Jörg Brunet

The ecology of temperate broadleaf forests has been my central research interest since I started to work with my Master thesis in 1988. Being especially interested in botany, geography and history, my research has a focus on ecological and historical factors which may explain distribution patterns of forest species. Hence, my research aims to find general patterns in the fields of plant-soil relations, plant geography and dispersal ecology. I also study distribution patterns and biodiversity along successional gradients from stand establishment to old-growth forest, and along geographical (climate) gradients. As future forest succession is influenced by climate change, these topics are related. My work is relevant when integrating nature conservation and forest production and provides guidance with respect to forest restoration and adaptation of forest management to climate change. I have published more than 180 peer-review papers and more than 50 other scientific publications.

My teaching includes lectures, seminars, exercises and excursions in botany, plant taxonomy, vegetation ecology, plant geography, forest and landscape history and dynamics, and conservation biology in multiple courses at B.Sc. and M.Sc. levels. I have been a course organizer and main teacher of the M.Sc. course Broadleaves – history, ecology and management (15 ECTS) from 2008-2025. Director of studies Euroforester MSc programme 2016-2020. Deputy Head of Department for undergraduate education 2022-2025.