Research interests

- theories and models of element cycling in ecosystems 

- plant ecophysiology

- soil processes

Links

The Q model

CV

Publications

Theoretical Ecosystem Ecology	Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
Understanding Element Cycles	Principles and Applications
1st edition 1996 (hb) 2nd edition 1998 (paperback)

Scientific publications

• Ågren GI, Andersson FO. 2012. Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology – Principles and Applications. Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-1-107-01107-6 (hb), 978-1-107-64825-8 (pb).
• Ortiz C.A., Karltun E., Stendahl J., Gärdenäs A.I. and Ågren G.I. (2011) Modelling soil carbon development in Swedish coniferous forest soils - an uncertainty analysis of parameters and model estimates using the GLUE method. Ecological Modelling (in press).
• Wei X, Shao M, Ågren GI, Yin X. 2011. The effects of land use on soil N mineralization during the growing season on the northern Loess Plateau of China. Geoderma 160:590-598.
• Gärdenäs AI, Ågren GI, Bird JA, Clarholm M, Hallin S, Ineson P, Kätterer T, Knicker H, Nilsson SI, Näsholm T, Ogle S, Paustian K, Persson T, Stendahl J. 2011. Knowledge gaps in soil carbon and nitrogen interactions - From molecular to global scale. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 43:702-717.
• Eliasson PE, Ågren GI. 2011. Feedback from soil inorganic nitrogen on soil organic matter mineralisation and growth in a boreal forest ecosystem. Plant and Soil 338:193-203.
• Wetterstedt JÅM, Ågren GI. 2011. Quality or decomposer efficiency – which is most important in the temperature response of litter decomposition? A modelling study using the GLUE methodology. Biogeosciences 8:477-487.
• Wetterstedt JÅM, Persson T, Ågren GI. 2010. Temperature sensitivity and substrate quality in soil organic matter decomposition – results of an incubation study with three substrates. Global Change Biology 16:1806-1819.
• Ladanai S, Ågren GI, Olsson BA. 2010. Relationships between tree and soil properties in Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris forests in Sweden. Ecosystems 11:302-316.
• Bruun S, Ågren GI, Christensen BT, Jensen LS. 2010. Measuring and modelling continuous quality distributions of soil organic matter. Biogeosciences 7:27-41.
• Yurova AY, Volodin EM, Ågren GI, Chertov OG, Komarov AS. 2010. Effects of variations in simulated changes in soil carbon contents and dynamics on future climate projections. Global Change Biology 16:823-835.
• Ågren GI. 2010. Climate change: Microbial mitigation. Nature Geoscience 3:303-301.
• Reichstein M, Ågren GI, Fontaine S. 2009. Is there a theoretical limit to soil carbon storage in old-growth forests? A model analysis with contrasting approaches. In: C. Wirth, G. Gleixner and M. Heimann(eds) Old-Growth Forests, Ecological Studies 207. Springer, Berlin. pp 267-281.
• Hyvönen R, Persson T, Andersson S, Olsson B, Ågren GI, Linder S. 2008. Impact of long-term nitrogen addition on carbon stocks in trees and soils in northern Europe. Biogeochemistry 89: 121-137.
• Ågren GI. 2008. Stoichiometry and nutrition of plant growth in natural communities. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 39:153-170.
• Berggren Kleja D, Svensson M, Majdi H, Jansson PE, Langvall O, Bergkvist B, Johansson MB, Weslien P, Truus L, Lindroth A, Ågren GI. 2008. Pools and fluxes of carbon in three Norway spruce ecosystems along a climatic gradient in Sweden. Biogeochemistry 89:7-25 27.
• Ågren GI. 2008. Stoichiometry and nutrition of plant growth in natural communities. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 39:153-170. (reprint)
• Ågren, G.I., O. Chertov, S. Kellomäki, A. Komarov, and M. van Oijen 2008. Description of the models applied in the modelling approach - Chapter 3.1. In H.P. Kahle, T. Karjalainen, A. Schuck, G.I. Ågren, S. Kellomäki, K. Mellert, J. Prietzel, K.E. Rehfuess and H. Spiecker, eds., Causes and consequences of Forest Growth Trends in Europe – Results of the RECOGNITION project. European Forest Institute Research Report 21. Leiden: Brill., pp 49-65.
