hemiboreal forests, and whether low-cost adaptive drainage measures (overflow dams, adjustable culvert gates) can ease drought stress and improve water retention as the climate changes. The work combines hydrological modelling with field experiments across the region, looking at tree physiology alongside water quality and aquatic biodiversity.
The Finland site
I coordinate Luke's role as a consortium partner, contributing the tree physiology side of the project: how drained hemiboreal stands respond physiologically to changing seasonal water availability, and how that response relates to the water-retention and water-quality questions the wider consortium is investigating in Estonia and Latvia.
Pilot studies & work in progress
Early-stage measurements at the Finland site, ahead of publication:
- Isotope-enabled monitoring of stem CO₂ efflux in managed boreal forests, 2025–present Pilot
A field pilot integrating stem CO₂-efflux rates and δ13C with sap flow, dendrometer-derived growth, soil respiration and environmental measurements. It compares control and continuous-cover forestry stands, and examines vertical, diel and seasonal variation in stem efflux — including its relationship with tree water transport, growth, and the possible transport of soil- or root-derived CO₂.
A substantial part of the work has been methodological: developing and adapting the LI-7825 measurement workflow, covering chamber measurements, internal gas benchmarks, field metadata, quality control, structured data storage and R-based processing.
The pilot tests whether temporal variation in stem-efflux δ13C carries information about changes in respiratory substrate use and carbon-use strategies under contrasting management and water conditions. These are relationships under investigation rather than established results, and findings are not reported here ahead of publication.
Past projects & grants
- 2022 — Szejner, P. (Responsable). “Strengthening collaboration networks and enhancing scientific capabilities in Latin America through innovative research between tree-ring research groups from Mexico and Chile.” International Mobility Research Fellowship Program for Latin American and Caribbean early-career scientists.
- 2021–2022 — Szejner, P. (PI). “Ecophysiological variations along the tree growing season recorded in the dendrochronological archive.” Program for Research and Technological Innovation Projects (PAPIIT), UNAM. US $20,000 (mass spectrometer facilities for dendrochronological research).
- 2021–2023 — Szejner, P. (Co-PI). “Temporal variations of the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO₂ as indicators of emission sources in Mexico City.” UNAM Internal Support Program for Research and Technological Innovation Projects (PAPIIT). US $30,000 (atmospheric CO₂ dynamics near Mexico City).
- 2012–2013 — Szejner, P. (PI). “Reconstruction of the Precipitation and streamflow of the Choapa basin, using Kagenekia Angustifolia.” Private-sector consultancy/research funding. US $80,000.