Sebastian Leuzinger

I am a plant ecologist working at the interface of experimental and modelling work. Coming from an ecophysiological background (plant - atmosphere relations), I am increasingly interested in meta-analyses and overarching trends in the response of plants to global change drivers. More specifically, I am researching how an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide can cause plant communities to change through the less known indirect effects operating via soil moisture savings. I am involved in a number of international efforts to synthesise global results from elevated carbon dioxide experiments.

On a smaller scale, I am interested in how plants transport water and how this relates to carbon exchange and storage. Mangroves provide a great model ecosystem for this purpose, as they are mature forests, yet accessible and located in very homogenous conditions. Lastly, I am active on an international level as a steering committee member of iLEAPS (integrated Land-Ecosystem Atmosphere Processes Studies), a core project of the UN programme 'future earth', and as an associate editor for the journal 'Frontiers in Functional Plant Ecology'.