• van Oijen, M., G.I. Ågren, O. Chertov, S. Kellomäki, A. Komarov, D. Mobbs, and M. Murray 2008. Methodology for the application of process-based models to analyse changes in European forest growth  - Chapter 3.2. In H.P. Kahle, T. Karjalainen, A. Schuck, G.I. Ågren, S. Kellomäki, K. Mellert, J. Prietzel, K.E. Rehfuess and H. Spiecker, eds., Causes and consequences of Forest Growth Trends in Europe - Results of the RECOGNITION project. European Forest Institute Research Report 21. Leiden: Brill., pp 67-80.
• van Oijen, M., G.I. Ågren, O. Chertov, S. Kellomäki, A. Komarov, D. Mobbs, and M. Murray 2008. Evaluation of past and future changes in European forest growth by means of four process-based models - Chapter 4.4. In H.P. Kahle, T. Karjalainen, A. Schuck, G.I. Ågren, S. Kellomäki, K. Mellert, J. Prietzel, K.E. Rehfuess and H. Spiecker, eds., Causes and consequences of Forest Growth Trends in Europe - Results of the RECOGNITION project. European Forest Institute Research Report 21. Leiden: Brill., pp 183-199.
• van Oijen, M., G.I. Ågren, O. Chertov, H.P. Kahle, S. Kellomäki, A. Komarov, K. Mellert, J. Prietzel, H. Spiecker, and R. Straussberger 2008. A comparison of empirical and process-based modelling methods for analysing changes in Europena forest growth - Chapter 5.1. In Brill, ed., Causes and consequences of Forest Growth Trends in Europe - Results of the RECOGNITION project European Forest Institute Research Report 21. : ISBN 978 90 04 16705 6., pp 203-216.
• Kahle, H.P., M. van Oijen, G.I. Ågren, H. Spiecker, O.G. Chertov, S. Kellomäki, K.H. Mellert, P.J. Pérez-Martínez, J. Prietzel, R. Straussberger, K.E. Rehfuess, and R. Unseld 2008. Analysis of the relative importance of nutrients, climatic factors, and CO2 as causes of observed changes in growth - Chapter 5.2. In H.P. Kahle, T. Karjalainen, A. Schuck, G.I. Ågren, S. Kellomäki, K. Mellert, J. Prietzel, K.E. Rehfuess and H. Spiecker, eds., Causes and consequences of Forest Growth Trends in Europe - Results of the RECOGNITION project. European Forest Institute Research Report 21. Leiden: Brill., pp 217-234.
• Ågren, G.I., O. Chertov, H.P. Kahle, S. Kellomäki, A. Komarov, K.H. Mellert, M. van Oijen, J. Prietzel, H. Spiecker, R. Straussberger, and K.E. Rehfuess 2008. Analysis of the long-term consequences for sustainability of observed growth changes of the European forests - Chapter 5.3. In H.P. Kahle, T. Karjalainen, A. Schuck, G.I. Ågren, S. Kellomäki, K. Mellert, J. Prietzel, K.E. Rehfuess and H. Spiecker, eds., Causes and consequences of Forest Growth Trends in Europe - Results of the RECOGNITION project. European Forest Institute Research Report 21. Leiden: Brill., pp 235-238.
• Kahle, H.P., T. Karjalainen, G.I. Ågren, S. Kellomäki, M. van Oijen, J. Prietzel, and H. Spiecker 2008. Conclusions  - Chapter 6. In H.P. Kahle, T. Karjalainen, A. Schuck, G.I. Ågren, S. Kellomäki, K. Mellert, J. Prietzel, K.E. Rehfuess and H. Spiecker, eds., Causes and consequences of Forest Growth Trends in Europe - Results of the RECOGNITION project. European Forest Institute Research Report 21. Leiden: Brill., pp 257-261.
• Asfaw Z, Ågren GI. 2007. Farmers’ local knowledge and topsoil properties of agroforestry practices in Sidama, Southern Ethiopia. Agroforestry Systems 71:35-48.
