Research

How plants survive in an ever changing environment

We investigate the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms that control photosynthesis, growth and resilience of trees to changing environmental conditions

Our goal is to better understand what limits growth of trees and how climate impacts carbon uptake and the health of our forests. We also develop tools for forestry, horticulture and digital agriculture to address the challenges of global environmental change

Changing climate already impacts carbon sequestration and productivity of trees, and causes increased tree mortality, with large effects on species distribution and the global carbon cycle. However, we currently lack a detailed understanding of how future climate will affect the physiological and molecular responses of northern trees and forests.

Our research not only reveals how trees cope with changing climate. We also develop innovative drone-based high-throughput phenotyping tools for monitoring and quantifying change.

Beyond the value of these tools for basic research, they also provide opportunities for practical applications in the forestry sector. Using drone-based phenotyping tools, we can assess growth, fitness and health of trees in the field faster and more reliably than conventional approaches. High-throughput phenotyping accelerates the process of identifying, selecting and breeding trees that are better adapted to future climate.

Our research helps to sustain ecologically and economically important tree species in a future climate with benefits to the environment and the Canadian forestry sector.