Ivika Ostonen-Märtin, our centre’s Root Ecology Group leader, gave a presentation today at the memorial conference “Development Trends in Forest Ecology and Ecophysiology in the World and in Estonia,” dedicated to Professor Olev Kull’s 70th anniversary.
In her presentation, Ivika introduced the underground adaptation mechanisms of ecosystems and the innovative methods used in FutureScapes study areas to observe the activity in the soil.
Interesting points from the presentation:
The roots of forest understorey plants grow even in winter — so root growth does not stop in the cold season!
Roots work together with countless soil microbes, which helps build the ecosystem’s resilience to environmental change.
The impact of land-use change on the belowground part of ecosystems is long-lasting and still largely unexplored.