Current Projects Further Projects and Cooperations
Dendro-ecological investigations on growth-rhythm and intra-annual variability of growth ring features of trees in tropical dry forests

Location:
Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Aim of the study:
Basic investigations on the relations between climate, phenology, sap-flow, radial and longitudinal increments of trees in an tropical dry forests.

Partners:
Prof. Dr. R. Borchert, Dep. of Physiology & Cell Biology, Haworth Hall, University Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-2106, USA

Dr. M.V. Gutierrez, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica

Prof. Dr. D. Eckstein, Institute for Wood Biology, Leuschnerstr. 91, 21031 Hamburg Germany

In co-operation with Dr. D. Schulz, Institut für Tierökologie und Zellbiologie der Tierärztlichen Hochschule, Hannover

Supported by:
DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)

Biomass increment, dynamics, selective logging and sustainable management of Amazonian floodplain forests 

Part of the SHIFT-Program (Studies on Human Impact on Forests and Floodplains in the Tropics) ENV 29-2:
Stress physiology, primary production and dynamics of Amazonian forests systems.

Locations:
Manaus, Mamirauá, Brazil.

Aim of the study:
The discussion on sustainable use and management plans lacks on knowledge on growth rates and wood-production of tropical trees and forests. By the financial support of BMBF, Germany and CNPq, Brazil a study is carried out on growth behaviour, forest dynamics and estimations of wood production in an undisturbed and partially logged inundation forest of the Amazon river. Aim of the study is the modelling of growth reponses to logging, growth rate estimations and, estimations of possible rotation periods.

The study takes place in the Mamirauá region, near the city Tefé supported by the Projeto Mamirauá, which founded a forest reserve and develops a management plan for the sustainable use of the forests and floodplains together with the Sociedade de Mamirauá, a co-operation of the local inhabitants of the region.

The investigation is linked with the SHIFT-Project: Stress Physiology, Primary Production and Dynamics of Amazonian Forests Systems. This is a bilateral project between several universities in Germany, the working Group Tropical Ecology of the MPIL, Ploen and the INPA, Manaus, which mainly is focussed on investigations on the Várzea island Marchantaria.

Partners:
Dr. J. M. Ayres and A. Pires, Manejo Florestal/Projeto Mamirauá, Tefé, Brazil

Dr. M. F.T. Piedade, INPA (link), Brazil

Dr. W.J. Junk, Working Group, Tropical Ecology, Max-Planck-Institut fuer Limnology, Postfach 165, 24302 Plön, Germany

Foundation and development of dendro-ecological working groups and laboratories in Tropical South America

Locations:
Manaus, Piracicaba and Corumba, Brazil, Caracas and Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela

Aim of the activities:
The existence of annual tree rings in tropical and subtropical woody plants opens a wide range of applications in botany and forestry science. Dendrochronological methodologies and theories however were developed in countries of the temperate zone, tree-ring laboratories existed exclusively in this region. The necessity for independent research facilities in tropical countries lead since 1992 to a series of activities and programs for the transfer of knowledge in ecological tree-ring science:

- Orientation of a PhD students from Germany and Brazil in tropical dendrochronology.

- Training programs for Brazilian and Venezuelan scientist in Goettingen up to 6 months,

- Funding of equipment for two complete tree-ring laboratories in Brazil by several organisations (see above)

-Guest professor ship of 12 months at the Dep. de Ciençias Florestais, ESALQ, USP, Piracicabca with graduate, post graduate courses and training programs for students and scientists.

- Development of research programs involving further German and Brazilian master degree and PhD students in the future.

Partners:
Dr. M. T. F. Piedade, INPA, c.p. 478, CEP 69011-970 Manaus, AM, Brazil

Prof. Dr. M. Tomazello, Dep. Ciençias Florestais, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz - Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Padua Dias, 11 - CP 9 - CEP 13418-900 - Piracicaba SP, Brazil.

Dr. I. Ishii, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Centro Universitário de Corumbá, Departamento de Ciências do Ambiente, Av. Rio Branco 1270 - Caixa Postal 252, 79304-020 Corumbá - MS, Brazil, Fax: (067) 231-6424

Dr. L. Hernández, BioGuayana, Av. Las Americas, edif. Torre General de Seguros, UNEG, Puerto Ordaz, Edo. Bolivar, Venezuela

Nelda Dezzeo, Lab. Ecologia de Suelos (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela

Supported by:
DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst), Bonn

GTZ (Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit), Eschborn

CAPES (Ministerio da Educação e do Esporte, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)

CNPq (Conselho Naçional)

Bundesministerium fuer Wissenschaft Forschung und Technologie (BMBF)