Research

Our aim is to offer new information that inform decision makers’ efforts toward increasing biodiversity in Swedish forests.

Pollinating insects are essential for biodiversity, functioning forest ecosystems and important ecosystem services. This PhD project investigates how forest structure, microclimate and the availability of flowering plants influence pollinating insects in forest landscapes.

The sun is the basis for photosynthesis, but not all plants thrive in strong sunlight. Strong sunlight even constrains plant diversity and plant biomass in the world's grasslands, a new study shows. Temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric nitrogen deposition have less impact on plant diversity.

Smallholder farmers in Africa struggle with weeds, insect pests and low soil fertility. The push-pull system, where crops are grown alongside other plants that scare away or attract pests, is one way of dealing with these problems. The method works – but not everywhere and not in the same way.

To survive winter, trees must time spring growth with great precision. New research from Umeå Plant Science Centre shows that trees also use warm interruptions in early winter as signals, helping buds avoid opening too early.

What assumptions, values ​​and knowledge claims shape different scientific approaches to agricultural sustainability? Five researchers have delved into this question within SLU's Interdisciplinary Academy.

Earthworms are important “ecosystem engineers” that contribute to a range of ecosystem services. But earthworms are sensitive to disturbances in their environment. A thesis has increased the knowledge on how soil compaction impacts earthworm burrowing activity.

Peat use in horticulture is increasingly discussed due to its climate-relevance and the disturbance of mires. At the same time, peat is the most important, natural horticultural growing media constituent.