• Majdi H, Nylund J-E, Ågren GI. 2007. Root respiration data and minirhizotron observations conflict with root turnover estimates from sequential soil coring. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 22:299-303.
• Pepper DA., Eliasson P., McMurtrie RE., Corbeels M., Ågren G., Strömgren M., Linder S. 2007. Simulated mechanisms of soil N feedback on the forest CO2 response. Global Change Biology 13:1265-1281.
• Ågren G I, Wetterstedt J Å M. 2007. What determines the temperature response of soil organic matter decomposition? Soil Biology & Biochemistry 39:1794–1798.
• Ladanai, S. Ågren, G I. Hyvönen, R. Lundkvist, H. 2007. Nitrogen budgets for Scots pine and Norway spruce ecosystems 12 and 7 years after the end of long-term fertilisation.  Forest Ecology and Management 238:130-140
• Ågren, G I. Hyvönen, R. Nilsson, T. 2007. Are Swedish forest soils sinks or sources for CO2 - model analyses based on forest inventory data. Biogeochemistry. 82:217-227 (DOI 10.1007/s10533-006-9064-0)
• Hyvönen, R. Ågren, G I. Linder, S. Persson, T. Cotrufo, M F. Ekblad, A. Freeman, M. Grelle, A. Janssens, I A. Jarvis, P G. Kellomäki, S. Lindroth, A. Loustau, D. Lundmark, T. Norby, R. Oren, R. Pilegaard, K. Ryan, M G. Sigurdsson, B. Strömgren, M. van Oijen, M. Wallin, G. 2007. The likely impact of elevated [CO2], nitrogen deposition, increased temperature, and management on carbon sequestration in temperate and boreal forest ecosystems. A literature review. New Phytologist 173:463-480.
• Majdi, H. Pregitzer, K.  Morén, AS. Nylund, JE. Ågren, GI. 2005. Measuring fine root turnover in forest ecosystems. Plant and Soil 276:1-8.
• Rastetter, EB. Perakis, SS. Shaver, GR. Ågren, GI. 2005. Terrestrial C sequestration at elevated CO2 and temperature: the role of dissolved organic N loss. Ecological Applications 15:71-86.
• Salih, N. Ågren, G I. & Hallbäcken, L. 2005. Modeling response of N addition on C and N allocation in Scandinavian Norway spruce stands. Ecosystems 8:373-381.
• Nilsson KS, Hyvönen R, Ågren GI (2005) Using the continuous-quality theory to predict microbial biomass and soil organic carbon following organic amendments. European Journal of Soil Science 56:397–405
• Hyvönen R., Ågren G.I. & Dalias, P. 2005. Analysing temperature response of decomposition of organic matter. Global Change Biology 11:770-778
• Eliasson, P.E. McMurtrie, R.E.  Pepper, D.A., Strömgren, M., Linder, S. & Ågren, G.I. 2005.The response of heterotrophic CO2 flux to soil warming. Global Change Biology 11: 167–181.
• Hessen, D.O. Ågren, G.I. Anderson, T.R. Elser, J.J. & de Ruiter, P.C, 2004. Carbon sequestration in ecosystems: the role of stoichiometry. Ecology 85:1179-1192.
• Ladanai, S. & Ågren, G.I. 2004. Temperature sensitivity of nitrogen productivity for Scots pine and Norway spruce. Trees 18:312-319.
• Ågren, G.I. 2004. The C : N : P stoichiometry of autotrophs – theory and observations. Ecology Letters 7: 185–191 (Link for reprint)
• Franklin, O, Högberg, P, Ekblad A & Ågren GI. 2003. Pine Forest Floor Carbon Accumulation in Response to N and PK Additions: Bomb 14C Modelling and Respiration Studies. Ecosystems 6:644-658.
• Ågren, G.I. Franklin, O. 2003. Root : Shoot Ratios, Optimization and Nitrogen Productivity. Annals of Botany 92: 795-800.
• Ollinger, S., Sala, O., Ågren, G.I., Berg, B., Davidson, E., Field, C B. Lerdau, M T. Neff, J. Scholes, M. Sterner, R. 2003. New frontiers in the study of element interactions. In: Interactions of the major Biogeochemical Cycles - Global Change and Human Impacts, SCOPE 61. Melillo,  M., Field, C B. Moldan B. (eds.). Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 63-91.
