Research Unit for Forest Ecology and Management

University of Joensuu

Director: Academy Professor Seppo Kellomäki
University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
Tel. +358 13 251 3630, Fax. +358 13 4444
seppo.kellomaki(at)joensuu.fi

Centre of Excellence pages

The Centre of Excellence for Forest Ecology and Management established in the University of Joensuu, Finland, at the beginning of 2000 is based on collaboration between four research groups working in the Faculty of Forestry and the Department of Biology.

The Centre provides a research network which links about 25 senior scientists, 15 junior scientists and post-doctoral scholars and 50 Ph.D. students working at several universities and research institutes in Finland and abroad. The co-ordinator is Academy Prof. Seppo Kellomäki.

The Centre of Excellence aims at promoting scientific research into the functional and structural dynamics of the boreal forest ecosystem with management implications. Multidisciplinary studies are directed towards integrating basic and applied science for application to the sustainable management of boreal forests. With this in mind, the work of the Centre is based on collaboration between four research groups with the following research topics.

Academy Prof. Seppo Kellomäki, University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
Dynamics and Modelling of the Functioning and Structure of Forest Ecosystems with Implications for Climate Change Impacts and the Sustainability of Forest Production

Prof. Jari Kouki, University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
Biodiversity of Forest Ecosystems: Patterns, Processes and Ecosystem Functioning

Prof. Pekka Niemelä, University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
Atmospheric Impacts on Tree-herbivore Relationships and Ecosystem Processes

Prof. Jorma Tahvanainen, University of Joensuu, Department of Biology
Herbivory in Relation to the Variable Defences of Northern Woody Plants

The research group of Academy Prof. Seppo Kellomäki is studying how the physiological and ecological functions of forest trees are acclimating to elevated temperatures and atmospheric carbon concentrations. This work is based on long-term field experiments and model simulations. Furthermore, the models integrate the findings of other groups and serve as tools for introducing the results of basic research into the management of forest ecosystems and forest resources. In developing the models, special emphasis is placed on introducing the impacts of climate change into the long-term dynamics of the boreal forest ecosystem and to considering the implications for forest management under changing climatic conditions.

The research group of Prof. Jari Kouki is studying the links between biodiversity and the long-term dynamics of boreal forest ecosystems. This will increase our understanding of how biodiversity is linked with long-term functional balance in ecosystem dynamics and how natural disturbances and human interference can affect biodiversity under boreal conditions. This research is fundamental to sustainable management of the boreal forests with full concern for maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of commercial forests under changing climatic conditions.

The research group of Prof. Pekka Niemelä is studying how climate change and rising levels of atmospheric carbon affect the herbivory interactions between trees and vertebrates and invertebrates. Long-term field experiments in which trees are growing under conditions of elevated temperature and atmospheric carbon are fundamental to an understanding of how to reduce the risk of insect and pest attacks in forest management under the current climatic conditions and in the face of climatic change. Furthermore, the result contribute to modelling aimed at integrating pest management into timber production.

The research group of Prof. Jorma Tahvanainen is investigating the chemical mechanisms by which arctic and boreal woody plants resist attacks by herbivorous insects and mammals. In particular, the variations in resistance due to genetic differences among the plants or caused by various environmental factors, including elevated nutrient availability, temperature, UV radiation and atmospheric carbon, are being studied. The relative roles of plant resistance (bottom-up processes) and predation (top-down processes) in the control of herbivorous insect populations are also being investigated in natural multitropic communities. The results will increase our understanding of how chemical defence is related to the primary and secondary metabolism of trees and the consequent chemical properties of plant biomass. Furthermore, they may prove useful for breeding more resistant tree genotypes for forestry purposes.

Contact Information

University of Joensuu
P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland

Academy Prof. Seppo Kellomäki
University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
Tel. +358 13 251 3630, Fax. +358 13 4444
seppo.kellomaki(at)joensuu.fi

Prof. Jari Kouki
University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
Tel. +358 13 251 3627, Fax. +358 13 4444
jari.kouki(at)joensuu.fi

Prof. Pekka Niemelä
University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
Tel. +358 13 251 4407, Fax. +358 13 4444
pekka.niemela(at)joensuu.fi

Prof. Jorma Tahvanainen
University of Joensuu, Department of Biology
P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
Tel. +358 13 251 3572, Fax. +358 13 251 3590
jorma.tahvanainen(at)joensuu.fi

Dr. Heli Peltola (administrative co-ordinator)
University of Joensuu, Faculty of Forestry
P.O.Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu, Finland
Tel. +358 13 251 3639, Fax. +358 13 4444
heli.peltola(at)joensuu.fi