• Ågren, G.I., Hessen, D.O., Anderson, T.R., Elser, J.J. De Reuter, P. 2003. Element interactions: Theoretical considerations. In: Interactions of the major Biogeochemical Cycles - Global Change and Human Impacts, SCOPE 61. Melillo,  M., Field, C B. Moldan B. (eds.). Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 135-150.
• Bosatta, E. and Ågren, G.I. 2003. Exact solutions to the continuous-quality equation for soil organic matter turnover. Journal of Theoretical Biology 224:97-105.
• Ågren, G.I & Hyvönen, R. 2003. Changes in carbon stores in Swedish forest soils due to increased biomass harvest and increased temperatures analysed with a semi-empirical model. Forest Ecology and Management 174:25-37.
• Rastetter, E.R. & Ågren, G.I. 2002. Changes in individual allometry can lead to species coexistence without niche separation. Ecosystems 5:78-801.
• Franklin, O. & Ågren, G.I. 2002. Leaf senescence and resorption as mechanisms of maximizing photosynthetic production during canopy development at N limitation. Functional Ecology 16: 727-733
• Hyvönen, R., Berg, M.P. & Ågren, G.I. 2002. Modelling carbon dynamics in coniferous forest soils in a temperature gradient. Plant and Soil 242:33-39.
• Högberg, P. Nordgren, A. & Ågren, G. I. 2002. Carbon allocation between tree root growth and root respiration in boreal pine forest. Oecologia 132: 579-581
• Ågren, G.I. Bosatta, E. 2002.   Reconciling differences in predictions of temperature response of soil organic matter. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 34:129-132
• Bosatta, E.  Ågren, G.I. 2002.   Quality and irreversibility: constraints on ecosystem development  Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences  269: 203-210
• Hyvönen, R. Ågren, G.I. 2001. Decomposer invasion rate, decomposer growth rate, and substrate chemical quality: how they influence soil organic matter turnover. Canadian Journal of  Forest Research 31:1594-1601
• Rastetter, EB. Vitousek, PM. Field, C. Shaver, GR. Herbert, D. Ågren, GI. 2001. Resource Optimization and Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation. Ecosystems 4:369-388
• Ågren, G.I., Bosatta, E. & Magill, A.M. 2001. Combining theory and experiment to understand effects of inorganic nitrogen on litter decomposition. Oecologia 128:94-98.
• Joffre, R., Ågren, G.I., Gillon, D., Bosatta, E. 2001. Organic matter quality in ecological studies : theory meets experiment. Oikos, 93:451-458.
• Joffre, R. Ågren, G.I. 2001. From plant to soil: Litter production and decomposition. In: Mooney, H.A. & Saugier, B. Terrestrial Global Productivity, Academic Press, pp 83-99.
• Ågren, G.I. & Knecht, M.F. 2001. Simulation of soil carbon and nutrient development under Pinus sylvestris and Pinus contorta. Forest Ecology and Management 141:117-129
• Engelmark, O. Sjöberg, O. Andersson, B. Rosvall, O. Ågren, G.I. Baker, W.L. Barklund, P. Björkman, C. Despair, D.G. Elfving, B. Ennos, R.A. Karlman, M. Knecht, M.F. Knight, D.H. Ledgard, N.J. Lindelöw, Å. Nilsson, C. Peterken, G.F. Sörlin, S. Sykes, M.T. 2001. Ecological effects and management aspects of an exotic tree species: the case of lodgepole pine in Sweden. Forest Ecology and Management 141:3-13
• Andersson, F.O., Ågren, G.I. & Führer, E. 2000. Sustainable tree production.  Forest Ecology and Mangement 132:51-62.
• Mäkelä, A., Landsberg, J., Ek, A.R., Burk, T.E., Ter-Mikaelian, M., Ågren, G.I. Oliver, C.D. & Puttonen, P. 2000. Process-based models for forest ecosystem management: current state of the art and challenges for practical implementation. Tree Physiology 20:289–298.
• Ågren, G.I. 2000. Dangerous anthropogenic interference with climate: An ecosystem ecologist’s view. In: Wiman, B.L.B., Stripple, J. & Chong, S.S.M. (eds.) From Climate Risk to Climate Security. Kalmar University.
• Ågren, G.I. & Hansson, A.C. 2000. Crop ecosystem responses to climatic change: Soil organic matter dynamics. In: Reddy, K.R. & Hodges, H.F. (eds.) Climatic Change and Global Crop Productivity. CABI Publishing, Wallingford. pp. 375-385.
• Ågren, G.I. 2000. Temperature dependence of old soil organic matter. Ambio 29:55
• Rehfuess, K.E., Ågren, G.I., Andersson, F. Cannell, M.G.R., Friend, A., Hunter, I. Kahle, H.P., Prietzel, J. & Spiecker, H. 1999. Relationships between Recent Changes of Growth and Nutrition of Norway Spruce, Scots Pine, and European Beech Forests in Europé. European Forest Institute Working Paper 19, 94 pp.
• Bosatta, E. & Ågren, G.I. 1999. Soil organic matter quality interpreted thermodynamically. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 31:1889-1891.
• Herbert, D.A., Rastetter, E.B., Shaver, G.R. & Ågren, G.I. 1999. Effects of plant growth characteristics on biogeochemistry and community composition in a changing climate. Ecosystems 2:367-382.
• Rolff, C. & Ågren, G.I. 1999. A model study of nitrogen limited forest growth. Ecological Modelling 118:193-211.
• Zheng, D.W., Ågren, G.I. & Bengtsson, J. 1999. How do soil organisms affect total organic nitrogen storage in soils and substrate nitrogen to carbon ratio? A theoretical analysis. Oikos 86, 430-442.
• Ågren, G.I., Shaver, G.R. & Rastetter, E.B. 1999. Nutrients: Dynamics and limitations. In: Lou, Y. & Mooney, H.A. (eds.) Carbon Dioxide and Environmental Stress, Academic Press, San Diego pp. 333-345.
• Ågren, G.I. 1998. Book review: Waring RH, Running, SW. 1998. Forest ecosystems. Analysis at multiple scales. 2nd edn. 370 pp. San Diego: Academic Press. Annals of Botany 82:901-902.
• Hyvönen, R. Ågren, G.I. & Bosatta , E. 1998. Predicting long-term soil carbon storage from short-term information. Soil Science Society of America Journal 62:1000-1005.
• Ågren, G.I. 1998. Mathematical modelling for socio-ecological contexts: a tool to explore alternatives. In: Wiman, B.L.B., Wiman, I.M.B. & Vanden Akker, S.L. (eds.) The Art of Natural Resource Management – Poetics, Policy, Practice. Lund University Press, Lund.
• Ågren, G.I. 1997. Haefner, J.W. Modeling Biological Systems. Principles and Applications. Book Review. Forest Ecology and Management 96:185-186.
• Andersson, F., Ågren, G.I., Gobran, G.R. & Hallbäcken, L. 1997. Critical points in forest ecosystem understanding determining the predictability of primary production. In: Führer, E. & Berger, R. (eds.) Proceedings of the 1st EFERN-plenary meeting held October 19th - 22nd 1996 in Vienna. Forstliche Schriftenreihe, Univ. f Bodenkultur, Wien, Vol. 10. pp. 5-18. http:://ifff.boku.ac.at/efern
• Zheng, D.W., Bengtsson, J. & Ågren, G.I. 1997. Soil food webs and ecosystem processes: Decomposition in donor-control and Lotka-Volterra systems American Naturalist 149:125-148.
• Bosatta, E. & Ågren, G.I. 1997. Theoretical analyses of soil texture effects on organic matter dynamics. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 29:1633-1638.
• Rastetter, E.B., Ågren, G.I. & Shaver, G.R. 1997. Responses of N-limited ecosystems to increased CO2: A balanced-nutrition, coupled-element-cycles model. Ecological Applications 7:444-460.
• Bosatta, E. & Ågren, G I. 1996 Theoretical analyses of carbon and nutrient dynamics in soil profiles Soil Biology and Biochemistry 28:1523-1531
• Ågren, G.I., Bosatta, E. & Balesdent, J. 1996. Isotope discrimination during decomposition of organic matter - a theoretical analysis. Soil Science Society of America Journal 60:1121-1126.
• Ågren, G.I. & Bosatta, E. 1996. Quality: A bridge between theory and experiment in soil organic matter studies. Oikos 76:522-528.
• Ågren, G.I. 1996. Nitrogen productivity or photosynthesis minus respiration to calculate plant growth. Oikos 76:529-535.
• Ågren, G.I. 1996. Hur reagerar skogen när koldioxidhalterna ökar? Jordens klimat, NFR:s Årsbok 1996 pp. 49-57.
• Hyvönen, R., Ågren, G.I. & Andrén, O. 1996. Modelling long-term carbon and nitrogen dynamics in an arable soil receiving organic matter. Ecological Applications 6:1345-1354.
• Ågren, G.I., Johnson, D.W., Kirschbaum, M. & Bosatta, E. 1996. Ecosystem physiology- Soil organic matter. In. Breymeyer, A, Hall, D.O., Melillo, J.M. & Ågren, G.I. (eds.) Global Change: Effects on Forests and Grasslands, J.Wiley. pp. 207-228.
• Ryan, M.G., Aber, J.D. Ågren, G.I., Friend, A.D., Linder, S., McMurtrie, R.E., Parton, W.J., Raison, R.J. & Rastetter, E.B. 1996. Comparing models of ecosystem function for temperate conifer forests. I. Model description and validation. In. Breymeyer, A, Hall, D.O., Melillo, J.M. & Ågren, G.I. (eds.) Global Change: Effects on Forests and Grasslands, J.Wiley. pp. 313-362.
• Ryan, M.G., Aber, J.D. Ågren, G.I., Friend, A.D., McMurtrie, R.E., Parton, W.J.& Rastetter, E.B. 1996. Comparing models of ecosystem function for temperate conifer forests. II. Predictions. In. Breymeyer, A, Hall, D.O., Melillo, J.M. & Ågren, G.I. (eds.) Global Change: Effects on Forests and Grasslands, J.Wiley. pp.363-387.
• Melillo, J.M., Hall, D.O. & Ågren, G.I. 1996. Executive summary. In. Breymeyer, A, Hall, D.O., Melillo, J.M. & Ågren, G.I. (eds.) Global Change: Effects on Forests and Grasslands, J.Wiley. pp. 1-16.
• Bengtsson, J., Zheng, D.W., Ågren, G.I. & Persson, T. 1995. Food webs in soil: An interface between population and ecosystem ecology. In: Jones, C.G. & Lawton, J.H. (eds.) Linking Species and Ecosystems. Chapman & Hall. pp. 159-165.
• Ingestad, T. & Ågren, G.I. 1995. Plant nutrition and growth: Basic principles. Plant and Soil 168/169:15-20.
• Davidson, E., Ågren, G., Daniel, O. Emeis, K.C., Largeau, C., Lee, C. Mopper, K., Oades, J.M., Reeburgh, W.S., Schimel, D.S. & Zepp, R.G. 1995. Group report: What are the physical, chemical, and biological processes that control the formation and degradation of nonliving organic matter? In: Zepp, R.G. & Sonntag, Ch. (eds.) Role of Nonliving Organic Matter in the Earth's Carbon Cycle. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester. pp. 305-324.
• Wikström, F. & Ågren, G.I. 1995. The relationship between the growth rate of young plants and their total-N concentration is unique and simple. Annals of Botany 75:541-544.
• van Oene, H. & Ågren, G.I. 1995. Complexity and simplicity in modelling of acid deposition effects on forest growth. Ecological Bulletins 44:352-362.
• Bosatta, E. & Ågren, G.I. 1995. Theoretical analyses of the interactions between inorganic nitrogen and soil organic matter. European Journal of Soil Science 46:109-114.
• Bosatta, E. & Ågren, G.I. 1995. The power and reactive continuum models as particular cases of the q-theory of organic matter dynamics. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 59:3833-3835.
• van Oene, H. & Ågren, G.I. 1995. The application of the NAP model to the Solling spruce site. Ecological Modelling 83:139-149.